Lee Ann Garrett-Sinha PhD
Lee Ann Garrett-Sinha
PhD
Professor
Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Specialty/Research Focus
Autoimmunity; Cell growth, differentiation and development; Gene Expression; Immunology; Molecular and Cellular Biology; Molecular genetics; Signal Transduction; Transcription and Translation; Transgenic organisms
Professional Summary:
As a faculty member at the University of Buffalo, I have studied the signaling pathways and transcriptional networks that regulate the differentiation of immune cells such as B and T lymphocytes and how they are impaired in autoimmune diseases. These studies have been funded both by the NIH and by private foundations including the Lupus Research Institute, the Alliance for Lupus Research, the International Myeloma Foundation and the American Cancer Society. I have been particularly interested in identifying the roles of the transcription factor Ets1 in B cell differentiation and B cell tolerance to self-antigens. Mice lacking Ets1 develop an autoimmune disease with similarities to human lupus and the human Ets1 gene has been identified as a susceptibility locus for a number of different human autoimmune diseases. To mechanistically understand how Ets1 regulates immune cell function and prevents development of autoimmune disease, my lab has extensively investigated the phenotypes of mice lacking Ets1 either globally or in B cells to identify pathways and target genes that are important in the autoimmune phenotype. My lab has also been interested in signaling pathways that regulate the expression and activity of immune cells, including the BCR signaling pathway, Toll-like receptor pathways, the CD22/SHP1 inhibitory pathway and the Notch pathway. Recently, we've developed an interest in the B cell co-receptor signaling pathway involving CD19/CD21 binding to C3d deposited on the surface of pathogens. We also have an interest in understanding how Ets1 cooperates with IL17RA signaling to regulate skin immune responses to bacterial infection.
Education and Training:
- Fellowship, Immunology, University of Chicago (2001)
- PhD, Molecular Biology, University of Texas (1996)
- BA, Biology/Biochemistry, Rice University (1989)
Employment:
- Chair of the PPBS Admissions Committee, Biochemistry, SUNY-Buffalo (2022-present)
- Professor, Biochemistry, State University of New York at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2017-present)
- Associate Professor, Biochemistry, SUNY at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2011-present)
- Assistant Professor, Biochemistry, SUNY at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2001–2011)
- Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago (1999–2001)
- Post Doctoral Fellow, Department of Medicine, Howard Hughes Medical Institute at the University of Chicago (1996–1999)
- Graduate Student, Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston (1990–1996)
Awards and Honors:
- Lab Travel Grant (2023)
- Lab Travel Grant (2022)
- Laboratory Travel Grant (2021)
- Travel Grant to the International Congress of Immunology, Melbourne, Australia (2016)
Research Expertise:
- Autoimmune Disease: Analysis of Autoantibody Levels Analysis of B and T cell Activation Analysis of B cell tolerance to self-antigen
- B cell receptor signaling: Western blotting Immunoprecipitation Ca2+ mobilization
- Skin Immune responses: T cell responses to bacterial infection
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Mouse models of Squamous cell cancer Analysis of Skin phenotypes
- Transgenic/Knockout Mice: Generation, breeding and analysis of transgenic and knockout mouse strains
Research Centers:
- Witebsky Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology
UB 2020 Strategic Strengths:
