My research has focused on the phenomenon of immunosuppression as it occurs in exposure to oncogenic viruses, metallic ions and in disease processes such as advanced heart failure. Early work in my career focused on identification of the major leukocyte groups now used internationally in tissue typing for organ transplantation, forensic medicine and risk assessment in disease. Mid career work resulted in the identification of the polymorphic nature of murine lymphoma viruses. That was followed by studies of the effects of environmental metallic ion exposure on macrophage function, a critical cell in the processing of foreign materials entering the body.
Current work involves analysis of immunologic changes in advanced heart failure.
We have identified significant reduction in function of natural killer lymphocytes, changes in cytotoxic lymphocytes and skin test anergy to recall antigens, reflective of reduced cellular immunity in about one third of patients with advanced heart failure. The mechanisms of these changes are now being analyzed. Relationship to norepinephrine. IL-10 in human monocytic cell lines. Skin test anergy in advanced heart failure secondary to either ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.