The primary goal of my translational research is to improve the understanding of environmental effects on human health and human immunity during infections such as with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb), the bacterium that causes TB. For the past 15 years my lab, in collaboration with others, has spearheaded research on human lung immune responses to M.tb. Our findings helped to establish the concept of compartmentalization of immune responses to the lungs in human pulmonary TB.

Recent studies from my lab with co-investigators at EOHSI and at the University of Southern California (USC), have shown that stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) alter cytokine production and toll-like receptor-mediated M.tb-specific cell activation pathways. DEPs are major components of aerosolized urban ambient fine particulate matter (PM). We noted that the production of critical M.tb-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and IL-6 was reduced in a DEP dose-dependent manner in PBMC. Furthermore, inhibition of expression of many NF-kB and IFN regulatory signaling pathway target genes was observed upon DEP stimulation in non-infected cells. These data suggest that DEPs downregulate M.tb-induced cytokine and gene expression responses thus significantly compromising antimycobacterial host immune responses.

Research Interests

• Human antimycobacterial immunity
• Human lung immunology during mycobacteriumtuberculosis infection and disease
• Effects of particulate matter on antimycobacterial immunity

Recent Publications

1. Son, Y, Weisel, C, Wackowski, O, Schwander, S, Delnevo, C, Meng, Q. The Impact of Device Settings, Use Patterns, and Flavorings on Carbonyl Emissions from Electronic Cigarettes. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17 (16):. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17165650. PubMed PMID:32764435 PubMed Central PMC7460324
2. Son, Y, Mainelis, G, Delnevo, C, Wackowski, OA, Schwander, S, Meng, Q. Investigating E-Cigarette Particle Emissions and Human Airway Depositions under Various E-Cigarette-Use Conditions. Chem Res Toxicol. 2020;33 (2):343-352. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.9b00243. PubMed PMID:31804072 PubMed Central PMC7301609
3. Ibironke, O, Carranza, C, Sarkar, S, Torres, M, Choi, HT, Nwoko, J, Black, K, Quintana-Belmares, R, Osornio-Vargas, Á, Ohman-Strickland, P et al.. Urban Air Pollution Particulates Suppress Human T-Cell Responses to Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16 (21):. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16214112. PubMed PMID:31731429 PubMed Central PMC6862251
4. Sarkar, S, Rivas-Santiago, CE, Ibironke, OA, Carranza, C, Meng, Q, Osornio-Vargas, Á, Zhang, J, Torres, M, Chow, JC, Watson, JG et al.. Season and size of urban particulate matter differentially affect cytotoxicity and human immune responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. PLoS One. 2019;14 (7):e0219122. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219122. PubMed PMID:31295271 PubMed Central PMC6622489
5. Torres, M, Carranza, C, Sarkar, S, Gonzalez, Y, Osornio Vargas, A, Black, K, Meng, Q, Quintana-Belmares, R, Hernandez, M, Angeles Garcia, JJF et al.. Urban airborne particle exposure impairs human lung and blood Mycobacterium tuberculosis immunity. Thorax. 2019;74 (7):675-683. doi: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2018-212529. PubMed PMID:31036772 PubMed Central PMC7162557
6. Son, Y, Mishin, V, Laskin, JD, Mainelis, G, Wackowski, OA, Delnevo, C, Schwander, S, Khlystov, A, Samburova, V, Meng, Q et al.. Hydroxyl Radicals in E-Cigarette Vapor and E-Vapor Oxidative Potentials under Different Vaping Patterns. Chem Res Toxicol. 2019;32 (6):1087-1095. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.8b00400. PubMed PMID:30977360 PubMed Central PMC6579624
7. Kirenga, BJ, Nantanda, R, de Jong, C, Mugenyi, L, Meng, Q, Aniku, G, Williams, S, Aanyu-Tukamuhebwa, H, Kamya, M, Schwander, S et al.. Lung Function of Children at Three Sites of Varying Ambient Air Pollution Levels in Uganda: A Cross Sectional Comparative Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15 (12):. doi: 10.3390/ijerph15122653. PubMed PMID:30486291 PubMed Central PMC6313711
8. Son, Y, Wackowski, O, Weisel, C, Schwander, S, Mainelis, G, Delnevo, C, Meng, Q. Evaluation of E-Vapor Nicotine and Nicotyrine Concentrations under Various E-Liquid Compositions, Device Settings, and Vaping Topographies. Chem Res Toxicol. 2018;31 (9):861-868. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.8b00063. PubMed PMID:30080399 PubMed Central PMC6350771
9. Son, Y, Osornio-Vargas, ÁR, O’Neill, MS, Hystad, P, Texcalac-Sangrador, JL, Ohman-Strickland, P, Meng, Q, Schwander, S. Land use regression models to assess air pollution exposure in Mexico City using finer spatial and temporal input parameters. Sci Total Environ. 2018;639 :40-48. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.144. PubMed PMID:29778680 PubMed Central PMC10896644
10. Ellis, T, Chiappi, M, García-Trenco, A, Al-Ejji, M, Sarkar, S, Georgiou, TK, Shaffer, MSP, Tetley, TD, Schwander, S, Ryan, MP et al.. Multimetallic Microparticles Increase the Potency of Rifampicin against Intracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis. ACS Nano. 2018;12 (6):5228-5240. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.7b08264. PubMed PMID:29767993