- Molecular Recognition in Biological Systems and Bioinformatics
Grants and Sponsored Research:
- April 2023–March 2024
Exploring Roles for Transcription Factor Ets1 in Sjogren's Syndrome
NIH, NIDCR
Role: Principal Investigator
$173,115 - April 2016–March 2022
Regulation and Consequences of Ets1 Downregulation in B Cells
NIH
Role: Co-Investigator - January 2016–December 2018
Understanding the Pathway Regulated by the Lupus Susceptibility Gene Ets1
Lupus Research Alliance
Role: Co-Investigator - May 2010–April 2015
Identification of Specific Roles for Ets-1 in B Cell Tolerance
NIAID, NIH
Role: Principal Investigator - April 2012–March 2014
Functional Relationships Between the Lupus Susceptibility Loci Lyn and Ets1
National Institutes of Health
Role: Co-Investigator - August 2011–July 2013
Functional Relationships Between the Lupus Susceptibility Loci Lyn and Ets1
Alliance for Lupus Research
Role: Co-Investigator
Journal Articles:
- Kim N, Ju IG, Jeon SH, Lee Y, Jung MJ, Gee MS, Cho JS, Inn KS, Garrett-Sinha LA, Oh MS, Lee JK. (2023) Inhibition of microfold cells ameliorates early pathological phenotypes by modulating microglial functions in Alzheimer's disease mouse model. Journal of neuroinflammation (Nov), 20(1): 282. doi:10.1186/s12974-023-02966-9
- Seifinejad A, Ramosaj M, Shan L, Li S, Possovre ML, Pfister C, Fronczek R, Garrett-Sinha LA, Frieser D, Honda M, Arribat Y, Grepper D, Amati F, Picot M, Agnoletto A, Iseli C, Chartrel N, Liblau R, Lammers GJ, Vassalli A, Tafti M. (2023) Epigenetic silencing of selected hypothalamic neuropeptides in narcolepsy with cataplexy. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (May), 120(19): e2220911120. doi:10.1073/pnas.2220911120
- Battaglia M, Sunshine AC, Luo W, Jin R, Stith A, Lindemann M, Miller LS, Sinha S, Wohlfert E, Garrett-Sinha LA. (2023) Ets1 and IL17RA cooperate to regulate autoimmune responses and skin immunity to Staphylococcus aureus. Frontiers in immunology (Jan), 14: 1208200. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2023.1208200
- Kearly, A., Ottens, K., Satterthwaite, A. and Garrett-Sinha, L.A. (2022) B cell activation results in IKK-dependent, but not c-Rel- or RelA-dependent, decreases in transcription of the B cell tolerance-inducing gene Ets1. Immunohorizons (Nov)(6): 779-789. doi:DOI: 10.4049/immunohorizons.2100065
- Sunshine, A.C., Goich, D., Stith, A., Sortino, K., Dalton, J., Metcalfe, S., Svensson, E. and *Garrett-Sinha, L.A. (2019) Ets1 controls the development of B cell autoimmune responses in a cell-autonomous manner. Immunohorizons (Jul), 7(3): 331-340. doi:10.4049/immunohorizons.1900033
- Gluck, C., Tsompana, M., Nowak, N., Garrett-Sinha, L.A., Buck, M. and Sinha, S. (2019) Molecular Dissection of the Oncogenic Role of ETS1 in the Mesenchymal Subtypes of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. PLoS Genet (Jul), 7(15) doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1008250
- Noviski M, Mueller JL, Satterthwaite A, Garrett-Sinha LA, Brombacher F, Zikherman J, Garrett-Sinha L. (2018) IgM and IgD B cell receptors differentially respond to endogenous antigens and control B cell fate. Elife (Mar), 7.
- Willis SN, Tellier J, Liao Y, Trezise S, Light A, O'Donnell K, Garrett-Sinha LA, Shi W, Tarlinton DM, Nutt SL, Garrett-Sinha L. (2017) Environmental sensing by mature B cells is controlled by the transcription factors PU.1 and SpiB. Nat Commun (Nov), 8(1): 1426-1426.
- Saelee P, Kearly A, Nutt SL, Garrett-Sinha LA, Garrett-Sinha L. (2017) Genome-Wide Identification of Target Genes for the Key B Cell Transcription Factor Ets1. Front Immunol (Apr), 8: 383-383.
- Russell L, John S, Cullen J, Luo W, Shlomchik MJ, Garrett-Sinha LA, Garrett-Sinha L. (2015) Requirement for Transcription Factor Ets1 in B Cell Tolerance to Self-Antigens. J Immunol (Oct), 195(8): 3574-3583.
