Distinguished Professor, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
School of Biological Sciences

Professor, Pathology
School of Medicine

Professor, Neurobiology and Behavior
School of Biological Sciences

Member, Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND)

Member, Institute for Immunology

Neuronflammation; Complement; Alzheimer's Disease; Innate Immunity; Phagocytosis; Neurodegenerative Disorders

darwin.bio.uci.edu/~faculty/tenner/

Tenner Lab Website

2019 Distinguished Professor, UCI

My laboratory is focused on the role of specific elements of the innate immune system in host defense and in maintaining a balance of protective responses in the host both in the periphery and the central nervous system. It is now being recognized that the nature of the first response to injury or invasion has significant influence in determining the nature of the subsequent responses including the adaptive immune response. That is, it is this first response that assesses the level of danger of a particular intrusion or injury and initiates a program of protection.

The current major research area in the lab is the investigation of the role of complement activation and subsequent inflammation in Alzheimer’s Disease. The neuropathological structures that are the hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD) include senile plaques composed of a proposed pathogenic peptide fragment, beta-amyloid, neurofibrillary tangles and loss of neurons. Using mouse models of AD, we have evidence consistent with the hypothesis that complement activation and subsequent inflammatory events contribute to the pathogenesis of dementia in AD, and are currently assessing the mechanism of action of candidate therapeutics to prevent or slow the progression of pathogenic events that lead to Alzheimer’s Disease in mouse models.

In addition, it is now acknowledged that early components of the complement system play a role in synaptic pruning during development and aging and disease. Furthermore, the complement component C1q is upregulated in response to injury and, independent of other complement components, can play a protective role in the early stages of disease by enhancing the clearance of cellular debris, altering the effects of the amyloid peptide on microglia, and/or providing direct neuroprotective effects. We use novel mouse models, RNA-Seq, confocal and super resolution microscopy and cell isolation procedures to assess the molecular basis of these effects and to verify strategic targets for therapeutic intervention in human neurodegenerative diseases.

Patents:
"Host Defense Enhancement", Andrea J. Tenner and Ronald R. Nepomuceno, filed November 18, 1996, issued October 12, 1999. U.S. Patent # 5,965,439.

1994 AAAS Fellow
2005-06 UCI Emeritae/i Association Faculty Mentorship Award
2014-15 Daniel G. Aldrich, Jr. Distinguished University Service Award
2015 Society of Leukocyte Biology Honorary Life Member
2016 Hans J. Muller-Eberhard Distinguished Lecturer, Institute for Molecular
Medicine, University of Texas, Houston
2019 American Association of Immunologists Distinguished Lecturer
2023 Society of Leukocyte Biology Legacy Lecture Award

Current publications from Pubmed

Bohlson, S. S. and Tenner, A.J. Complement in the Brain: Contributions to Neuroprotection, Neuronal Plasticity, and Neuroinflammation. Ann. Review Immunology, DOI 10.1146/annurev-immunol-101921-035639, 2023.

Gomez-Arboledas, A.*, Carvalho, K.*, Balderrama-Gutierrez, G., Chu, S-H., Liang, H.Y., Schartz, N.D., Selvan, P., Petrisko, T.J., Pan, M. A., Mortazavi, A., Tenner, A.J., C5aR1 antagonism alters microglial polarization and mitigates disease progression in a mouse model of Alzheimers disease. BioRxiv preprint doi May 18, 2022, Acta Neuropathologica Comm.10:116, 2022. PMC9386996

Petrisko, T. J., Gomez-Arboledas, A. and Tenner, A. J. Complement as a powerful “influencer” in the brain during development, adulthood and neurological disorders. Advances in Immunology 152:157-222, 2021.

