Published Research

Epsilon toxin-producing Clostridium perfringens colonize the multiple sclerosis gut microbiome overcoming CNS immune privilege

Ma Y, Sannino D, Linden JR, Haigh S, Zhao B, Grigg JB, Zumbo P, Dündar F, Butler D, Profaci CP, Telesford K, Winokur PN, Rumah KR, Gauthier SA, Fischetti VA, McClane BA, Uzal FA, Zexter L, Mazzucco M, Rudick R, Danko D, Balmuth E, Nealon N, Perumal J, Kaunzner U, Brito IL, Chen Z, Xiang JZ, Betel D, Daneman R, Sonnenberg GF, Mason CE, Vartanian T. J Clin Invest. 2023 May 1;133(9):e163239. doi: 10.1172/JCI163239. PMID: 36853799; PMCID: PMC10145940.

Antigen-presenting innate lymphoid cells orchestrate neuroinflammation.

Grigg JB, Shanmugavadivu A, Regen T, Parkhurst CN, Ahmed A, Joseph AM, Mazzucco M, Gronke K, Diefenbach A, Eberl G, Vartanian T, Waisman A, Sonnenberg GF. Nature. 2021 Dec;600(7890):707-712. doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-04136-4. Epub 2021 Dec 1.PMID: 34853467 

Impact of Lesion Location on Longitudinal Myelin Water Fraction Change in Chronic Multiple Sclerosis Lesions.

Pandya S, Kaunzner UW, Hurtado Rúa SM, Nealon N, Perumal J, Vartanian T, Nguyen TD, Gauthier SA.J Neuroimaging. 2020 Jul;30(4):537-543. doi: 10.1111/jon.12716. Epub 2020 Jun 24.PMID: 32579281 

A Multi-Ligand Imaging Study Exploring GABAergic Receptor Expression and Inflammation in Multiple Sclerosis.

Kang Y, Rúa SMH, Kaunzner UW, Perumal J, Nealon N, Qu W, Kothari PJ, Vartanian T, Kuceyeski A, Gauthier SA.Mol Imaging Biol. 2020 Dec;22(6):1600-1608. doi: 10.1007/s11307-020-01501-z.PMID: 32394283 

Clostridium perfringens epsilon toxin induces blood brain barrier permeability via caveolae-dependent transcytosis and requires expression of MAL.

Linden JR, Flores C, Schmidt EF, Uzal FA, Michel AO, Valenzuela M, Dobrow S, Vartanian T.PLoS Pathog. 2019 Nov 8;15(11):e1008014. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008014. eCollection 2019 Nov.PMID: 31703116 

Black African and Latino/a identity correlates with increased plasmablasts in MS.

Telesford KM, Kaunzner UW, Perumal J, Gauthier SA, Wu X, Diaz I, Kruse-Hoyer M, Engel C, Marcille M, Vartanian T.Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. 2019 Oct 31;7(1):e634. doi: 10.1212/NXI.0000000000000634. Print 2020 Jan.PMID: 31672834 

A Novel Panel of Rabbit Monoclonal Antibodies and Their Diverse Applications Including Inhibition of Clostridium perfringens Epsilon Toxin Oligomerization.

Linden JR, Telesford K, Shetty S, Winokour P, Haigh S, Cahir-McFarland E, Antognetti G, Datta A, Wang T, Meier W, Vartanian T.Antibodies (Basel). 2018 Oct 25;7(4):37. doi: 10.3390/antib7040037.PMID: 31544887 

Clostridium perfringens Epsilon Toxin Compromises the Blood-Brain Barrier in a Humanized Zebrafish Model.

Adler D, Linden JR, Shetty SV, Ma Y, Bokori-Brown M, Titball RW, Vartanian T.iScience. 2019 May 31;15:39-54. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2019.04.016. Epub 2019 Apr 11.PMID: 31030181 

Reduction of PK11195 uptake observed in multiple sclerosis lesions after natalizumab initiation.

Kaunzner UW, Kang Y, Monohan E, Kothari PJ, Nealon N, Perumal J, Vartanian T, Kuceyeski A, Vallabhajosula S, Mozley PD, Riley CS, Newman SM, Gauthier SA.Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2017 Jul;15:27-33. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2017.04.008. Epub 2017 Apr 29.PMID: 28641769

MRI Analysis of White Matter Myelin Water Content in Multiple Sclerosis: A Novel Approach Applied to Finding Correlates of Cortical Thinning.