- Mayeux J, Skaug B, Luo W, Russell LM, John S, Saelee P, Abbasi H, Li QZ, Garrett-Sinha LA, Satterthwaite AB, Garrett-Sinha L. (2015) Genetic Interaction between Lyn, Ets1, and Btk in the Control of Antibody Levels. J Immunol (Sep), 195(5): 1955-1963.
- Rozanski CH, Utley A, Carlson LM, Farren MR, Murray M, Russell LM, Nair JR, Yang Z, Brady W, Garrett-Sinha LA, Schoenberger SP, Green JM, Boise LH, Lee KP, Garrett-Sinha L. (2015) CD28 Promotes Plasma Cell Survival, Sustained Antibody Responses, and BLIMP-1 Upregulation through Its Distal PYAP Proline Motif. J Immunol (May), 194(10): 4717-4728.
- Yuan X, Garrett-Sinha LA, Sarkar D, Yang S, Garrett-Sinha L. (2014) Deletion of IFT20 in early stage T lymphocyte differentiation inhibits the development of collagen-induced arthritis. Bone Res (Nov), 2: 14038-14038.
- Luo W, Mayeux J, Gutierrez T, Russell L, Getahun A, Müller J, Tedder T, Parnes J, Rickert R, Nitschke L, Cambier J, Satterthwaite AB, Garrett-Sinha LA, Garrett-Sinha L. (2014) A balance between B cell receptor and inhibitory receptor signaling controls plasma cell differentiation by maintaining optimal Ets1 levels. J Immunol (Jul), 193(2): 909-920.
- John S, Russell L, Chin SS, Luo W, Oshima R, Garrett-Sinha LA, Garrett-Sinha L. (2014) Transcription factor Ets1, but not the closely related factor Ets2, inhibits antibody-secreting cell differentiation. Mol Cell Biol (Feb), 34(3): 522-532.
- Agudo J, Ruzo A, Tung N, Salmon H, Leboeuf M, Hashimoto D, Becker C, Garrett-Sinha LA, Baccarini A, Merad M, Brown BD, Garrett-Sinha L. (2014) The miR-126-VEGFR2 axis controls the innate response to pathogen-associated nucleic acids. Nat Immunol (Jan), 15(1): 54-62.
- Chin SS, Romano RA, Nagarajan P, Sinha S, Garrett-Sinha LA, Garrett-Sinha L. (2013) Aberrant epidermal differentiation and disrupted DeltaNp63/Notch regulatory axis in Ets1 transgenic mice. Biol Open (Dec), 2(12): 1336-1345.
- Huntoon KM, Russell L, Tracy E, Barbour KW, Li Q, Shrikant PA, Berger FG, Garrett-Sinha LA, Baumann H, Garrett-Sinha L. (2013) A unique form of haptoglobin produced by murine hematopoietic cells supports B-cell survival, differentiation and immune response. Mol Immunol (Oct), 55(3-4): 345-354.
- DeKoter RP, Geadah M, Khoosal S, Xu LS, Thillainadesan G, Torchia J, Chin SS, Garrett-Sinha LA, Garrett-Sinha L. (2010) Regulation of follicular B cell differentiation by the related E26 transformation-specific transcription factors PU.1, Spi-B, and Spi-C. J Immunol (Dec), 185(12): 7374-7384.
- Nagarajan P, Chin SS, Wang D, Liu S, Sinha S, Garrett-Sinha LA, Garrett-Sinha L. (2010) Ets1 blocks terminal differentiation of keratinocytes and induces expression of matrix metalloproteases and innate immune mediators. J Cell Sci (Oct), 123(Pt 20): 3566-3575.
- Ye M, Coldren C, Liang X, Mattina T, Goldmuntz E, Benson DW, Ivy D, Perryman MB, Garrett-Sinha LA, Grossfeld P,. (2010) Deletion of ETS-1, a gene in the Jacobsen syndrome critical region, causes ventricular septal defects and abnormal ventricular morphology in mice. Hum Mol Genet (Feb), 19(4): 648-656.
- Nagarajan, P., Parikh, N., Garrett-Sinha, L.A., Sinha, S. (2009) Ets1 induces dysplastic changes when expressed in terminally-differentiating squamous epithelial cells. PLoS One (Jan), 4(1): e4179.
