Associate Research Professor
Department of Pathology and Human Anatomy
Loma Linda University School of Medicine
11021 Campus Street, AH 325
Loma Linda, CA 92350
Phone: (909) 558-7069
Fax: (909) 558-0432
Email: dbellinger@llu.edu
Research in Dr. Bellinger's laboratory investigates bidirectional interactions between the nervous system and the immune system, particularly focused on how the sympathetic nervous system modulates immune function in aging, cancer, and autoimmunity. Previous studies have demonstrated differences in the normal aging of sympathetic innervation of secondary immune organs in short- vs. long-lived strains of rats. We are currently investigating the mechanisms responsible for altered sympathetic neurotransmission in immune organs with age and its consequences on immune function. Research in this laboratory induces adjuvant arthritis in Lewis rats as a model to investigate sympathetic-immune interactions that contribute to the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. Immune-to-brain signaling over disease progression is also under study in this animal model. Understanding mechanisms through which the sympathetic nervous system influences the growth and metastases of prostrate cancer in an aged murine prostate cancer model is also an area of research interest in this laboratory.
Madden KS, Stevens SY, Felten DL, Bellinger DL. Alterations in T lymphocyte activity following chemical sympathectomy in young and old Fischer 344 rats. J Neuroimmunol. 2000 103(2):131-45.
Lorton D, Lubahn C, Engan C, Schaller J, Felten DL, Bellinger DL. Local application of capsaicin into the draining lymph nodes attenuates expression of adjuvant-induced arthritis. Neuroimmunomodulation. 2000 7(3):115-25.
Rice PA, Boehm GW, Moynihan JA, Bellinger DL, Stevens SY. Chemical sympathectomy increases the innate immune response and decreases the specific immune response in the spleen to infection with Listeria monocytogenes. J Neuroimmunol. 2001 114(1-2):19-27.
Bellinger DL , Felten DL, Lorton D, Brouxhon S. Effects of interleukin-2 on the expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone in nerves and lymphoid cells in secondary lymphoid organs from the Fischer 344 rat. J Neuroimmunol. 2001 119(1):37-50.
Bellinger DL , Brouxhon SM, Lubahn C, Tran L, Kang JI, Felten DL, Lorton D. Strain differences in the expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone immunoreactivity in nerves that supply the spleen and thymus. Neuroimmunomodulation. 2001 9(2):78-87.
Rice PA, Boehm GW, Moynihan JA, Bellinger DL, Stevens SY. Chemical sympathectomy alters numbers of splenic and peritoneal leukocytes. Brain Behav Immun. 2002 16(1):62-73.
Bellinger D , Tran L, Kang JI, Lubahn C, Felten DL, Lorton D. Age-related changes in noradrenergic sympathetic innervation of the rat spleen are strain dependent. Brain Behav Immun. 2002 16(3):247-61.
Rice PA, Boehm GW, Moynihan JA, Bellinger DL, Stevens SY. Chemical sympathectomy increases numbers of inflammatory cells in the peritoneum early in murine listeriosis. Brain Behav Immun. 2002 16(6):654-62.
Lorton D, Lubahn C, Bellinger DL. Potential use of drugs that target neural-immune pathways in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases. Curr Drug Targets Inflamm Allergy. 2003 2(1):1-30.
Lubahn CL, Schaller JA, Bellinger DL, Sweeney S, Lorton D. The importance of timing of adrenergic drug delivery in relation to the induction and onset of adjuvant-induced arthritis. Brain Behav Immun. 2004 18(6):563-71.
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Last Revised: Wed, Jun 28, 2006