Dayan M, Hurtado Rúa SM, Monohan E, Fujimoto K, Pandya S, LoCastro EM, Vartanian T, Nguyen TD, Raj A, Gauthier SA.Front Neurosci. 2017 May 26;11:284. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2017.00284. eCollection 2017.PMID: 28603479 

Oral Multiple Sclerosis Drugs Inhibit the In vitro Growth of Epsilon Toxin Producing Gut Bacterium, Clostridium perfringens.

Rumah KR, Vartanian TK, Fischetti VA.Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2017 Jan 25;7:11. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00011. eCollection 2017.PMID: 28180112 

Differential Impact of Multiple Sclerosis on Cortical and Deep Gray Matter Structures in African Americans and Caucasian Americans.

Al-Kawaz M, Monohan E, Morris E, Perumal JS, Nealon N, Vartanian T, Gauthier SA.J Neuroimaging. 2017 May;27(3):333-338. doi: 10.1111/jon.12393. Epub 2016 Sep 16.PMID: 27634620

Measuring longitudinal myelin water fraction in new multiple sclerosis lesions.

Vargas WS, Monohan E, Pandya S, Raj A, Vartanian T, Nguyen TD, Hurtado Rúa SM, Gauthier SA.Neuroimage Clin. 2015 Sep 12;9:369-75. doi: 10.1016/j.nicl.2015.09.003. eCollection 2015.PMID: 26594620 

Clostridium perfringens Epsilon Toxin Causes Selective Death of Mature Oligodendrocytes and Central Nervous System Demyelination.

Linden JR, Ma Y, Zhao B, Harris JM, Rumah KR, Schaeren-Wiemers N, Vartanian T.mBio. 2015 Jun 16;6(3):e02513. doi: 10.1128/mBio.02513-14.PMID: 26081637 

The Myelin and Lymphocyte Protein MAL Is Required for Binding and Activity of Clostridium perfringens ε-Toxin.

Rumah KR, Ma Y, Linden JR, Oo ML, Anrather J, Schaeren-Wiemers N, Alonso MA, Fischetti VA, McClain MS, Vartanian T.PLoS Pathog. 2015 May 20;11(5):e1004896. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004896. eCollection 2015 May.PMID: 25993478 

Isolation of Clostridium perfringens type B in an individual at first clinical presentation of multiple sclerosis provides clues for environmental triggers of the disease.

Rumah KR, Linden J, Fischetti VA, Vartanian T.PLoS One. 2013 Oct 16;8(10):e76359. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0076359. eCollection 2013.PMID: 24146858 

Nna1 mediates Purkinje cell dendritic development via lysyl oxidase propeptide and NF-κB signaling.

Li J, Gu X, Ma Y, Calicchio ML, Kong D, Teng YD, Yu L, Crain AM, Vartanian TK, Pasqualini R, Arap W, Libermann TA, Snyder EY, Sidman RL.Neuron. 2010 Oct 6;68(1):45-60. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2010.08.013.PMID: 20920790 

Carbon monoxide suppresses membrane expression of TLR4 via myeloid differentiation factor-2 in betaTC3 cells.

Rocuts F, Ma Y, Zhang X, Gao W, Yue Y, Vartanian T, Wang H.J Immunol. 2010 Aug 15;185(4):2134-9. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.0902782. Epub 2010 Jul 14.PMID: 20631306

Hyaluronan blocks oligodendrocyte progenitor maturation and remyelination through TLR2.

Sloane JA, Batt C, Ma Y, Harris ZM, Trapp B, Vartanian T.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010 Jun 22;107(25):11555-60. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1006496107. Epub 2010 Jun 3.PMID: 20534434 Free PMC article.

A clear and present danger: endogenous ligands of Toll-like receptors.

Sloane JA, Blitz D, Margolin Z, Vartanian T.Neuromolecular Med. 2010 Jun;12(2):149-63. doi: 10.1007/s12017-009-8094-x. Epub 2009 Oct 14.PMID: 19830599 

T lymphocytes potentiate endogenous neuroprotective inflammation in a mouse model of ALS.

