The central theme of our research concerns the cellular and biochemical/molecular mechanisms controlling lymphocyte activation and function. We focus on lymphocyte signaling pathways as targets for toxic metals, in our effort to understand how toxic metals contribute to aberrations within the immune system, leading either to immunosuppressive states or to autoimmune disease. Under the umbrella of this theme, we are actively studying the immunotoxicology of metals (mercury, lead) and metalloids (arsenic).

Farrer DG, Hueber S, Laiosa MD, Eckles KG, McCabe MJ Jr. Reduction of myeloid suppressor cell derived nitric oxide provides a mechanistic basis of lead enhancement of alloreactive CD4(+) T cell proliferation. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2008 Jun 1;229(2):135-145.

McNeely SC, Belshoff AC, Taylor BF, Fan TW, McCabe MJ Jr, Pinhas AR, States JC. Sensitivity to sodium arsenite in human melanoma cells depends upon susceptibility to arsenite-induced mitotic arrest. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2008 Jun 1;229(2):252-261

Williams LK, Oliver J, Peterson EL, Bobbitt KR, McCabe MJ Jr, Smolarek D, Havstad SL, Wegienka G, Burchard EG, Ownby DR, Johnson CC. Gene-environment interactions between CD14 C-260T and endotoxin exposure on Foxp3+ and Foxp3- CD4+ lymphocyte numbers and total serum IgE levels in early childhood. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2008 Feb;100(2):128-136.

Laiosa MD, Eckles KG, Langdon M, Rosenspire AJ, McCabe MJ Jr. Exposure to inorganic mercury in vivo attenuates extrinsic apoptotic signaling in Staphylococcal aureus enterotoxin B stimulated T-cells. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2007 Dec 15;225(3):238-250

McCabe MJ Jr, Laiosa MD, Li L, Menard SL, Mattingly RR, Rosenspire AJ. Low and nontoxic inorganic mercury burdens attenuate BCR-mediated signal transduction. Toxicol Sci. 2007 Oct;99(2):512-521.

Lehmann GM, McCabe MJ Jr. Arsenite slows S phase progression via inhibition of cdc25A dual specificity phosphatase gene transcription. Toxicol Sci. 2007 Sep;99(1):70-78.

McNeely SC, Xu X, Taylor BF, Zacharias W, McCabe MJ Jr, States JC. 2006. Exit from arsenite-induced mitotic arrest is p53 dependent. Environ Health Perspect. Sep;114(9):1401-1406.

Taylor BF, McNeely SC, Miller HL, Lehmann GM, McCabe MJ Jr, States JC. 2006. p53 suppression of arsenite-induced mitotic catastrophe is mediated by p21CIP1/WAF1. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. Jul;318(1):142-151.

Ziemba SE, Mattingly RR, McCabe MJ Jr, Rosenspire AJ. 2006. Inorganic mercury inhibits the activation of LAT in T-cell receptor-mediated signal transduction. Toxicol Sci. Jan;89(1):145-153.

Ziemba SE, McCabe MJ Jr, Rosenspire AJ. 2005. Inorganic mercury dissociates preassembled Fas/CD95 receptor oligomers in T lymphocytes. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. Aug 15;206(3):334-342.

Joseph CL, Havstad S, Ownby DR, Peterson EL, Maliarik M, McCabe MJ Jr, Barone C, Johnson CC. 2005. Blood lead level and risk of asthma. Environ Health Perspect. Jul;113(7):900-904.

Farrer DG, Hueber SM, McCabe MJ Jr. 2005. Lead enhances CD4+ T cell proliferation indirectly by targeting antigen presenting cells and modulating antigen-specific interactions. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. Sep 1;207(2):125-137.

McCollum G, Keng PC, States JC, McCabe MJ Jr. 2005. Arsenite delays progression through each cell cycle phase and induces apoptosis following G2/M arrest in U937 myeloid leukemia cells. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. May;313(2):877-887

McCabe MJ Jr, Eckles KG, Langdon M, Clarkson TW, Whitekus MJ, and Rosenspire AJ. 2005. Attenuation of CD95-induced apoptosis by inorganic mercury: caspase-3 is not a direct target of low levels of Hg(2+). Toxicol Lett. Jan 15;155(1):161-170