Projects and Questions

We study the immune system in the context of pregnancy and beyond with a combination of mouse models and human cells. To answer our questions, we lean on a variety of classical and novel techniques, such as multi-parameter flow cytometry and cell sorting, basic and flow-based biochemistry, (congenital) infectious models, ELISA, microscopy and transcriptomics, to name a few. Our current projects are below.

If our mission and these projects sound interesting to you, we are always recruiting motivated research assistants, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers. To inquire about or apply for a position, please contact Scott directly.

Innate immune activation and function in (congenital) infections

We use model viral infections that can cause devastating congenital disease in mice and humans. For reasons we don’t understand, the same viruses cause only mild disease outside the context of pregnancy.

• How is the antiviral response unique at the maternal-fetal interface?

• Which immune mediators released to control infection can damage the fetal placenta and fetus?

• How do innate immune cells shape the antiviral adaptive immune response?

Pro-inflammatory molecules in normal pregnancy

Cytokines aren’t just for infection anymore! A growing list of pro-inflammatory mediators are required to promote healthy pregnancy.

• How do pro-inflammatory mediators communicate between cells of uterine immune cells and the developing placenta?

• How can we use cutting-edge models of human pregnancy to explore reproductive inflammation conserved across mice and humans?

Classical and non-classical responders to Interleukin 15

Traditionally, interleukin 15 (IL-15) acts on killer lymphocytes to support their development, survival, and function. We found macrophages that respond to IL-15, and we wonder why and how they do so. We have developed novel tools to ask:

• What do novel IL-15-responsive cells have in common with more traditional IL-15-responders like killer lymphocytes?

• What distinguishes novel IL-15-responders from traditional ones?

• How can we use this knowledge to our advantage to optimize outcomes of pregnancy?

Publications

2024

Sneha Mani, James Garifallou, Se-jeong Kim, Michael K. Simoni, Dan Dongeun Huh, Scott M. Gordon* and Monica Mainigi*. Uterine macrophages and NK cells exhibit population and gene-level changes after implantation but maintain pro-invasive properties. Frontiers in Immunology. 15:1364036 (2024).

2023

Asif A. Dar, Dale D. Kim, Scott M. Gordon, Kathleen Klinzing, Siera Rosen, Ipsita Guha, Nadia Porter, Yohaniz Ortega, Katherine S. Forsyth, Jennifer Roof, Hossein Fazelinia, Lynn A. Spruce, Laurence C. Eisenlohr, Edward M. Behrens, and Paula M. Oliver. c-Myc uses Cul4b to preserve genome integrity and promote antiviral CD8+ T cell immunity. Nature Communications 14, 7098 (2023).

Natalie R. Olivieri,* Loui Othman,* Dustin D. Flannery, and Scott M. Gordon. Transmission, seroprevalence, and maternal-fetal impact of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. Pediatric Research (2023).

Natalie R. Olivieri,* Loui Othman,* and Scott M. Gordon. Health disparities revealed in a case of congenital LCMV. Pediatric Research (2023).

Jessica Kanter*, Scott M. Gordon*, Sneha Mani, Anna Sokalska, Ju Young Park, Suneeta Senapati, Dan D. Huh, and Monica Mainigi. Hormonal stimulation reduces numbers and impairs function of human uterine natural killer cells during implantation. Human Reproduction. 38(6): 1047-1059. 2023.

2022

Thomas N. Burn, Charline Miot, Scott M. Gordon, Erica J. Culberson, Tamir Diamond, Portia A. Kreiger, Katharina E. Hayer, Anamika Bhattacharyya, Jessica M. Jones, Craig H. Bassing and Edward M. Behrens. The RAG1 Ubiquitin Ligase Domain Stimulates Recombination of TCRβ and TCRα Genes and Influences Development of αβ T Cell Lineages. The Journal of Immunology. 209 (5) 938-949. 2022.

Ju Young Park, Sneha Mani, Geremy Clair, Heather M. Olson, Vanessa L. Paurus, Charles K. Ansong, Cassidy Blundell, Rachel Young, Jessica Kanter, Scott M. Gordon, Alex Y. Yi, Monica Mainigi, and Dan Dongeun Huh. A microphysiological model of human trophoblast invasion during implantation. Nature Communications. 3, 1252. 2022.

2021

Scott M. Gordon: Interleukin-15 in Outcomes of Pregnancy. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 22(20):11094. 2021.

Scott M. Gordon and Amy E. O’Connell: Inborn Errors of Immunity in the Premature Infant: Challenges in Recognition and Diagnosis. Frontiers in Immunology. 12:758373. 2021.

