Faculty

Eric M. Smith, Ph.D.

Professor
esmith@utmb.edu
MMN, Route 0431
Departments of Pediatrics and Microbiology & Immunology
Phone: (409)772-6747
Fax: (409)772-3511

Education:	Ph.D. | 1980 | Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
	B.S. | 1975 | Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York

Overview

Psychoneuroimmunology; immune and neuroendocrine systems; hormone production in immune responses.

Research Interests

The goal of the laboratory is to understand the regulatory mechanisms linking the immune and neuroendocrine systems. We determined that a principal way by which these systems communicate is through common signal molecules and their receptors. For instance, lymphoid cells produce and respond to certain pituitary hormones. Likewise, neuroendocrine cells produce and respond to various cytokines. Studies are in progress in the laboratory characterizing the specific neuropeptide hormones and cytokines shared by lymphoid and neuroendocrine tissues. Using several paradigms, the laboratory is exploring the hypothesis that activation of these neuroendocrine and immune system pathways cause many of the systemic effects associated with virus infections. One specific project is determining, at the cellular and molecular levels the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis by the human immunodeficiency virus and its component molecules. Another specific project is aimed at determining the intracellular mechanisms regulating the production and action of the neuroendocrine hormone, corticotropin by lymphocytes.

Recent Publications

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