Vu Nguyen, M.D.

Research Summary

Our lab has two major interests:  studies of the post-thymic development and localization of regulatory T cells (Treg), and the impact of gut microflora in mediating innate and adaptive immune responses which lead to graft-versus-host disease following stem cell transplantation.

Post-thymic Treg development and homing:
Effective immune responses require migration of T cell subsets with homing specificity to distinct tissue locations. We are studying the post-thymic development and acquisition of homing receptors on Treg, and how their specific migration controls tissue and organ-specific immunity in models of inflammation and leukemia/lymphoma, as well as using human samples and xenogeneic systems.  The goal of this research is to develop targeted molecular and cellular treatment strategies that separate graft-versus-host disease from the beneficial graft-versus-tumor reaction following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.  

Tissue tropism in graft-versus-host disease:
Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD) targets the epithelial compartments of the intestine, liver, and skin.  Although it is known that the adaptive immune response toward the genetic mismatch of the donor-recipient pair is crucial for the induction of aGvHD, it remains unclear why tissue tropism for the intestine, skin, and liver occurs.  Significant commensal bacteria load exists in the intestine and the skin, while the liver continuously filters antigens derived from the gastrointestinal tract.  Our lab is investigating the microflora niche and its role in mediating the local immune milieu which leads to tissue specific aGvHD. 

Selected Papers

Zeiser R, Nguyen VH, Beihack A, Buess M, Schulz S, Baker J, Contag CH, Negrin RS. Inhibition of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cell function by calcineurin dependent interleukin-2 production. Blood. 2006 Jul 1;108(1):390-9

Nguyen VH, Zeiser R, Negrin RS. Role of naturally arising regulatory T cells in hematopoietic cell transplantation. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2006 Oct;12(10):995-1009.

Zeiser R, Nguyen VH, Hou JZ, Beilhack A, Zambricki E, Buess M, Contag CH, Negrin RS. Early CD30 signaling is critical for adoptively transferred CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in prevention of acute graft-versus-host disease. Blood. 2007 Mar 1;109(5):2225-33.

Nguyen VH, Zeiser R, daSilva D, Chang DS, Beilhack A, Contag CH, Negrin RS. In vivo dynamics of regulatory T cell trafficking and survival predict effective strategies to control of graft-versus-host disease following allogeneic transplantation. Blood 2007 Mar 15;109(6):2649-56

Nguyen VH, Shashidhar S, Chang DS, Ho L, Kambham N, Bachmann M, Brown JMY, Negrin RS. The impact of regulatory T cells on T cell immunity following hematopoeitic cell transplantation. Blood 2008 Jan 15;111(2):945-53

Nguyen Vu, van Besien Koen.  Late relapses following allogeneic transplantation for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.  How good are the graft-versus-leukemia effects?  Leukemia & Lymphoma  2008 Sept; 49(9): 1651-1652