My research includes mucosal immunology, immune dysfunction during infections, T-cell subsets and immunoregulation during inflammation and tumorigenesis.
Research Information
Research Interests
- Tregs
- Th17 Cells
- Candidiasis
- HIV
- Candida Infection
- Inflammation
- IBD
Research Projects
Optimal immune responses are required to fight infections. However, if the immune responses are not regulated appropriately, they can cause inflammatory disorders. I am studying the mechanisms by which unwanted immune responses are regulated. I am focusing on how regulatory T cells (Tregs) and cytokine networks control inflammatory cells in different disease settings.
Recent Funding
Mechanisms of Th17 and Treg cell dysregulation in oral mucosal inflammation during HIV disease
Role: Principal Investigator
Sponsor: NIH – NIDCR (R01 DE026923)
Project Period: 04/01/2017 - 01/31/2022
Metabolome Analyses of Saliva Samples from HIV+ Patients on cART
Role: Principal Investigator
Sponsor: NIH – NIDCR (3R01 DE026923)
Project Period: 08/26/2020 - 01/31/2022
Immunosuppressive Cells and Propensity to Oral Cancer: Head and Neck Cancer SPORE Pilot Grant under Case Comprehensive Cancer Center Support Grant
Role: Principal Investigator (Pilot Project)
Sponsor: NIH – NCI (P30 CA04373 - PI: S.Gerson)
Project Period: 04/01/2020 - 03/31/2021
COVID19: Role of naïve T cells, age associated T cell senescence, and dysfunctional immune regulation in host response to COVID-19
Role: Co-Investigator
Sponsor: Louis Stokes VAMC (BX20-001 - PI: D. Anthony)
Project Period: 11/01/2020 - 10/31/2022
Identification and Elimination of HIV Reservoirs in Oral Lymphoid Tissues by Engineered NK Cells
Role: Co-Investigator
Sponsor: NIH – NIDCR (R01 DE025464 - PI: J. Karn)
Project Period: 08/01/2015 - 10/31/2020
Fusobacterial Associated Beta Defensin Inducer
Role: Co-Investigator
Sponsor: NIH – NIDCR (R56 DE018276 - PI: A. Weinberg)
Project Period: 09/01/2016 - 08/31/2018
Defining the Role of CD4+Foxp3+ Regulatory T cells in Immunopathogenesis of HIV Disease - CFAR Catalytic Fund
Role: Principal Investigator of sub-project
Sponsor: University Hospitals (PI: J. Karn)
Project Period: 07/01/2016 - 06/30/2017
Awards and Honors
Publications
Pandiyan, P., Zheng, L., Ishihara, S., Reed, J., and Lenardo, M.: CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells induce cytokine deprivation–mediated apoptosis of effector CD4+ T cells. Nature Immunology. 8: 1353-1362, 2007. (RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS in Science, NEWS & VIEWS in Nature Immunology).
Pandiyan, P., Conti HR, Zheng L, Peterson AC, Mathern DR, Hernández-Santos N, Edgerton M, Gaffen SL and Lenardo MJ. CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells promote Th17 cells in vitro and enhance host resistance in mouse Candida albicans Th17 cell infection model. Immunity. 34(3): 422-34. March 2011. (highlighted in RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS - in Immunity and Nature Review Immunology., Vol 11, 2011). PMCID: PMC3258585
Pandiyan, P., Yang, X, Saravanamuthu S, Ishihara S, Zheng, L, O’Shea J and Lenardo MJ. The role of IL-15 in activating STAT5 and fine-tuning IL-17A production in CD4 T lymphocytes. J Immunol. 89(9): 4237–4246. 2012. PMCID: PMC3647038
Pandiyan, P., Bhaskaran N, Zou M, Schneider E, Jayaraman S, and Huehn J., Microbiome dependent regulation of Tregs and Th17 cells in mucosa. Front Immunol; 10:426. (2019). PMCID: PMC6419713.
Pandiyan P, Zhu J. Origin and functions of pro-inflammatory cytokine producing Foxp3+ regulatory T cells. Cytokine. 2015. Jul 9; (15). PMCID: PMC4969074
Natarajan Bhaskaran, Cheriese Quigley, Clarissa Paw, Shivani Butala, Elizabeth Schneider, and Pandiyan P. Role of short chain fatty acids in controlling Tregs and immunopathology during mucosal infection. Frontiers in Microbiology; 2018. 9:1995. PMCID: PMC6117408
Bhaskaran N, Faddoul F, Paes da Silva A, Jayaraman S, Schneider E, Mamileti P, Weinberg A, Pandiyan P. IL-1β-MyD88-mTOR Axis Promotes Immune-Protective IL-17A+Foxp3+ Cells During Mucosal Infection and Is Dysregulated With Aging. Frontiers of Immunology, 2020 Nov 6;11:595936.PMCID: PMC7677307
Pandiyan P, Souheil-Antoine Younes, Susan Pereira Ribeiro, Aarthi Talla, David McDonald, Natarajan Bhaskaran, Aaron Weinberg and Rafick P Sekaly. Mucosal CD4+ T lymphocytes in HIV associated immune activation, Frontiers of Immunology, 2016. Jun 20; 7(228) PMCID: PMC4913236