Carvalho, K.*, Schartz, N.D.*, Balderrama-Gutierrez, G., Liang, H.Y., Chu, S-H., Selvan, P., Gomez-Arboledas, A., Petrisko, T.J., Fonseca, M. I., Mortazavi, A., Tenner, A.J., Modulation of C5a-C5aR1 signaling alters the dynamics of AD progression. J. Neuroinflammation 19:178, 2022. PMC9277945

Cong, Q., Soteros, B.M., Tenner, A. J., and Sia, G-M. C1q and SRPX2 regulate microglia mediated synapse elimination during early development in the visual thalamus but not the visual cortex. Glia 70:451–465, 2022. PMC8732326

Holden,S.S., Grandi, F. C., Aboubakr, O., Higashikubo, B., Cho, F. S., Chang, A. H., Forero, A. O., Morningstar, A., Mathur, V., Kuhn, L. J., Suri, P. Sankaranarayanan, S., Andrews-Zwilling, Y., Tenner, A. J., Luthi, A., Aronica, E., Corces, M. R., Yednock, T. and Paz, J. T., Complement factor C1q mediates sleep spindle loss and epileptic spikes after mild brain injury. Science 373, 2021. DOI: 10.1126/science.abj2685 PMC8750918

Gomez Arboledas, A., Acharya, M. and Tenner, A. J. The role of complement in synaptic pruning and neurodegeneration. Immunotargets 10:373-386, 2021. PMC8478425

Garred, P., Tenner, A. J., and Mollnes, T.E. Therapeutic Targeting of the Complement System from Rare Diseases to Pandemics., Pharmacol. Reviews 73:792-827, 2021.

Markarian, M., Krattli, R. P., Baddour, J.D., Alikhani, L., Giedzinski, E., Usmani, M. T., Agrawal, A., Baulch, J. E., Tenner, A. J., and Acharya, M. M. Glia-selective deletion of complement C1q prevents radiation-induced cognitive deficits and neuroinflammation. Cancer Research DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-20-2565, 2021.

Schartz, N.D. and Tenner, A. J. The Good, the Bad and the Opportunities of the Complement System in Neurodegenerative Disease, J. Neuroinflammation 17:354-378, 2020 (invited review) PMC7690210

Vitek, M. P., Araujo, J. A., Fossel, M., Greenberg, B. D., Howell, G. R., Sukoff Rizzo, S.J., Seyfried, N. T., Tenner, A. J., Territo, P.R., Windisch, M., Bain, L.J., Ross, A., Carrillo, M.C., Lamb, B.T., Edelmayer, R.M. Translational animal models for Alzheimer's disease: An Alzheimer's Association Business Consortium Think Tank. Alzheimer's & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions, 2020;6:e12114. https://doi.org/10.1002/trc2.12114.

Tenner, A. J. Complement-Mediated Events in Alzheimer's Disease: Mechanisms and Potential Therapeutic Targets, J. Immunol. 204:306-315, 2020. PMC6951444

Oblak, A.L., Forner, S., Territo, P.R., Sasner, M., Carter, G.W., Howell, G.R., Sukoff-Rizzo, S.J., Logsdon B.A., Mangravite, L.M., Mortazavi, A., Baglietto-Vargas D., Green, K.N., MacGregor, G.R., Wood, M.A., Tenner, A.J., LaFerla,F.M., Lamb, B.T., and The MODEL-AD Consortium. Model Organism Development and Evaluation for Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease: MODEL-AD, Alzheimer's & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions 6:e12110, 2020. PMC7683958

Bohlson, S. S., Garred, P., Kemper, C. and Tenner, A.J. Complement Nomenclature-Deconvoluted. Frontiers in Immunology 10:1-6, 2019.

Tenner, A. J., Stevens, B. and Woodruff, T. M., New Tricks for an Ancient System: Physiological and Pathological Roles of Complement in the CNS, Mol. Immunol. 102:3-13, 2018.

