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Deming Sun, M.D."I believe the eye offers an excellent model of human immunology, a newer model...comparable to where brain research was a number of years ago. It offers accessibility for experimentation in animals, which allows researchers to develop better models and contributes to a broader knowledge of immunology... Although different organs have different cells, some cells are related in their structure and function... There is always a limit. By doing something, you have to lose something. Immunology is a balance, like traditional Chinese medicine." |
Deming Sun approaches his work at the Kentucky Lions Eye Center from a wide range of experiences. He holds medical degrees from China and Germany, and has engaged in cancer, Multiple Sclerosis and autoimmune research in a number of internationally respected medical research facilities. His background as an immunologist is the key to his current focus on T-cells and other mechanisms by which the body fights off diseases and infections. Using the eye as a model, Dr. Sun hopes to extrapolate his research to a variety of applications. The goal of Dr. Sun's work is to develop better treatments for eye diseases, such as uveitis, as well as to better understand the mechanisms that can trigger and enhance specific autoimmune reactions to combat diseases throughout the body.
Current Position
Professor, Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, and Microbiology & Immunology
Associate Professor, James Graham Brown Cancer Center
On Staff since 2001
Research Specialties
Uveitis Immunology
Contact Information
d0sun001@louisville.edu
University of Louisville
Dept. Of Ophthalmology & Visual Science
301 E. Muhammad Ali Blvd.
Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 852-6754
FAX - (502) 852-3183
Current Grants
National Eye Institute/National Institute of Health (Pending for revision) Principal Investigator "Characterization of Uveitogenic T cells" (RO1)
National Eye Institute/National Institute of Health (Pending for revision) Co- Investigator "The role of T-RPE interaction in photogenisis of Uveitis" (RO1)
NMSS (Pending for revision) Principal Investigator "Progression of autoimmune encephalomyelitis" (RO1)
Select Publications
Shao, H., Sun, S., Kaplan, H. J., and Sun, D. Induction of Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis and Uveitis in B6 and (B6 x SJL) Mice by Peptides Derived from Myelin /Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein. 2002 J.Neuroimmunol.132:117-22.
Sun, D., Zhang,Y., Wei,B., Peiper,SC., Shao,H., and Kaplan,HJ. Encephalitogenic activity of truncated myelin/oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) peptides and their recognition by CD8+ MOG-specific T cells on oligomeric MHC class I molecules. Int.Immunol. 2003. 15:261-268.
Shao,H., Sun,D., Sun,SL., Maria,J., Bora,N., and Kaplan,HL., 2003. Expression of B7.1 and B7.2 Molecules in the Eye during the Course of Experimental Autoimmune Anterior Uveitis (EAAU). Curr.Eye. 25:271-277.
Shao,H., Fu,YX, Song, L., Sun, SL., Kaplan,HJ, and Sun,D. LTbR-Ig treatment blocks actively induced but not adoptively transferred uveitis induced in Lewis rats. 2003. Eur.J.Immunol. 33: 1736-43.
Shao,H., van Kaer,L., Sun,SL, Kaplan,HJ., and Sun,D. 2003. Infiltration of NKT Cells in inflamed Eyes in a Rat Model of Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis (EAU). J.Autoimmunity. 21:37-45.
Shao,H.; Lei,S.; Sun,S.; Xiang,J.; Kaplan,H.J.; Sun,D. 2003. CpG-ODN1826 converts the weak uveitogenic rat IRBP1181-91 peptide into a strong uveitogen. J.Immunol. 171:5624-5630.
Sun,D., Enzman,V., Sun,S.L., Kaplan, H.J., and Shao,H. 2003. Retinal pigment epithelial cells activate uveitogenic T cells when they express high levels of MHC class II molecules, but inhibit T cell activation when they express restricted levels. J.Neuroimmunol. 144:1-8.
Shao H, S. Lei, SL. Sun, HJ. Kaplan, and Sun,D. 2003. Conversion of monophasic to recurrent autoimmune disease by autoreactive T cell subsets. J.Immunol. 171:4780-85.
Shao,H., SL. Sun, HJ. Kaplan, and D.Sun. 2004. Characterization of rat CD8+ uveitogenic T cells specific for IRBP1177-1191. J.Immunol. 173:2849-2854.
Shao,H., Z. Huang, Sheher L. Sun, Henry J. Kaplan, and D. Sun. 2004. Myelin/oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-specific T cells induce severe optic neuritis in the C57Bl/6 mouse. Invest.Ophthalmol.Vis.Sci. 45:4060-65.
Shao, H., Y. Fu, T. Liao, Y. Peng, L. Chen, H. J. Kaplan, and D. Sun. 2005. Anti-CD137 mAb Treatment Inhibits Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis by Limiting Expansion and Increasing Apoptotic Death of Uveitogenic T Cells. Invest.Ophthalmol.Vis.Sci. 46:596-603.
Shao, H, Peng, Y., Liao, T., Wang, M., Kaplan, H. J., and Sun, D. 2005. A shared epitope of the interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) recognized by the CD4+ and CD8+ autoreactive T cells. J.Immunol . 175:1851-1857.
Shao, H, Kaplan, H. J., and Sun, D. 2005. Chronic recurrent autoimmune uveitis with progressive photoreceptor damage induced in rats by transfer of IRBP-specific T cells.J.Neuroimmunol. 163: 102-109.
Education
Shanghai First Medical School, Shanghai, China, M.D. 1971
Graduate School of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, 1979
Albert-Ludwig Universitat, Freiburg, Germany, M.D. 1982
Professional Societies and Affiliations
International Society of Neuroimmunology, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology and the American Association of Immunologists.