- Nagaleekar VK, Diehl SA, Juncadella I, Charland C, Muthusamy N, Eaton S, Haynes L, Garrett-Sinha LA, Anguita J, Rincón M, Garrett-Sinha L. (2008) IP3 receptor-mediated Ca2+ release in naive CD4 T cells dictates their cytokine program. J Immunol (Dec), 181(12): 8315-8322.
- Parikh, N., Nagarajan, P., Sei-Ichi, M., Sinha, S., Garrett-Sinha, L.A. (2008) Isolation and characterization of an immortalized oral keratinocyte cell line of mouse origin. Arch Oral Biol (Nov), 53(11): 1091-1100.
- Landesberg R, Cozin M, Cremers S, Woo V, Kousteni S, Sinha S, Garrett-Sinha L, Raghavan S. (2008) Inhibition of oral mucosal cell wound healing by bisphosphonates. J Oral Maxillofac Surg (May), 66(5): 839-847.
- John, S.A., Clements, J.L., Russell, L.M., Garrett-Sinha, L.A. (2008) Ets-1 regulates plasmacytic differentiation by interfering with the activity of the transcription factor Blimp-1. J Biol Chem (Jan), 283(2): 951-962.
- Clements, J.L., John, S.A., Garrett-Sinha, L.A. (2006) Impaired generation of CD8 thymocytes in Ets-1-deficient mice. J Immunol (Jul), 177(2): 905-912.
- Wang, D., John, S.A., Clements, J.L., Percy, D.H., Barton, K.P., Garrett-Sinha, L.A. (2005) Ets-1 deficiency leads to altered B cell differentiation, hyper-responsiveness to TLR9 and autoimmune disease. Int Immunol (Sep), 17(9): 1179-1191.
- Garrett-Sinha LA, Hou, P., Wang, D., Grabiner, B., Araujo, E., Rao, S., Yun, T.J., Clark, E.A., Simon, M.C., Clark, M.R. (2005) Spi-1 and Spi-B control the expression of the Grap2 gene in B cells. Gene (Jun), 353(1): 134-146.
- Lefebvre, J.M., Haks, M.C., Carleton, M.O., Rhodes, M., Simon, M.C., Eisenlohr, L.C., Garrett-Sinha, L.A., Wiest, D.L. (2005) Enforced expression of Spi-B reverses T lineage commitment and blocks beta-selection. J Immunol (May), 174(10): 6184-6194.
- Hu CJ, Rao S, Ramirez-Bergeron DL, Garrett-Sinha LA, Gerondakis S, Clark MR, Simon MC. (2001) PU.1/Spi-B regulation of c-rel is essential for mature B cell survival. Immunity (Oct), 15(4): 545-555.
- Garrett-Sinha LA, Dahl R, Rao S, Barton KP, Simon MC. (2001) PU.1 exhibits partial functional redundancy with Spi-B, but not with Ets-1 or Elf-1. Blood (May), 97(9): 2908-2912.
- Fischer EA, Verpont MC, Garrett-Sinha LA, Ronco PM, Rossert JA. (2001) Klf6 is a zinc finger protein expressed in a cell-specific manner during kidney development. J Am Soc Nephrol (Apr), 12(4): 726-735.
- Rao S, Garrett-Sinha LA, Yoon J, Simon MC, Sinha LA. (1999) The Ets factors PU.1 and Spi-B regulate the transcription in vivo of P2Y10, a lymphoid restricted heptahelical receptor. J Biol Chem (Nov), 274(48): 34245-34252.
- Garrett-Sinha LA, Su GH, Rao S, Kabak S, Hao Z, Clark MR, Simon MC, Sinha LA. (1999) PU.1 and Spi-B are required for normal B cell receptor-mediated signal transduction. Immunity (Apr), 10(4): 399-408.
