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Ana Jewett , PhD, MPH
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Associate Professor:
Director:
- Flow Cytometry Core Facility, Weintraub Center for Reconstructive Biotechnology, UCLA School of Dentistry
Associate Member:
- UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
- American Association of Immunologists (AAI)
- American Association of Advancement for Science (AAAS)
- Southern California American Society for Microbiology (SCASM)
- International and American Association of Dental Research (IADR, AADR)
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Contact Info:
The Weintraub Center for Reconstructive Biotechnology
UCLA School of Dentistry
Box 951668, CHS B3-087
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1668
Email:
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Despite many recent advances in surgical, radiological, and chemotherapeutic modalities, many cancer patients continue to suffer from treatment side effects and disabilities caused by their advancing tumors. Dr. Jewett’s research involves designing an immunotherapeutic strategy using gene therapy to eradicate tumor cells and establish long-term immunological memory in patients suffering from oral cancers. In order to achieve this goal it is essential to study the detailed mechanisms which govern the immune function in cancer. Applying this concept, Dr. Jewett is studying the interactions between immune cells and cancer cells, with the goal of better understanding their relationship for the successful design of a cancer vaccine. Dr. Jewett is also the Principal Investigator of a dental resin sensitization study, investigating the role of resin-based biomaterials, namely HEMA and TEGDMA, in immune sensitization and the induction of allergic responses. From a model system developed in the laboratory, Dr. Jewett has delineated several potential mechanisms by which these biomaterials influence these outcomes. The results have revealed that the induction of apoptosis, or cell death, in normal tissue cells by these chemicals may play an important role in the initiation and progression of allergic responses.
Areas of Research:
- Dental Immunology
- Oral Cancer
- Dental Resin Toxicity
Recent Publications:
- Jewett A, Cacalano NA., Head C, Teruel A, Coengagement of CD16 and CD94 Receptors Mediates Secretion of Chemokines and Induces Apoptotic Death of Naive Natural Killer Cells. Clin Cancer Res, 12(7):1994-2003, 2006.
- Jewett A, Cacalano NA, et al. Inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B (NFkappaB) activity in oral tumor cells prevents depletion of NK cells and increases their functional activation. Cancer Immunol Immunother, 18;1-12, 2005.
- Kaplan CW, Lux R, Huynh T, Jewett A, Shi W, Haake SK. Fusobacterium nucleatum Apoptosis-inducing Outer Membrane Protein. J Dent Res. 84(8):700-4, 2005.
- Egusa H, Nikawa H, Makihiral S, Jewett A, Yatani H, Hamada T. Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1-Dependent Activation of Interleukin 8 Expression in Candida albicans–Infected Human Gingival Epithelial Cells, Infect Immun, 73(1):622-6, 2005.
- Paranjpe A, Bordador LCF, Wang M-Y, Hume WR, Jewett A. Resin monomer 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) is a potent inducer of apoptotic cell death in human and mouse cells. J Dent Res, 84(2):172-177, 2005.
- Anahid Jewett, Nicholas A. Cacalano. Potential Mechanisms of Immunosuppression by Oral Cancers. Critical Reviews in Oral Biology and Medicine (in press) review article.
- Anahid Jewett*, Nicholas Cacalano, Antonia Teruel. Engagement of CD16 NK cell receptors by intact as well as F(ab’)2 fragments of CD16 antibodies induces apoptotic death of naïve NK cells and triggers chemokine secretion. (manuscript submitted).
- Antonia Teruel , Christian Head and Anahid Jewett Inverse modulation of NFκB and JNK and decreased production of immune-inhibitory factors IL-6 and VEGF in oral tumors by sulindac: effect on the cross-talk between the immune cells and the tumor cells. (manuscript submitted).
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