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Faculty Detail    
Name DOUGLAS A WEIGENT
  
Campus Address MCLM 894 Zip 0005
Phone 205-934-4227
E-mail weigent@uab.edu
Other websites
     


Faculty Appointment(s)
Appointment Type Department Division Rank
Primary  Cell, Developmntl, & Integrative Biology  Cell, Developmntl, & Integrative Biology Professor
Center  Arthritis & Musculoskeletal Diseases Center  Arthritis & Musculoskeletal Diseases Center Professor
Center  Center for AIDS Research  Center for AIDS Research Professor
Center  Comprehensive Cancer Center  Comprehensive Cancer Center Professor

Graduate Biomedical Sciences Affiliations
Immunology 
Integrative Biomedical Sciences 
Medical Scientist Training Program 
Pathobiology and Molecular Medicine 

Biographical Sketch 
Douglas A. Weigent (b. 1948), professor, received his Ph.D. degree in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Washington under the direction of Dr. Eugene Nester. Postdoctoral training was completed at the University of Minnesota with Dr. H. M. Jenkin and at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston with Dr. G. John Stanton. He joined the faculty of UAB in 1986.

Research/Clinical Interest
Title
Immunoendocrinology
Description
The primary aim of my research program in immunoendocrinology is to establish the biological significance of growth hormone (GH) and growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) production in the immune system. The major objectives of the present research are the following: (1) to determine the factors governing the production of lymphocyte GH and GHRH; (2) to determine the differences or similarities in the GH and GHRH mRNA in lymphocytes versus pituitary cells; (3) to identify the GH and GHRH producer cells; (4) to determine the autocrine /paracrine effects of lymphocyte GH and GHRH on cytokine synthesis, antibody synthesis and apoptosis in the immune system; and (5) to determine whether GH and GHRH are produced during invasion of the host by viruses , bacteria, or tumors, and whether this same substance can restore deficiencies in immune deficient animals. Recently, we have confirmed the identity of lymphocyte GH by mass spectrometry and shown that lymphocyte GH exists as high molecular weight isoforms. The oligomeric size, subcellular location and level of lymphocyte GH is altered in immune cells undergoing oxidative stress. The results of these studies will increase our understanding of immunophysiology and establish the role of GH and GHRH in the survival of immune cells and maintenance of the immune response during inflammation.

Selected Publications 
Publication PUBMEDID
Weigent,D.A. 2009. Regulation of Id2 expression in EL4 T lymphoma cells overexpressing growth hormone. Cellular Immunology 255(1-2):46-54.  19010462 
Kelley,K.W., D.A. Weigent, and R. Kooijman. 2007. Protein hormones and immunity. Brain, Behavior and Immunity 21:384-392.  17198749 
Farmer, J.T. and D.A. Weigent. 2006. TGF-beta1 expression in EL4 lymphoma cells overexpressing growth hormone. Cell Immunol 240:22-30.  16839530 
Farmer, J.T. and D.A. Weigent. 2007. Expression of insulin-like growth factor-2 receptors on EL4 lymphoma cells overexpressing growth hormone. Brain, Behavior and Immunity 21:79-85.  16631346 
Weigent,D.A. and R.E. Arnold. 2005. Expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptors in EL4 lymphoma cells overexprsesing growth hormone. Cell Immunol 234:54-66  15964559 
Arnold, R.E. and D.A. Weigent. 2004. The inhibition of apoptosis in EL4 lymphoma cells overexpressing growth hormone. Neuroimmunomodulation 11:149-159  15067206 
Arnold, R.E. and D.A. Weigent. 2003. The production of nitric oxide in EL4 lymphoma cells overexpressing growth hormone. J. Neuroimmunology 134:82-94.  12507775 
Weigent,D.A., A.D. Kraneveld, and J.E. Blalock. 2011. Neuroimmunoendocrinology. In: Principles of Immunopharmacology, 3rd ed. (F.P. Nijkamp and M.J. Parnham, Eds.). Birkhauser Verlag, Basel. In press.   
Weigent,D.A. 2011. High molecular weight isoforms of growth hormone in cells of the immune system. Cellular Immunology. Submitted.   
Weigent,D.A. and J.E. Blalock. 2011. Stress-sensitization and cytokines. Current Trends in Immunology. Submitted.   
 

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