Pushpa Pandiyan, PhD

Associate Professor
Biological Sciences
School of Dental Medicine
Member
Immune Oncology Program
Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
Member
Center for AIDS Research

My research includes mucosal immunology, immune dysfunction during infections, T-cell subsets and immunoregulation during inflammation and tumorigenesis.

Pushpa Pandiyan's Biography 

Research Information

Research Interests

Pandiyan research includes mucosal immunology, immune dysfunction during infections, T-cell subsets and immunoregulation during inflammation and tumorigenesis.

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

Amphiregulin-Immunometabolism axis in oral immunity and inflammation during HIV infection
Role: Principal Investigator
Sponsor: NIH – NIDCR (2R01 DE026923)
Project Period: 06/01/2022 - 05/31/2027

Impact of preexisting immune profile in elderly on influenza vaccine response
Role: Co-Investigator
Sponsor: Louis Stokes VAMC MERIT Grant (BX006011 - PI: Shive)
Project Period: 03/01/2022 - 10/31/2023

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 - 05/31/2022

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 MERIT Grant (BX005480 - PI: D. Anthony)
Project Period: 11/01/2020 - 10/31/2023

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

Performance Award for Special Achievement
2012
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Performance Award for Special Achievement
2011
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Performance Award for Special Achievement
2010
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Post-doctoral Fellow Award
2008
International Cytokine Society
Paper of the Year
2007
National Institutes of Health Cytokine Interest Group
Travel Award
2008
American Association of Immunologists
Invitrogen Trainee Achievement Award
2008
American Association of Immunologists
Travel Grant
2003
National Institutes of Health Keystone Conference
Travel Grant
2003
Humboldt University
PhD Fellowship Grant
2001
Humboldt University

Publications

Bhaskaran, N, Schneider, E, Faddoul, F, Paes da Silva, A, Asaad, R, Talla, A, Greenspan, N, Levine, AD, McDonald, D, Karn, J, Lederman, MM, and Pandiyan, P. Oral immune dysfunction is associated with the expansion of FOXP3 + PD-1 + Amphiregulin + T cells during HIV infection. Nature Communications. 2021 Aug 26;12(1):5143. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-25340-w. PMID: 34446704 PMCID: PMC8390677.

Bhaskaran N, Jayaraman S, Quigley C, Mamileti P, Ghannoum M, Weinberg A, Thuener J, Pan Q, Pandiyan P. The Role of Dectin-1 Signaling in Altering Tumor Immune Microenvironment in the Context of Aging. Frontiers in Oncology. 2021 Apr 22;11:669066. PMID: 33968777, PMCID: PMC8100664, DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.669066.

Pandiyan, P and McCormick  TS. Regulation of IL-17A-Producing Cells in Skin Inflammatory Disorders. J Invest Dermatol. 2021 (21) 01673-0.doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.06.036. PMID: 34561088.

Mahalingam, SS, Jayaraman, S, Bhaskaran, N, Schneider, E, Faddoul, F, Paes da Silva, A, Lederman, MM, Asaad, R, Adkins-Travis K, Shriver LP, and Pandiyan, P. Polyamine metabolism impacts T cell dysfunction in the oral mucosa of people living with HIV. Nature Communications. 2023 Jan 25;14(1):399.  PMID: 36693889  PMCID: PMC9873639.  DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36163-2.

Mahalingam, SS, Jayaraman, S, Arunkumar, A, Anthony, D, Jacobson, J, and Pandiyan, P. Distinct SARS-CoV-2 specific NLRP3 and IL-1β responses in T cells of aging patients during acute COVID-19 infection. Frontiers in Immunology. 2023 Sep 18;14:1231087. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1231087.
 
D'Silva NJ, Pandiyan, P. Neuroimmune cell interactions and chronic infections in oral cancers. Frontiers in Medicine. 2024 Jul 10:11:1432398. PMID: 39050547 PMCID: PMC11266022 DOI:10.3389/fmed.2024.1432398.
 
Mahalingam, SS, and Pandiyan, P. Polyamines: Key players in immunometabolism and immune regulation. J. Cellular Immunology. 2024; 6(5):196–208. doi: 10.33696/immunology.6.206. PMCID: PMC11666123; NIHMSID: NIHMS2036705  PMID: 39717382.
Complete List of Published Work: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Pandiyan+P
 

Complete list of published works in My Bibliography

Education

Postdoctoral Fellowship
National Academy of Sciences
2009
Doctor of Philosophy
Immunology
Humboldt University
Master of Science
Microbiology
Bharathidasan University