Crane, A., Brubaker, W.D., Johansson, J.U., Trigunaite, A., Ceballos, J., Bradt, B., Glavis-Bloom, C., Wallace, T.L., Tenner, A.J., and Rogers,J. Peripheral complement interactions with amyloid ß peptide (Aß) in Alzheimer's disease: 2. Relationship to Aß immunotherapy, Alzheimer’s and Dementia. 14:248-252, 2018. PMC5881571

Hernandez, M.X., Jiang, S. Cole,T.A., Chu, S-H, Fonseca, M.I., Fang, M.J., Hohsfield, L.A., Torres, M.D., Green, K.N., Wetsel, R.A., Mortazavi,A. and Tenner, A.J. Prevention of C5aR1 Signaling Delays Microglial Inflammatory Polarization, Favors Clearance Pathways and Suppresses Cognitive Loss, Mol. Neurodegeneration, 12:66, 2017. PMC5604420

Thielens, N.M., Tedesco, F., Bohlson,S.S., Gaboriaud,C., Tenner, A.J. C1q: A fresh look upon an old molecule. Mol. Immunol. 89 :73-83, 2017

Brubaker, W.D., Crane, A., Johansson, J.U., Yen, K., Garfinkel, K., Mastroeni,D, Leonard, B.,Asok, P., Bradt,B., Sabbagh,M., Wallace, T.L., Glavis-Bloom, C., Tenner, A.J., and Rogers,J., Peripheral complement interactions with amyloid ß peptide (Aß) in Alzheimer’s disease: 1. Erythrocyte clearance of Aß. Alzheimer’s and Dementia, 2017. PMID: 28475854 DOI:10.1016/j.jalz.2017.03.010

Hernandez, M.X., Namiranian,P., Nguyen, E., Fonseca, M.I., and Tenner, A.J. C5a increases the injury to primary neurons elicited by fibrillar amyloid beta. ASNeuro DOI: 10.1177/1759091416687871, 2017. PMID:28078911

Fonseca, M.I., Chu,S-H., Hernandez, M.X., Fang, M.J., Modarresi, L., Selvan, P., MacGregor G.R. and Tenner, A.J., Cell specific deletion of C1qa identifies microglia as the dominant source of C1q in mouse brain J. Neuroinflammation, 14:48, 2017.

Fonseca, M.I., Chu,S-H., Pierce, A.L., Brubaker, W.D., Hauhart, R.E., Mastroeni, D., Clarke, E.V., Rogers, J., Atkinson, J.P., and Tenner, A.J., Analysis of the putative role of CR1 in Alzheimer’s disease: Genetic association, expression, and function. Plos One 11(2): e0149792 , 2016. (PMCID: PMC4767815)

Clarke, E.V., Weist, B.M., Walsh, C.M. and Tenner, A.J., Complement protein C1q bound to apoptotic cells suppresses human macrophage and dendritic-cell mediated Th17 and Th1 T cell subset proliferation. J. Leuk. Biol. 97:147-160, 2015.

Clarke, E.V. and Tenner, A.J., Complement modulation of T cell immune responses during homeostasis and disease. J. Leuk. Biol. 96:745-756, 2014.

Benoit, M.E., Hernandez, M., Dinh, M., Benavente,F., Vasquez,O. and Tenner, A.J. C1q-induced LRP1B and GPR6, expressed early in AD mouse models, are essential for the C1q-mediated protection against Aß neurotoxicity, J. Biol. Chem. 288:654-665 2013. PMC3537064

Fonseca, M.I., McGuire, S.O., Counts,S.E. and Tenner, A.J., Complement Activation Fragment C5a Receptors, CD88 and C5L2, are associated with neurofibrillary pathology. J. Neuroinflammation 10:25, 2013. PMCID: PMC3605123

Chandrasekhar, A., Dinasarapu,D.R., Tenner, A.J., Subramaniam, S., Complement C1q subcomponent subunit A, UCSD Molecule Page, 2012, doi:10.6072/H0.MP.A004228.01)

Benoit, M.E., Clarke, E.V., Morgado, P., Fraser, D.A. and Tenner, A.J., Complement protein C1q directs macrophage polarization and limits inflammasome activity during the uptake of apoptotic cells, J. Immunol 188 5682-5693, 2012.

