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Jonathan  Kipnis
Degree(s): Ph.D.
Graduate School: Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel
Primary Appointment: Assistant Professor of Neuroscience
Research Interests:
Neuro-Immune Interactions

Email Address: kipnis@virginia.edu
Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program(s)
  • Neuroscience
  • Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases
  • Molecular Medicine
    • Research Description

    Neuroimmune interactions in neurodegenerative and mental disorders - understanding of basic mechanisms and development of therapeutic vaccines

    We are interested in the role of immune system in the following conditions:
    CNS injury and neurodegenerative diseases - neuronal regeneration, neuroprotection, and neurogenesis.
    Models: spinal cord injury, optic nerve injury, brain injury, glaucoma, Alzheimer's Disease.

    Mental conditions - cognition, neurogenesis, neuronal plasticity.
    Models: age-related dementia, Alzheimer's Disease, Schizophrenia, Depression.

    In our lab we are working on the interaction of the immune and nervous systems. Up until recently, scientists assumed that the presence of immune system in the central nervous system (CNS) was a hallmark for undergoing pathological processes. However, new line of evidence supports the notion that immune assistance is required for a better neuronal survival following injury.

    Moreover, we found that animals that lack the population of T lymphocytes (T cells) cannot perform cognitive tasks as well as normal animals do and are impaired in adult neurogenesis and neuronal plasticity. On the other hand, boost of immune response (vaccine) improves learning abilities in normal animals and accelerates neurogenesis.

    We are trying to elucidate on cellular and molecular levels the mechanism underlying these beneficial effects of immune cells in healthy and diseased CNS. We are also designing vaccines that promote neuronal survival and improve cognitive functions.

    Selected Publications
  • Cohen H., Ziv Y., Cardon M., Kaplan Z., Gidron Y., Schwartz M. and Kipnis J. (2006) Adaptation to mental stress is autoimmune T-cell dependent and is suppressed by regulatory T cells. J Neurobiol, 66(6):552-63
  • Ziv, Y., Ron, N., Butovsky, O., Landa, G., Sudai, E., Greenberg, N., Cohen, H., Kipnis, J., Schwarz, M., (2006) Immune cells contribute to the maintenance of neurogenesis and spatial learning abilities in adults. Nat. Neurosci. Feb;9(2):268-75
  • Kipnis J., Avidan H., Mordechay S., Lewitus G.M., Cardon M. and Schwartz M (2004) Dopamine, through the extracellular-regulated kinase pathway, downregulates CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cell activity: Implications for neurodegeneration. J Neurosci, 24(27):6133-43
  • Kipnis J., Cohen H., Cardon M., Ziv Y. and Schwartz M (2004) T cell deficiency leads to cognitive impairment: Implications for therapeutic vaccination for schizophrenia and other psychiatric conditions. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 101:8180-8185
  • PubMed Listings For this Faculty Member
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    Contact Information
      Office Address: PO Box 801392, 
      Office Phone: +1 434-982-3858, +1 434-982-3859
      Mobile Phone: +1 434-964-6582

    Other Websites for this mentor:
    http://healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/neurosci/Faculty/kipnis/home.cfm

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