Albert D. Donnenberg, Professor of Medicine
PhD, Infectious Disease Epidemiology,
Johns Hopkins University; 1980
Email: donnenbergad@upmc.edu
Research Interests:
The major efforts of my research laboratory are focused toward four projects, all of which are presently funded by NIH or industry-sponsored grants:
Immunologic consequences of autologous transplantation in systemic sclerosis: In this phase I dose escalation study we are examining immune reconstitution in patients who have received lymphoablative therapy and T-cell depleted progenitor cell autografts.
Haplo-identical HSCT. We are using expertise developed in the systemic sclerosis trial to manufacture radically T-cell depleted allografts for use in the setting of haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (collaborative with Dr. Markus Mapara).
Use of bone marrow derived and peripheral blood derived stem and progenitor cells for regenerative therapy. We have secured funding to be part of the NIH/NHLBI-sponsored PACT (Processing Assistance for Cellular Therapy) Group. Using a state of the art Good Tissues Practices (GTP) compliant laboratory, we are involved in collaborative projects to use isolated stem/progenitor cells for cardiac repair in the settings of congestive heart failure (Dr. Amit Patel), cardiac
bypass grafting (Dr. Amit Patel), and chronic angina (Dr. Joon Lee), and for esophageal repair (Drs.. James Luketich, Steven Badylak, Eric Lagasse). We are also issuing peripheral blood progenitor cell products for induction of tolerance in the context of directed donor liver transplantation (Dr. Thomas Starzl). We are also exploring the use of adipose-derived tissue stem cells as a source of multipotential stem cells (Dr. J. Peter Rubin).
The cancer stem-cell hypothesis. In collaboration with Dr. Vera Donnenberg, we have initiated extensive studies testing the hypothesis that the therapy resistant component of primary untreated malignancies is a resting cell with stem-cell like properties of self-renewal and self protection. We are evaluating this hypothesis across several epithelial malignancies, including breast, ovarian and lung cancers.
Identification of Therapeutic Targets on Cancer Stem Cells. We are partnering with Sanofi Pasteur to evaluate candidate targets for immune-based therapy on breast cancer stem cells (with Dr. Vera Donnenberg).
Technological Advances in Flow Cytometry. We continue to work with industry to develop and test new approaches to flow cytometry. Recent collaborations include advances in software design (Verity Software), evaluation of a prototype 12-color 4 laser cytometer (Beckman Coulter), and evaluation and enhancement of the new Imaging Flow Cytometry technology (Amnis).
Recent Publication
Donnenberg AD, Donnenberg VS. P-gp expression and function in T-lymphocytes. Clinical and Applied Immunology Reviews. 4:1-2, 2003.
Donnenberg VS, Donnenberg AD. Identification, rare-event detection and analysis of dendritic cell subsets in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid and peripheral blood by flow cytometry. Frontiers in Bioscience, 8:1175-1180, 2003.
Kuss I. Donnenberg AD. Gooding W. Whiteside TL. Effector CD8+CD45RO-CD27-T cells have signaling defects in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. British Journal of Cancer. 88(2):223-30, 2003.
Meidenbauer N, Hoffmann TK, Donnenberg AD. Direct visualization of antigen-specific T cells using Peptide-MHC Class I Tetrameric Complexes. Methods. 31(2): 160-178, 2003.
Tsukishiro T. Donnenberg AD. Whiteside TL. Rapid turnover of the CD8(+)CD28(-) T-cell subset of effector cells in the circulation of patients with head and neck cancer. Cancer Immunology & Immunotherapy. 52(10):599-607, 2003
Coates PH, Barratt-Boyes SM, Zhang L, Donnenberg VS, O'Connell PJ, Logar AJ, Duncan FJ, Murphey-Corb M, Donnenberg AD, Morelli AE, Maliszewski CR, Thomson AW. Dendritic cell subsets in blood and lymphoid tissue of rhesus monkeys and their mobilization with Flt3 ligand. Blood, 102(7):2513-21, 2003.
Donnenberg VS, Wilson JW, Burckart GJ, Zeevi A, Iacono A, Donnenberg AD. Measurement of Basal, Substrate Induced and Total P-gp activity in Broncho-Alveolar Lavage T-cell Subsets. Cytometry. 57A(2):75-85, 2004.
Donnenberg VS, Burckart GJ, Zeevi A, Griffith BP, Iacono A, McCurry KR, Wilson JW, Donnenberg AD. P-gp Activity is Down-modulated in CD4+ but not CD8+ Lung Allograft Infiltrating T Cells During Acute Cellular Rejection. Transplantation, 77(11): 2004.
Hoffmann TK. Bier H. Donnenberg AD. Whiteside TL. De Leo AB. p53 as an immunotherapeutic target in head and neck cancer. Advances in
Oto-Rhino-Laryngology. 62:151-60, 2005.
Donnenberg VS, Donnenberg AD. Multiple Drug Resistance in Cancer Revisited: The Cancer Stem Cell Hypothesis. Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 45:872-877, 2005.
Macedo C, Donnenberg AD, Popescu I, Reyes J, Abu-Elmagd K, Shapiro R, Zeevi A, Fung JJ, Storkus WJ, Metes D. EBV-specific memory CD8+ T cell phenotype and function in stable solid organ transplant patients. Transplant Immunology 14 109-116, 2005.
Donnenberg AD, Donnenberg VS. Phenotypic and Functional Measurements on Circulating Immune Cells and their Subsets. In: Measuring Immunity: The Immunologic Surrogates Handbook, First Edition. Lotze MT and Thomson AW eds. 2005 Academic Press, Elsevier Science.