Linnartz B, Kopatz J, Tenner AJ, Neumann H., Sialic Acid on the neuronal glycocalyx prevents complement c1 binding and complement receptor-3-mediated removal by microglia.
J Neurosci. 32(3):946-52, 2012.

Benoit ME, Tenner AJ., Complement protein C1q-mediated neuroprotection is correlated with regulation of neuronal gene and microRNA expression. J Neurosci. 2011 Mar 2;31(9):3459-69.

Veerhuis R, Nielsen HM, Tenner AJ. Complement in the brain. Mol Immunol. 2011 Aug;48(14):1592-603.

Fonseca MI, Chu SH, Berci AM, Benoit ME, Peters DG, Kimura Y, Tenner AJ., Contribution of complement activation pathways to neuropathology differs among mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. J Neuroinflammation. 2011 Jan 15;8(1):4.

Fraser D.A., Tenner AJ., Innate immune proteins C1q and mannan-binding lectin enhance clearance of atherogenic lipoproteins by human monocytes and macrophages. J Immunol. 2010 Oct 1;185(7):3932-9.

Fraser.D.A., Pisalyaput, K., and Tenner, A.J., C1q enhances microglial clearance of apoptotic neurons and neuronal blebs, and modulates subsequent inflammatory cytokine production. J. Neurochem. 112:733-743, 2010.

Ager, R.R., Fonseca, M.I., Chu,S., Sanderson, S., Taylor, S.M., Woodruff, T.M., and Tenner, A.J., Microglial C5aR (CD88) expression correlates with amyloid-ß deposition in murine models of Alzheimer’s Disease, J. Neurochem. 113:389–401, 2010.

Klos, A., Tenner, A.J., Johswich, K-O., Ager, R.R., Reis, E.S. and J. Köhl, The Role of the Anaphylatoxins in Health and Disease. Mol. Immunol. 46:13624-13648, 2009.

Fonseca, M.F., Ager, R.R., Chu, S., Yazan, O., Sanderson, S., LaFerla, F.M., Taylor, S.M., Woodruff, T.M., Tenner, A.J., Treatment with a C5aR Antagonist Decreases Pathology and Enhances Behavioral Performance in Murine Models of Alzheimer Disease. J. Immunol. 183:1375-1383, 2009.

Fraser,D.A., Laust, A.K., Nelson, E.L. and Tenner, A.J., C1q differentially modulates phagocytosis and cytokine responses during ingestion of apoptotic cells by human monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells. J.Immunol. 183;6175-6185, 2009

Zhou, J., Fonseca,, M.I., Pisalyaput, K. and Tenner, A.J. Complement C3 and C4 expression in murine mouse models of Alzheimer’s Disease. J. Neurochem. 106: 2080-2092, 2008.

Li,M., Ager, R.R., Fraser, D.A., Tjokro, N.O. and Tenner, AJ., Development of a Humanized C1q A Chain Knock-in Mouse: Assessment of Antibody Independent ß-Amyloid Induced Complement Activation. Mol. Immunol. 45:3244-3252, 2008.

Fraser, D.A. and Tenner, A.J. Directing an appropriate immune response: The role of defense collagens and other soluble pattern recognition molecules. Current Drug Targets, "Modulators of the Innate Immune System." Suzanne S. Bohlson, guest editor; Bentham Science Publishers, 9:113-122, 2008.

Pisalyaput, K. and Tenner, A.J., Complement component C1q inhibits ß-amyloid and serum amyloid P induced neurotoxicity via caspase and calpain-independent mechanisms. J. Neurochem. 104:696-707, 2008.

Lillis, A.P., Greenlee, M.C., Mikhailenko, I., Pizzo, S.V., Tenner, A.J., Strickland, D.K.and Bohlson, S.S. The low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP/CD91) is not required for the C1q-triggered enhancement of phagocytosis in murine macrophages. J.Immunol. 181:364-373, 2008.

