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Nancy H. Ruddle

 

Immunology; Microbiology

Professor of Epidemiology & Public Health and Immunobiology

Education

B.A. Mount Holyoke College 1962
Ph.D. Yale University 1968

Research Interests

We study cell trafficking and inflammation in autoimmunity and lymphoid organ development, particularly the roles of members of the lymphotoxin?/tumor necrosis factor (LT/??TNF) family. We study acute inflammation and animal models of autoimmune diseases, including Type 1 diabetes mellitus and multiple sclerosis. LT is also crucial for lymphoid organ development; LT deficient mice lack lymph nodes and Peyer’s patches and exhibit profound alterations in spleen and nasal associated lymphoid tissue. Our studies demonstrate that cytokines’ functions in lymphoid organ development and inflammation are similar; they regulate chemokines and vascular adhesion molecules. Ectopic or “tertiary” lymphoid organs arising in chronic inflammation are lymphoid accumulations that permit the presentation of foreign and self-antigens at local sites of inflammation. Our studies on high endothelial venules and lymphatic vessels elucidate developmental mechanisms and point the way towards treatment and prevention of chronic inflammation.

Recent Publications

• Liao, S., Bentley, K., Lebrun, M., Lesslauer, W., Ruddle, F.H, and Ruddle, N.H. (2007). Transgenic lacZ under control of hec-6st regulatory sequences recapitulates endogenous gene expression on high endothelial venules. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. (USA) 104:4577-4582.
• Drayton, D.L., Liao, S., Mounzer, R.H., and Ruddle, N.H. (2006). Lymphoid organ development: from ontogeny to neogenesis. Nat. Immunol. 7:344-353.

Contact

E-mail
nancy.ruddle@yale.edu