H. Terry Wepsic

Picture of H. Terry Wepsic
Clinical Professor, Pathology
School of Medicine
M.D., Yale Medical School, 1968
Phone: (562) 494-5801
Email: terry.wepsic@med.va.gov
University of California, Irvine
Veterans Affairs Medical Center of Long Beach
5901 E. 7th Street (11)
Mail Code: 6500
Long Beach, CA 90822
Research Interests
Immunosuppression, macrophages, macrophage
colony
stimulating factor, Rosai-Dorfman Disease, tumor
vaccine,
macrophage cytotoxicit
Academic Distinctions
Appointments
Research Abstract
Current research interests involve the mechanisms through which macrophages can modulate the activities of the immune system. These cells can both enhance immune responses as well as inhibit immunity. We have previously identified that a cloned suppressor hybridoma cell line induces natural suppression through the release of a cytokine, macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF). M-CSF activated macrophages suppressed lymphocytic responses through a non-apoptotic pathways. This animal model may be the first in vitro model of a human disease known as Rosai-Dorfman disease. Besides making a secreted form of M-CSF, our cell line possesses another isoform of M-CSF which resides on the membrane of the cell. Macrophages now have the ability to kill those tumor cells which possess.


The hypothesis that we are testing is that tumor cells which possess membrane bound M-CSF are able to stimulate macrophages into killing those cells. Macrophages which have killed these tumor cells are now able to stimulate the host's immune system, there by creating a tumor vaccine.
Publications
Jadus, M.R., M.N. Irwin, M.R. Irwin, H.T. Wepsic. The
membrane isoform of macrophage colony stimulating
factor allows the cytotoxic signal to be delivered by killer
macrophages. Manuscript in preparation (1995).
Jadus, M.R., S. Sekhon, B.E. Barton, H.T. Wepsic.
Macrophage colony stimulating factor activated bone
marrow macrophages suppress lymphocytic
responses through phagocytosis: a tentative in vitro
model of Rosai-Dorfman Disease. Journal of
Leukocyte Biology, (manuscript accepted for
publication), Feb. 1995.
Jadus, M.R., M.R. Irwin, B.E. Barton, M.N. Irwin, H.T.
Wepsic. The identification of the neonatal NBXFO
hybridoma cell and its mediator. Comparative and
Developmental Immunology, (manuscript accepted for
publication), Feb. 1995.
Gelfand, R., H.T. Wepsic, L.N. Parker, M.R. Jadus.
Prostaglandin E2 induce upregulation of murine
macrophage beta endorphin receptors. Immunology
Letters. 45:143-148, 1995.
Last updated
04/04/2002