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Scott Zamvil, MD, PhD

Scott Zamvil, MD, PhD
Professor, Department of Neurology
Research Summary:
Pathogenesis and immune modulation of CNS autoimmunity
(415) 502-7395
Additional Websites:Lab WebsiteBiomedical Sciences Graduate Program
View Selected Publications
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Our laboratory specializes in basic and translational neuroimmunology research, focusing on MHC class II-restricted antigen presentation and T cell regulation in the multiple sclerosis (MS) model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). We have been generating transgenic models has to study the individual roles of MHC class II -restricted antigen presentation by monocytes/macrophages, dendritic cells and B cells in EAE pathogenesis. One of our recent transgenic models will permit us to distinguish between the role of antigen presentation from antibody secretion by C NS antigen-specific B cells.

Based upon our research in the role of statins in immune modulation, we are conducting an NIH-sponsored placebo-controlled multicenter trial testing atorvastatin in early multiple sclerosis. We are also testing how statins may be used in combination with MS drug, glatiramer acetate (GA), to enhance the immunomodulatory activity in MS. Recently, our group demonstrated that GA promoted the development of anti-inflammatory "type II" monocytes that adoptively transferred protection in EAE, reversing paralysis and inducing Th2 and Treg cells, while inhibiting Th17 and Th1 responses. A current focus is to identify the pathway(s) responsible for type II monocyte differentiation and to characterize molecules expressed by these APC that are responsible for induction of regulatory T cells in vivo.

Selected Publications

1. Steinman, L. and Zamvil, S.S. 2005. Virtues and pitfalls of EAE for the development of therapies for multiple sclerosis. Trends. Immunol. 26:565-571.

2. Weber, M.S., Prod'homme, T., Steinman, L. and Zamvil, S.S. 2005. Using statins to treat neuroinflammatory disease. Nat. Clin. Prac. Neurol. 1:106-112.

3. Dunn, S.E., Youssef, S., Goldstein, M.J., Prod’homme, T., Weber, M.S., Zamvil S.S., and Steinman, L. 2006. Isoprenoids determine Th1/Th2 fate in pathogenic T cells, providing a mechanism of modulation of autoimmunity by atorvastatin. J. Exp. Med. 203:401-412.

4. Stüve, O., Youssef, S., Weber, M.S., Nessler S., von Büdingen H.-C., Hemmer, B., Steinman, L. and Zamvil S.S. 2006. Immunomodulatory synergy by combination of glatiramer acetate and atorvastatin in treatment of C NS autoimmunity. J. Clin. Invest. 116:1037-1044.

5. Prod'homme, T., Weber, M.S., Steinman, L. and Zamvil, S.S. 2006. A neuropeptide in immune-mediated inflammation, Y? Trends Immunol. 27:164-167.

6. Greenwood, J., Steinman, L. and Zamvil, S.S. 2006. Statin therapy in autoimmune disease: from protein prenylation to immunomodulation. Nat. Rev. Immunol. 6:358-370.

7. Steinman, L. and Zamvil, S.S. 2006. How to successfully apply animal studies in experimental allegic encephalomyelitis to research on multiple sclerosis. Ann. Neurol. 60:12-21.

8. Weber, M.S., Youssef, S. Dunn, S.E., Prod’homme, T., Neuhaus, O., Stuve, O., Greenwood, J., Steinman, L. and Zamvil, S.S. 2006. Statins in treatment of central nervous system autoimmune disease. J. Neuroimmunol. 178:140-148.

9. Prod'homme, T., Weber, M.S. and Zamvil, S.S. 2007. T effectors outfox T regulators in autoimmunity. Nat. Med. 13:411-413.

10. Weber, M.S., Prod´homme, T., Youssef, S., Rundle, C.D., Dunn, S.E., Lee, L., Patarroyo, J.C., Stüve, O., Sobel, R.A., Steinman, L. and Zamvil, S.S. 2007. Type II monocytes modulate T cell-mediated central nervous system autoimmunity. Nat. Med. 13:935-943.