Faculty
Elizabeth M. Gardner, Associate Professor
Ph.D., The Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1994
B.S., Chesnut Hill College, 1987
234C G.M. Trout FSHN Building
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1224
Phone: (517) 355-8474, Ext. 124
Lab: (517) 355-8474, Ext. 177
Fax: (517) 353-8963
E-mail: egardner@msu.edu
Research Interests:
Nutritional Immunology
Immunity decreases in aging, most well documented as an impaired cell-mediated response to antigen, i.e., reduced T cell proliferation and altered cytokine production. Aged mice also exhibit altered innate immunity, including a decrease in inducible natural killer (NK) cell activity, although such changes have not been consistent in humans. Influenza is perhaps the best characterized model for studying the immune response to virus, and influenza and its secondary pneumonias represent a major public health concern in the U.S., particularly among the elderly. We and others have shown that the immune response to influenza vaccine is reduced in the elderly as evidenced by lower antibody titers, decreased T cell proliferative responses, reducted cytotoxic T cell activity, and altered cytokine production compared to young controls. However, the study of immunity, particularly in the elderly, can no longer be limited to efficacy of vaccination, given the emergence of new viral strains of common viruses, such as avian influenza, and the threat of using viruses to which there are no current vaccines as agents of bioterrorism. Therefore, a major emphasis of our lab is the response of young and aged mice to primary influenza infection at the site of infection, i.e., the lung, with a particular interest in innate (NK cell function) and cell-mediated immunity. We also study the effects of nutritional interventions, including antioxidants and nutraceuticals, on outcome to primary influenza infection or as adjuvants to vaccination. Caloric restriction (CR) without malnutrition decreases oxidative stress and extends mean and maximal lifespan in mice. While elderly CR mice have been reported to have an increased response to influenza vaccination, the response to CR mice to primary infection is not known. Our data suggest that a defect in NK cell function decreases survival of CR mice in response to primary influenza infection.
Recent Publications:
Gonzalez, E., Gardner, E. and Murasko, D. 2007. Recruitment and retention of older adults in influenza immunization study. J. Cultural Diver. 14: 81-87.
Kassim, S.H., Rajasagi, N.K., Ritz, B. W. Pruett, S., Gardner, E.M., Chervenak R., and Jennings S.R. 2007. Dendritic cells are required for optimal activation of natural killer functions following primary infection with herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1). (Submitted, J. Immunol).
Nogusa, S, Ritz, B.W. Kassim S.H, Jennings S.R. and Gardner, E.M. 2007. Characterization of Age-Related Changes in Natural Killer Cells during Primary Influenza Infection (Submitted, Mech. Aging Devel.)
Ritz B.W., Nogusa, S., Ackerman, E.A., and Gardner, E.M. 2006. Supplementation with Active Hexose Correlated Compound Increases the Innate Immune Response of Young Mice to Primary Influenza Infection. J. Nutr. 36: 2868-2873.
Langkamp-Henken, B., Wood, S.M., Herrlinger-Garcia, K.A., Stechmiller, J.K., Thomas, D.J., Bender, B.S., Schaller, J.P., *Gardner, E.M., Murasko, D.M. 2006. Nutritional formula improved immune profiles in a nursing home population. JAGS. 54: 1861-1870.
Gonzalez, E., Gardner, E. and Murasko, D. 2006. Recruitment and retention of older adults in influenza immunization study. J. Cultural Diver. (In Press, Summer, 2007 publishing date).
Gardner, E.M., Gonzalez, E.W., Nogusa, S. and Murasko, D.M. 2006. Age-related changes in the immune response to influenza vaccination in a racially Diverse, healthy elderly population. Vaccine 24: 609-614.
Simons, D.M., Gardner, E.M. and Lelkes, P.I. 2005. Dynamic culture in a rotating wall vessel bioreactor differentially inhibits murine T lymphocyte activity by mitogenic stimuli upon return to static conditions in a time-dependent manner. J. Applied Physiol. 100: 1287-1292.
Ritz, B.W., Lelkes, P.I. and Gardner, E.M. 2005. Functional recovery of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in modeled microgravity. FASEB J. 2: 305-307.
Gardner, E.M. 2005. Caloric restriction decreases survival of aged mice in response to primary influenza infection. J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci: 60: 688-694.
Langkamp-Henken, B, Bender, B.S., Gardner, E.M., Herrlinger-Garcia, K.A., Kelley, M.J., McEwen, J., Murasko, D.M., Schaller, J., Simpson, J.M., Stechmiller, J.K., Thomas, D., and Wood, S.M. 2004. Nutritional formula-enhanced immune function and reduced days of symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection in seniors. JAGS: 52: 3-12.
Gardner, E.M., and Murasko, D.M. 2002. Age-related changes in type 1 and type 2 cytokine production in humans. Biogerontol. 3:271-290.
Po, J.L.Z., Gardner, E.M., Anaraki, F., Katsikis, P.D., Murasko, D.M. 2002. Age-associated decrease in virus-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes during primary influenza infection. Mech Ageing Devel. 123: 1167-1181.
Murasko, D.M., Bernstein, E.D, Gardner, E.M., Gross, P., Munk, G., Dran, S., and Abrutyn, E. 2002. Role of humoral and cell-mediated immunity in protection from influenza disease after immunization of healthy elderly. Exp. Gerontol. 37:427-439.
Li, M., Torres, C., Acuna-Castillo, R., Walter, R., Gardner, E.M., Murasko, D.M., and Sierra, F. 2001. A defect in ERK2 and JNK2 activation in aging mouse splenocytes. J. Gerontol. Series A-Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. 57: B41-47.
Gardner, E.M., Bernstein, E.D, Dran, S., Munk, G., Abrutyn, E., and Murasko, D.M. 2001. Characterization of antibody responses to annual influenza vaccination over four years in a healthy elderly population. Vaccine 19: 4610-4617
Plett, P.A., Gardner, E.M., and Murasko D.M. 2000. Age-related changes in interferon-α/β receptor expression, binding, and induction of apoptosis in natural killer cells from C57BL/6 mice. Mech. Ageing Devel. 18:129-144.
Gardner, E.M., Bernstein, E.D., Popoff, K.A., Abrutyn, E., and Murasko, D.M. 2000. Immune response to influenza vaccine in healthy elderly: Lack of association with plasma β-carotene, retinol, α-tocopherol or zinc. Mech. Ageing Devel. 117:29-45.
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