Tenner, A.J. and Pisalyaput, K., The Complement System in the CNS: Thinking again. In Central Nervous System Diseases and Inflammation, Eds: Thomas E. Lane, Monica Carson, Connie Bergmann, Tony Wyss-Coray, Springer, New York (Invited Review), pp. 153-174, 2008.

Fraser, D.A., Arora, M., Bohlson, S.S., Lozano, E., and Tenner, A.J., Generation of Inhibitory NFkB complexes and pCREB correlates with the anti-inflammatory activity of complement protein C1q in human monocytes. J. Biol. Chem. 282:7360-7367, 2007

Bohlson, S.S., Fraser, D.A., and Tenner, A.J. Complement Proteins C1q and MBL are Pattern Recognition Molecules that Signal Immediate and Long Term Protective Immune Functions. Mol. Immunol. 44:33-43, 2007.

Fraser, D.A., Bohlson, S.S., Jasinskiene, N., Rawal, N., Palmerini, G., Ruiz, S., Rochford, R., and Tenner, A.J., C1q and MBL, components of the innate immune system, influence monocyte cytokine expression, J. Leuk. Biol. 80:107-116, 2006.

Zhou, J., M. I. Fonseca, R. Kayed, S. D. Webster, I. Hernandez, O.Yazan, D. H. Cribbs, C.G. Glabe, and A. J. Tenner, “Novel Aß peptide immunogens modulate plaque pathology and inflammation in a murine model of Alzheimer’s Disease”, J. Neuroinflammation 2:28, 2005.

Bohlson, S.S., Silva, R., Fonseca, M. and Tenner, A.J. CD93 is rapidly shed from the surface of human myeloid cells and the soluble form is detected in human plasma, J. Immunol.175:1239-1247, 2005.

Fan, R. and Tenner, A.J. Differential regulation of Aß42-induced neuronal C1q synthesis and microglial activation. J. Neuroinflammation 2: 1-13, 2005

Bohlson, S.S., Zhang, M., Ortiz, C.E. and Tenner, A.J. The adaptor protein GIPC interacts with CD93 via a class I PDZ binding domain and a highly charged juxtamembrane region of the CD93 cytoplasmic tail. J. Leuk. Biol. 77: 80-89, 2005.

Fonseca, M.I., Zhou, J., Botto, M., and Tenner, A.J. Absence of Complement protein C1q leads to less neuropathology in transgenic mouse models of AD. ,J. Neuroscience 24: 6457-6465, 2004.

NIH NIA T32 AG000096 “Training in the Neurobiology of Aging” (MPI, C.W. Cotman, A.J. Tenner)

NIH NIA U54 AG054349 “UC Irvine AD Translational Center for Disease Model Resources” (MPI, A. J. Tenner, F M. LaFerla)

NIH NIA R01 AG060148 “Defining the Mechanistic Link between C5aR1 signaling and cognitive loss in Alzheimer's diseases.” (MPI, A.J. Tenner, A. Mortazavi)

NIH NIA R21 AG061746 “Modulating Polarization of Glial Cells in AD mouse models by a Complement Receptor Antagonist” (PI)

NIH R21 AG068573 (MPI R. Spitale, A.J. Tenner MPI) “Assessing cell specific proteomes in the presence and absence of C5a complement signaling in Alzheimer’s disease models”

American Association of Immunology

Society for Neuroscience

American Society for Cell Biology

International Complement Society, Founding Councilor

Society for Leukocyte Biology

American Society for Neurochemistry

American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

International Complement Society, Past President

ISTAART – PIA Immunity and Neurodegeneration

ADVANCE Equity Advisor
UCI 2004—2007

Director
UCI MIND 2014—2016

President
International Complement Society 2014—2016

Associate Dean for Research
School of Biological Sciences 2007—2012

Cellular and Molecular Biosciences

Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program

UCI MIND - Institute for Memory Impairment and Neurological Disorders

Institute for Immunology

Link to this profile
https://faculty.uci.edu/profile/?facultyId=2679

Last updated
04/15/2023