- Inagaki Y, Truter S, Bou-Gharios G, Garrett LA, de Crombrugghe B, Nemoto T, Greenwel P, Sinha LA. (1998) Activation of Proalpha2(I) collagen promoter during hepatic fibrogenesis in transgenic mice. Biochem Biophys Res Commun (Sep), 250(3): 606-611.
- Su GH, Chen HM, Muthusamy N, Garrett-Sinha LA, Baunoch D, Tenen DG, Simon MC, Sinha LA. (1997) Defective B cell receptor-mediated responses in mice lacking the Ets protein, Spi-B. EMBO J (Dec), 16(23): 7118-7129.
- Garrett-Sinha LA, Eberspaecher H, Seldin MF, de Crombrugghe B, Sinha LA. (1996) A gene for a novel zinc-finger protein expressed in differentiated epithelial cells and transiently in certain mesenchymal cells. J Biol Chem (Dec), 271(49): 31384-31390.
- Bou-Gharios G, Garrett LA, Rossert J, Niederreither K, Eberspaecher H, Smith C, Black C, Crombrugghe B, Sinha LA. (1996) A potent far-upstream enhancer in the mouse pro alpha 2(I) collagen gene regulates expression of reporter genes in transgenic mice. J Cell Biol (Sep), 134(5): 1333-1344.
- Hasegawa T, Zhou X, Garrett LA, Ruteshouser EC, Maity SN, de Crombrugghe B, Sinha LA. (1996) Evidence for three major transcription activation elements in the proximal mouse proalpha2(I) collagen promoter. Nucleic Acids Res (Aug), 24(16): 3253-3260.
- Goldberg H, Helaakoski T, Garrett LA, Karsenty G, Pellegrino A, Lozano G, Maity S, de Crombrugghe B, Sinha LA. (1992) Tissue-specific expression of the mouse alpha 2(I) collagen promoter. Studies in transgenic mice and in tissue culture cells. J Biol Chem (Sep), 267(27): 19622-19630.
- Qian Shen, Hao Wang, Xiangpeng Meng, Jonathan Roco, Zhi-ping Feng, Probir Chakravarty, Pablo F. Cañete, Paula Gonzalez-Figueroa, Yaoyuan Zhang, Hai-Hui Xue, Michael Battaglia, Lee Ann Garrett-Sinha, and Carola G. Vinuesa. (1900) TCF1 and LEF1 drive B-1a cell development, self-renewal, and regulatory function. (Jan)
Abstracts:
- Battaglia, M., Sunshine, A., Luo, W., Miller, L.S., Sinha, S., Wohlfert E.A. and Garrett-Sinha, L.A. (1900) Ets1 regulates production of dendritic epidermal T cells (DETC) and cooperates with IL17Ra signal-ing to regulate immune responses to Staphylococcal skin infection. Journal of Immunology, American Association of Immunologists Annual Meeting. Portland, OregonUnited States (Jan) 55.05 Poster; Oral
Professional Memberships:
- American Society for Microbiology (2013–2014)
- New York Academy of Sciences (2009–2010)
- Developmental Genomics Research Focus Group (2009–2014)
- Buffalo Collegium of Immunologists (2006–2014)
- American Association of Immunologists; Major American Immunology Society (2002–present)
- Witebsky Center of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology
Presentations:
- "Transcription Factor Ets1 in B cells and Autoimmunity" Upstate New York Immunology Conference (2024)
- "Role of Transcription Factor Ets1 in Autoimmunity and Anti-bacterial Immunity" Department of Oral Biology Seminar Series (2023)
- "Roles of Ets1 and IL17RA in regulating skin immune responses to Staphylococcus aureus infection" UB Department of Microbiology, Witebsky Center (2021)
- "Ets1 – a Human Lupus-Susceptibility Gene that Regulates B Cell Function" Roswell Park Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Retreat (2019)
Service Activities:
- Special Emphasis Panel ZAI1 SB-I(J3); Reviewer (2024–present)
- Hypersensitivity, Autoimmune, and Immune-mediated Diseases Study Section; Reviewer (2024–present)
- Special Emphasis Panel ZRG1 IIDA-F (09); Reviewer (2024–present)
- NIH Special Emphasis Panel, ZRG1 IIDB-L; Reviewer (2023)
