Vithal K. Ghanta
Ph. D. (Chemistry & Biochemistry), 1970, Southern Illinois University
Cancer Immunology
Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294-1170
Phone: (205) 934-4482 | | | FAX: (205) 975-6097
Research Description:
Primary interest of our group centers on the communication between immune system and the
central nervous system. The interaction between these two systems has now been firmly
established due to the sharing of common signal molecules and also the presence of receptors
for these molecules. One direct way of studying this communication is with conditioning.
Our group is using conditioning of immune functions such as natural killer (NK) cell activity
and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activity. The stimuli for the conditioned augmentation of NK
cell activity are poly I:C (unconditioned stimulus, US) and odor of camphor (conditioned
stimulus, CS). We have established that the afferent signal for conditioned augmentation of
NK cell activity is interferon and the efferent signals are derived from the opioid pathway and
also hypothalamus-pituitary axis. However, the neural 'site' where the CS signal (camphor
odor) links with the US (interferon) or the neural route within the CNS by which the CS
triggers the expression of the conditioned response has not been clearly established. The
goals of our research are to establish the mechanisms of conditioning and also applications
of conditioning as a modality for the treatment of cancer in mice. In addition to immune
system and central nervous system communication, we are also interested in the development
of immunotherapy strategies for the treatment of murine tumors.
Representative Publications:
Hsueh, C-M., S-F. Chen, V.K. Ghanta and R.N. Hiramoto. 1996. Involvement of cytokine gene expression in the
age-dependent decline of NK cell response. Cell. Immunol. 173:221-229.
Ghanta, V., S. Demissie, N. Hiramoto and R. Hiramoto. 1996. Conditioning of body temperature and NK cell activity with
arecoline a muscarinic cholinergic agonist. Neuroimmunomodulation 3:233-238.
Hiramoto, R., C-M. Hsueh, S. Demissie, C. Rogers, J. Lorden and V. Ghanta. 1997. Psychoneuroendocrineimmunology:
Site of recognition, learning, and memory in the immune system and the brain (Review). Int. J. Neurosci. 92:259-286.
Hiramoto, R, Solvason, B, Hsueh, C-M, Rogers, C, Demissie, S, Hiramoto, N, Gauthier, D, Lorden, J, Ghanta, V.
Psychoneuroendocrine Immunology: Perception of stress can alter body temperature and natural killer cell activity (Review). Int.
J. Neuroscience, 98:96-129, 1999.
Demissie, S, Ghanta, V, Hiramoto, N, Hiramoto, R. NK cell and CTL activities can be raised via conditioning of the CNS with
unrelated unconditioned stimuli. Int. J. Neuroscience (In press).
Graduate Admissions
Information
Return to Graduate Faculty
Listing