Scott M. Gordon, Lakshmi Srinivasan, Mary C. Harris, and Laurie E. Kilpatrick: Cytokines and Inflammatory Response in the Fetus and Neonate. Polin: Fetal and Neonatal Physiology, 6th Edition. pp.1243-1256. 2021.

Jessica R. Kanter, Sneha Mani, Scott M. Gordon, and Monica Mainigi: Uterine natural killer cell biology and role in early pregnancy establishment and outcomes. F&S Reviews. 2(4): 265-286. 2021.

2020

Scott M. Gordon, Mailyn A. Nishiguchi, Julie M. Chase, Sneha Mani, Monica A. Mainigi and Edward M. Behrens: IFNs Drive Development of Novel IL-15-Responsive Macrophages. The Journal of Immunology 205(4): 1113-1124. 2020.

Scott M. Gordon, Lakshmi Srinivasan, Deanne M. Taylor, Stephen R. Master, Marissa A. Tremoglie, Adriana Hankeova, Dustin D. Flannery, Soraya Abbasi, Julie C. Fitzgerald and Mary C. Harris: Derivation of a metabolic signature associated with bacterial meningitis in infants. Pediatric Research 88(2): 184-191. 2020.

Liza Johannesson, Giuliano Testa, Rebecca Flyckt, Ruth Farrell, Cristiano Quintini,  Anji Wall, Kathleen O'Neill, Andreas Tzakis, Elliott G. Richards, Scott M. Gordon and Paige M. Porrett: Guidelines for Standardized Nomenclature and Reporting in Uterus Transplantation: An Opinion From the United States Uterus Transplant Consortium. American Journal of Transplantation 20: 3319–3325. 2020.

2017

Scott M. Gordon, Laskshmi Srinivasan and Mary C. Harris: Neonatal Meningitis: Overcoming Challenges in Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Treatment with Omics. Frontiers in Pediatrics 5(139), 2017.

2013

Michael A. Paley, Scott M. Gordon, Elizabeth K. Bikoff, Elizabeth J. Robertson, E. John Wherry, Steven L. Reiner: Technical Advance: Fluorescent reporter reveals insights into eomesodermin biology in cytotoxic lymphocytes. Journal of Leukocyte Biology 93(2): 307-15. 2013.

2012 

Scott M. Gordon, Julie Chaix, Levi J. Rupp, Junmin Wu, Sharline Madera, Joseph C. Sun, Tullia Lindsten and Steven L. Reiner. The transcription factors T-bet and Eomes control key checkpoints of natural killer cell maturation. Immunity 36(1): 55-67. 2012.

2011

Scott M. Gordon, Shannon A. Carty, Jiyeon S. Kim, Tao Zou, Jennifer Smith-Garvin, Eric S. Alonzo, Ethan Haimm, Derek B. Sant'Angelo, Gary A. Koretzky, Steven L. Reiner and Martha S. Jordan: Requirements for eomesodermin and promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger in the development of innate-like CD8+ T cells. The Journal of Immunology 186(8): 4573-8. 2011.

Harry Z. Qui, Adam T. Hagymasi, Suman Bandyopadhyay, Marie-Clare St Rose, Raghunath Ramanarasimhaiah, Antoine Ménoret, Robert S. Mittler, Scott M. Gordon, Steven L. Reiner, Anthony T. Vella and Adam J. Adler: CD134 plus CD137 dual costimulation induces Eomesodermin in CD4 T cells to program cytotoxic Th1 differentiation. The Journal of Immunology 187(7): 3555-64. 2011.

2010

Arnob Banerjee, Scott M. Gordon, Andrew M. Intlekofer, Michael A. Paley, Erin C. Mooney, Tulia Lindsten, E. John Wherry and Steven L. Reiner: Cutting edge: The transcription factor eomesodermin enables CD8+ T cells to compete for the memory cell niche. The Journal of Immunology 185(9): 4988-92. 2010.

Ichiko Kinjyo, Scott M. Gordon, Andrew M. Intlekofer, Kennichi Dowdell, Erin C. Mooney, Roberto Caricchio, Stephan A. Grupp, David T. Teachey, V. Koneti Rao, Tullia Lindsten, Steven L. Reiner: Cutting edge: Lymphoproliferation caused by Fas deficiency is dependent on the transcription factor eomesodermin. The Journal of Immunology 185(12): 7151-5. 2010.

2008

Andrew M. Intlekofer, Arnob Banerjee, Naofumi Takemoto, Scott M. Gordon, Caitlin S. Dejong, Haina Shin, Christopher A. Hunter, E. John Wherry, Tullia Lindsten and Steven L. Reiner: Anomalous type 17 response to viral infection by CD8+ T cells lacking T-bet and eomesodermin. Science 321(5887): 408-11. 2008.