- Pennsylvania Department of Health Formula Grants Performance Review 23-24 Cycle A; Reviewer (2023)
- National Science Center, Poland; Reviewer (2023)
- Served as co-chair of the Cellular Responses to Microbial, Parasitic and Fungal Infection Block Symposium at the American Association of Immunologists Annual Meeting; Co-Chair of Block Symposium (2023)
- Careers Roundtable at American Association of Immunologists Annual Meeting; Contributor (2023)
- NIH Special Emphasis Panel, ZRG1 IIDA-F; Reviewer (2023)
- Hypersensitivity, Autoimmune, and Immune-mediated Diseases Study Section; Reviewer (2023)
- Frontiers in Lupus; Associate Editor (2023–present)
- Search for the Senior Associate Dean and Executive Director; Member (2023–present)
- Helped review applicants to Natural Sciences Interdisciplinary Master’s Program (NSIM) program; Natural Sciences Interdisciplinary Master’s Program (NSIM) Admissions Committee (2022–present)
- iScience; Reviewer (2022)
- PPBS Steering Committee; Member (2022–present)
- Chair of PPBS Admissions Committee; Chair (2022–present)
- NIH Special Emphasis Panel for F07 Immunology Fellowships; Reviewer (2022)
- Guest editor for Special e-book on Women in B cell Biology; Guest Editor (2022–2023)
- Reviewer, Clinical and Translational Medicine; Reviewer (2021)
- NIH, Cellular and Molecular Immunology A Study Section; Reviewer (2021)
- NIH, Special Emphasis Panel for F07 Immunology Fellowships and AREA Grants; Reviewer (2021)
- Immunological Investigations; Reviewer (2021–2022)
- Journal of Immunology; Reviewer (2021)
- Frontiers in Immunology; Reviewer (2021–present)
- NIH, Immunity and Host Defense Study Section; Reviewer (2020)
- Health Sciences Divisional Committee; Member (2020–present)
- NIH, Special Emphasis Panel for F07 Immunology Fellowships and AREA Grants; Reviewer (2020)
- NIH, Special Emphasis Panel, ZRG1 IMM-T(02)M; Reviewer (2019)
- NIH, Hypersensitivity, Autoimmunity and Immune-Mediated Diseases Study Section; Reviewer (2019)
- NIH, Autoimmunity Centers of Excellence U19 Review Panel; Reviewer (2019)
- NIH, Cellular and Molecular Immunology B Study Section; ad-hoc Reviewer (2019)
- PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences (PPBS) Admissions Committee; Member (2018–2022)
- Associate Editor, Frontiers in Immunology; Reviewer (2017–2020)
- Participant in Biochemistry Graduate Program Review; Participant (2015–2016)
- Associate Editor, Journal of Immunology; Editor (2014–2017)
- Director of Graduate Education, Department of Biochemistry; Director (2014–2018)
- Immunological Investigations; Editorial Board (2010–present)
- American Cancer Society Relay for Life; Participant Researcher (2010)
- Graduate Affairs Committee; Member (2008–2012)
- IACUC Committee For Roswell Park IACUC; Member (2008–2011)
- Careers Roundtable Discussion Leader AAI Annual meeting in 2007; Contributor (2007)
- New York State Stem Cell Initiative Focus Group; Participant (2007)
- Organizing Committee Buffalo Immunology Conference; Chair (2005–2014)
- Buffalo Immunology Conference Organizing Committee; Member (2004–2005)
- Faculty Council Alternate Alternate to faculty Council; Committee Member (2004–2006)
- Biochemistry Research Day; Judge (2004–2016)
- Buffalo Immunology Conference -2004; Co-Chair (2004)
- Buffalo Immunology Conference Organizing Committee; Co-Chair (2003)
- Medical Student Training Program (MSTP) admissions Committee; Member (2003–2004)
- Member Search Committee for Department of Biology Faculty Search To select and interview candidates for faculty search in the Biology Department; Member (2003–2004)