Chougnet Lab

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Chougnet Research Lab

The Chougnet Lab is interested in pursuing a research program that is both basic (devoted to unraveling the molecular mechanisms underlying immune dysfunction) as well as translational (aiming towards application of the mechanistic information thereby obtained).

Our major scientific interests are HIV infection and the ontogeny of the human immune system. In addition, due to the many similarities between the immune dysfunction characteristic of chronic progressive HIV infection and that developing during aging, we are developing several research projects on the mechanisms underlying immunosenescence.

A major focus of the laboratory has been to study the homeostasis and function of a critical subset of CD4⁺ T cells, the regulatory T cells (Treg). Treg are critical to establish and sustain immunological self-tolerance, as well as control aggressive responses to foreign antigens. Importantly, Treg develop very early during the ontogeny of the human infant immune system, and their disappearance and/or dysfunction likely plays a role in several debilitating inflammatory diseases that develop in neonates, particularly in premature babies. Conversely, Treg accumulation during chronic HIV infection or aging plays a role in the immune suppression associated with both processes.

Publications

2015Show

C.M. Rueda, C.B. Wells, T. Gisslen, A.H. Jobe, S.G. Kallapur, C.A. Chougnet. Effect of chorioamnionitis on regulatory T cells in moderate/late preterm neonates. Hum. Immunol., 2015 Jan;76(1):65-73. doi: 10.1016/j.humimm.2014.10.016. Epub 2014 Nov 8.

2014Show

P. Presicce, P. Senthamaraikannan, M. Alvarez, C.M. Rueda, M. Cappelletti, L.A. Miller, A.H. Jobe, C.A. Chougnet*, S.G. Kallapur*. Neutrophil recruitment and activation in decidua with intra-amniotic IL-1β in the preterm Rhesus macaque.*: co-senior author. Biology of Reproduction, in press. 2014.

H. Shehata, K. Hoebe*, C.A. Chougnet*. The aged nonhematopoietic environment impairs natural killer cell maturation and function. *: co-senior author. Aging Cell, in press. 2014.

M. Moreno-Fernandez, J, Joedicke, C.A. Chougnet. Regulatory T cells diminish transmission of HIV from Dendritic cells to conventional CD4+ T cells. Front. Immunol., 2014, May 8; 5:199. PMC4021135.

S.G. Kallapur, P. Presicce, C.M. Rueda, A.H. Jobe, C.A. Chougnet. Fetal immune response to chorioamnionitis. Semin Reprod Med. 2014 Jan;32(1):56-67. PMC4118297.

2013Show

C.M. Rueda, P.A. Velilla, C.A. Chougnet*, M.T. Rugeles*. Incomplete normalization of regulatory T cells frequency in the gut mucosa of Colombian HIV-infected patients receiving long-term antiretroviral treatment. *: co-senior author. PLoS ONE. 2013. 8(8): e71062. PMC3744540.

J. Raynor, A. Sholl, D.R. Plas, P. Bouillet, C.A Chougnet*, D.A. Hildeman*. IL-15 fosters age-driven regulatory T cell accrual in the face of declining IL-2 levels. Front Immunol. *: co-senior author. 2013 4:161. PMC3690359.

S.G. Kallapur, P. Presicce, P. Senthamaraikannan , M. Alvarez , A.F. Tarantal , L.M. Miller , A.H. Jobe, C.A. Chougnet. Intra-amniotic IL-1ß induces fetal inflammation in rhesus monkeys and alters the regulatory T cell/IL-17 balance. J. Immunol. 2013. 191:1102-9. PMC3720768.

2012Show

M.E. Moreno-Fernandez, P. Presicce, C.A. Chougnet. Homeostasis and function of regulatory T cells in HIV/SIV infection. J Virol. 2012; 86(19):10262-9. PMC3457299.

P. Presicce, M.E. Moreno-Fernandez, L.K. Rusie, C. Fichtenbaum, C.A. Chougnet.HIV-infected dendritic cells are defective in their ability to induce adaptive regulatory T cells. 2012, PLoS One. 2012;7(8):e42802. PMC3418294.

J. Raynor, C.S. Lages, H. Shehata, D.A. Hildeman, C. A. Chougnet. Homeostasis and function of regulatory T cells in aging. Curr Opin Immunol. 2012; 24(4):482-7. PMC3419320.

C.S. Lages, J. Simmons, C.A. Chougnet, A. Miethke. Regulatory T cells control the CD8 adaptive immune response at the time of ductal obstruction in experimental biliary atresia. Hepatology, 2012, 56(1): 219-27. PMC3380144.

P. Presicce, J.M. Shaw, C.J. Miller, B.L. Shacklett, C.A. Chougnet. Myeloid dendritic cells isolated from tissues of SIV-infected Rhesus macaques promote the induction of regulatory T cells. AIDS. 2012; 26(3): 263-273. PMC3666583.

M.E. Moreno-Fernandez, C. Rueda, P.A. Velillla, M.T. Rugeles, C.A. Chougnet. cAMP during HIV infection: friend or foe? AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses 2012; 28(1): 49-53. PMC3251837.

Previous PublicationsShow

P. Presicce, K. Orsborn, E. King, J. Pratt, C. J. Fichtenbaum, C. A. Chougnet: Frequency of Circulating Regulatory T cells Increases during Chronic HIV Infection and Is Largely Controlled by Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy. PLoS ONE, 2011;6(12):e28118. PMC3230597.

M.E. Moreno-Fernandez, C. Rueda, L. Rusie, C.A. Chougnet. Regulatory T cells control HIV replication in activated T cells through a cAMP-dependent mechanism. Blood, 2011; 117(20): 5372-80. PMC3109711.

C.A. Chougnet, P. Tripathi, C.S. Lages, J. Raynor, A. Sholl, P. Fink, D. Plas, D.A. Hildeman. A major role for Bim in regulatory T cell homeostasis. J. Immunol, 2011 186:156. PMC3066029.

C.S. Lages, I. Suffia, P. Velilla, B. Huang, G. Warshaw, Y. Belkaid, C. Chougnet. Functional regulatory T cells accumulate in aged hosts and promote reactivation of chronic infections. J. Immunol. 2008; 181(3):1835-48. PMC2587319.

J. Nilsson*, A. Boasso*, P.A. Velilla*, R. Zhang, M. Vaccari, G. Franchini, G.M. Shearer, J. Andersson, C. Chougnet.HIV-1 driven regulatory T cell accumulation in lymphoid tissues is associated with disease progression in HIV/AIDS. *contributed equally. Blood, 2006, 108, 3808-17. PMC1895475.

J. Andersson, A. Boasso, J. Nilsson, R. Zhang, N.J. Shire, S. Lindback, G.M. Shearer, C. Chougnet. The Prevalence of Regulatory T Cells in Lymphoid Tissue is Correlated with Viral Load in HIV-infected Patients. Cutting Edge J Immunol, 2005, 174, 3143-3147.

Contact Us

Claire A. Chougnet, PhD
Phone: 513-636-8847
Fax: 513-636-5355
Email: claire.chougnet@cchmc.org