Chiu IM, Chen A, Zheng Y, Kosaras B, Tsiftsoglou SA, Vartanian TK, Brown RH Jr, Carroll MC.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Nov 18;105(46):17913-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0804610105. Epub 2008 Nov 7.PMID: 18997009 

Melanoma complicating treatment with natalizumab for multiple sclerosis.

Mullen JT, Vartanian TK, Atkins MB.N Engl J Med. 2008 Feb 7;358(6):647-8. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc0706103.PMID: 18256405 No abstract available.

Treating multiple sclerosis in the natalizumab era: risks, benefits, clinical decision making, and a comparison between North American and European Union practices.

Giovannoni G, Kinkel P, Vartanian T.Rev Neurol Dis. 2007 Fall;4(4):184-93.PMID: 18195670 Review.

Toll-like receptor 3 is a potent negative regulator of axonal growth in mammals.

Cameron JS, Alexopoulou L, Sloane JA, DiBernardo AB, Ma Y, Kosaras B, Flavell R, Strittmatter SM, Volpe J, Sidman R, Vartanian T.J Neurosci. 2007 Nov 21;27(47):13033-41. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4290-06.2007.PMID: 18032677 

TLR8: an innate immune receptor in brain, neurons and axons.

Ma Y, Haynes RL, Sidman RL, Vartanian T.Cell Cycle. 2007 Dec 1;6(23):2859-68. doi: 10.4161/cc.6.23.5018. Epub 2007 Sep 4.PMID: 18000403 .

Myosin Va controls oligodendrocyte morphogenesis and myelination.

Sloane JA, Vartanian TK.J Neurosci. 2007 Oct 17;27(42):11366-75. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2326-07.2007.PMID: 17942731 

WAVE1 and regulation of actin nucleation in myelination.

Sloane JA, Vartanian TK.Neuroscientist. 2007 Oct;13(5):486-91. doi: 10.1177/1073858407299423.PMID: 17901257 Review.

Toll-like receptor 8 functions as a negative regulator of neurite outgrowth and inducer of neuronal apoptosis.

Ma Y, Li J, Chiu I, Wang Y, Sloane JA, Lü J, Kosaras B, Sidman RL, Volpe JJ, Vartanian T.J Cell Biol. 2006 Oct 23;175(2):209-15. doi: 10.1083/jcb.200606016.PMID: 17060494 Free PMC article.

A mechanism for neurodegeneration induced by group B streptococci through activation of the TLR2/MyD88 pathway in microglia.

Lehnardt S, Henneke P, Lien E, Kasper DL, Volpe JJ, Bechmann I, Nitsch R, Weber JR, Golenbock DT, Vartanian T.J Immunol. 2006 Jul 1;177(1):583-92. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.177.1.583.PMID: 16785556

WAVE1 is required for oligodendrocyte morphogenesis and normal CNS myelination.

Kim HJ, DiBernardo AB, Sloane JA, Rasband MN, Solomon D, Kosaras B, Kwak SP, Vartanian TK.J Neurosci. 2006 May 24;26(21):5849-59. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4921-05.2006.PMID: 16723544 Free PMC article.

Purkinje neuron degeneration in nervous (nr) mutant mice is mediated by a metabolic pathway involving excess tissue plasminogen activator.

Li J, Ma Y, Teng YD, Zheng K, Vartanian TK, Snyder EY, Sidman RL.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 May 16;103(20):7847-52. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0602440103. Epub 2006 May 8.PMID: 16682647 

Peroxynitrite generated by inducible nitric oxide synthase and NADPH oxidase mediates microglial toxicity to oligodendrocytes.

Li J, Baud O, Vartanian T, Volpe JJ, Rosenberg PA.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Jul 12;102(28):9936-41. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0502552102. Epub 2005 Jul 5.PMID: 15998743 

The ErbB4 neuregulin receptor mediates suppression of oligodendrocyte maturation.

Sussman CR, Vartanian T, Miller RH.J Neurosci. 2005 Jun 15;25(24):5757-62. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4748-04.2005.PMID: 15958742 Free PMC article.

Integrin-linked kinase is required for laminin-2-induced oligodendrocyte cell spreading and CNS myelination.

Chun SJ, Rasband MN, Sidman RL, Habib AA, Vartanian T.J Cell Biol. 2003 Oct 27;163(2):397-408. doi: 10.1083/jcb.200304154.PMID: 14581460 Free PMC article.

Activation of innate immunity in the CNS triggers neurodegeneration through a Toll-like receptor 4-dependent pathway.

Lehnardt S, Massillon L, Follett P, Jensen FE, Ratan R, Rosenberg PA, Volpe JJ, Vartanian T.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Jul 8;100(14):8514-9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1432609100. Epub 2003 Jun 24.PMID: 12824464 

Increased expression of epidermal growth factor receptor induces sequestration of extracellular signal-related kinases and selective attenuation of specific epidermal growth factor-mediated signal transduction pathways.

Habib AA, Chun SJ, Neel BG, Vartanian T.Mol Cancer Res. 2003 Jan;1(3):219-33.PMID: 12556561

Localization of Nogo-A and Nogo-66 receptor proteins at sites of axon-myelin and synaptic contact.

Wang X, Chun SJ, Treloar H, Vartanian T, Greer CA, Strittmatter SM.J Neurosci. 2002 Jul 1;22(13):5505-15. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.22-13-05505.2002.PMID: 12097502 

The toll-like receptor TLR4 is necessary for lipopolysaccharide-induced oligodendrocyte injury in the CNS.

Lehnardt S, Lachance C, Patrizi S, Lefebvre S, Follett PL, Jensen FE, Rosenberg PA, Volpe JJ, Vartanian T.J Neurosci. 2002 Apr 1;22(7):2478-86. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.22-07-02478.2002.PMID: 11923412 

Neuregulin: an oligodendrocyte growth factor absent in active multiple sclerosis lesions.

Viehover A, Miller RH, Park SK, Fischbach G, Vartanian T.Dev Neurosci. 2001;23(4-5):377-86. doi: 10.1159/000048721.PMID: 11756753

Growth factor control of CNS myelination.

Park SK, Solomon D, Vartanian T.Dev Neurosci. 2001;23(4-5):327-37. doi: 10.1159/000048716.PMID: 11756748

Sonic hedgehog is required during an early phase of oligodendrocyte development in mammalian brain.

Alberta JA, Park SK, Mora J, Yuk D, Pawlitzky I, Iannarelli P, Vartanian T, Stiles CD, Rowitch DH.Mol Cell Neurosci. 2001 Oct;18(4):434-41. doi: 10.1006/mcne.2001.1026.PMID: 11640898

The erbB2 gene is required for the development of terminally differentiated spinal cord oligodendrocytes.

Park SK, Miller R, Krane I, Vartanian T.J Cell Biol. 2001 Sep 17;154(6):1245-58. doi: 10.1083/jcb.200104025.PMID: 11564761 

Epidermal growth factor receptor induced apoptosis: potentiation by inhibition of Ras signaling.

Högnason T, Chatterjee S, Vartanian T, Ratan RR, Ernewein KM, Habib AA.FEBS Lett. 2001 Feb 23;491(1-2):9-15. doi: 10.1016/s0014-5793(01)02166-4.PMID: 11226409 

Neuregulin-induced association of Sos Ras exchange protein with HER2(erbB2)/HER3(erbB3) receptor complexes in Schwann cells through a specific Grb2-HER2(erbB2) interaction.

Goodearl A, Viehover A, Vartanian T.Dev Neurosci. 2001;23(1):25-30. doi: 10.1159/000048693.PMID: 11173924

The epidermal growth factor receptor engages receptor interacting protein and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B)-inducing kinase to activate NF-kappa B. Identification of a novel receptor-tyrosine kinase signalosome.

Habib AA, Chatterjee S, Park SK, Ratan RR, Lefebvre S, Vartanian T.J Biol Chem. 2001 Mar 23;276(12):8865-74. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M008458200. Epub 2000 Dec 14.PMID: 11116146 

Neuregulin induces the rapid association of focal adhesion kinase with the erbB2-erbB3 receptor complex in schwann cells.

Vartanian T, Goodearl A, Lefebvre S, Park SK, Fischbach G.Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2000 May 10;271(2):414-7. doi: 10.1006/bbrc.2000.2624.PMID: 10799311

Identification of the Nogo inhibitor of axon regeneration as a Reticulon protein.

GrandPré T, Nakamura F, Vartanian T, Strittmatter SM.Nature. 2000 Jan 27;403(6768):439-44. doi: 10.1038/35000226.PMID: 10667797

Failure of spinal cord oligodendrocyte development in mice lacking neuregulin.

Vartanian T, Fischbach G, Miller R.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999 Jan 19;96(2):731-5. doi: 10.1073/pnas.96.2.731.PMID: 9892702 Free PMC article.

Axonal neuregulin signals cells of the oligodendrocyte lineage through activation of HER4 and Schwann cells through HER2 and HER3.

Vartanian T, Goodearl A, Viehöver A, Fischbach G.J Cell Biol. 1997 Apr 7;137(1):211-20. doi: 10.1083/jcb.137.1.211.PMID: 9105049 

Interferon-gamma-induced oligodendrocyte cell death: implications for the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis.

Vartanian T, Li Y, Zhao M, Stefansson K.Mol Med. 1995 Nov;1(7):732-43.PMID: 8612196 

A role for the acetylcholine receptor-inducing protein ARIA in oligodendrocyte development.

Vartanian T, Corfas G, Li Y, Fischbach GD, Stefansson K.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1994 Nov 22;91(24):11626-30. doi: 10.1073/pnas.91.24.11626.PMID: 7526399 

Is multiple sclerosis an autoimmune disease?

Gulcher JR, Vartanian T, Stefansson K.Clin Neurosci. 1994;2(3-4):246-52.PMID: 7749894 Review.

Mediation by G proteins of signals that cause collapse of growth cones.

Igarashi M, Strittmatter SM, Vartanian T, Fishman MC.Science. 1993 Jan 1;259(5091):77-9. doi: 10.1126/science.8418498.PMID: 8418498

GAP-43 as a plasticity protein in neuronal form and repair.

Strittmatter SM, Vartanian T, Fishman MC.J Neurobiol. 1992 Jul;23(5):507-20. doi: 10.1002/neu.480230506.PMID: 1431834 Review.

Oligodendrocyte-substratum adhesion activates the synthesis of specific lipid species involved in cell signaling.

Vartanian T, Szuchet S, Dawson G.J Neurosci Res. 1992 May;32(1):69-78. doi: 10.1002/jnr.490320109.PMID: 1321254

Growth cone transduction: Go and GAP-43.

Strittmatter SM, Valenzuela D, Vartanian T, Sudo Y, Zuber MX, Fishman MC.J Cell Sci Suppl. 1991;15:27-33. doi: 10.1242/jcs.1991.supplement_15.5.PMID: 1840457 Review.

Phosphorylation of myelin basic protein in intact oligodendrocytes: inhibition by galactosylsphingosine and cyclic AMP.

Vartanian T, Dawson G, Soliven B, Nelson DJ, Szuchet S.Glia. 1989;2(5):370-9. doi: 10.1002/glia.440020509.PMID: 2478466

Oligodendrocyte substratum adhesion modulates expression of adenylate cyclase-linked receptors.

Vartanian T, Sprinkle TJ, Dawson G, Szuchet S.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1988 Feb;85(3):939-43. doi: 10.1073/pnas.85.3.939.PMID: 2448785 

Intracellular messengers. Influence of oligodendrocyte substratum adhesion.

Vartanian T, Dawson G, Szuchet S.Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1988;540:433-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1988.tb27125.x.PMID: 2462818 No abstract available.

Regulation of GM2 ganglioside metabolism in cultured cells.

Dawson G, Hancock LW, Vartanian T.Chem Phys Lipids. 1986 Dec 15;42(1-3):105-16. doi: 10.1016/0009-3084(86)90046-0.PMID: 3549015 Review.

Oligodendrocyte adhesion activates protein kinase C-mediated phosphorylation of myelin basic protein.

Vartanian T, Szuchet S, Dawson G, Campagnoni AT.Science. 1986 Dec 12;234(4782):1395-8. doi: 10.1126/science.2431483.PMID: 2431483