SEARCH LOGIN DONATE DONATE BLOOD PRODUCTS/SERVICES RESEARCH ABOUT US SUPPORT US NEWS COVID-19 RESEARCHINVESTIGATORS Karina Yazdanbakhsh, PhD Title Vice President and Director of Research Development, LFKRI Head, Laboratory of Complement Biology Member, Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute Contact Information Email: KYazdanbakhsh@nybc.org Phone: +1 (212) 570-3383 Current Projects Transfusion Immunology Red blood cell (RBC) transfusions remain a very important modality of treatment for patients with hemoglobinopathies including sickle cell disease (SCD). Despite its benefits, RBC transfusion can result in the development of antibodies (alloimmunization) against transfused cells in patients with SCD and thalassemia. Alloantibodies can cause delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions which in SCD patients can trigger hyperhemolysis, a life-threatening poorly understood phenomena in which the transfused and the patient’s own RBCs are destroyed. In addition, finding compatible units for patients with alloantibodies can be difficult and identifying and characterizing the antibodies can be costly, time-consuming and laborious, causing transfusion delays. This highlights the need for better characterization of triggers of alloimmunization and identification of risk factors. We are studying cellular immune responses to transfused blood products with the goal of developing strategies to prevent immune-mediated transfusion reactions. Current research focus is on characterizing immunoregulatory networks, including defective regulatory T and B cell pathways that result in alloimmunization. In addition, we have identified a novel subset of follicular T cells (Tfh) critical in providing help to B cells for the generation of antibody responses. The activity of this Tfh subset, which expresses the checkpoint inhibitor molecule TIGIT, differs in patients with and without alloantibodies. We are currently examining how abnormal TIGIT signaling may lead to alloimmunization with the goal that this information may help toward future identification of biomarkers of alloimmunization and therapeutic strategies for its prevention. Immunological response to hemolysis Patients with hemolytic anemias including patients with SCD suffer from ongoing intravascular hemolysis, which results in the release of free hemoglobin and heme into the circulation, causing activation of the underlying vasculature. We have identified aberrant immune response to free heme inalloimmunized patients with SCD and we are currently investigating immunological response to hemolysis in the setting of transfusions focusing on HO-1 and TLR-4 mediated pathways that can be manipulated to prevent and even reverse alloimmunization. Furthermore, painful vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC), a clinical hallmark of SCD, resulting from obstruction of vasculature by sickle RBCs is associated with microvascular damage. Currently, the molecular mechanisms resulting in VOC remain incompletely understood. We have identified a novel function of patrolling monocytes in the removal of hemolysis-injured endothelial cells in the SCD vasculature and in lowering VOC risk. Current studies are focused on understanding the molecular machinery involved in the vasculoprotective role of patrolling monocytes and the therapeutic potential of manipulating this subset in SCD. Platelet autoimmunity We are characterizing the cellular and molecular pathways resulting in platelet autoimmunity in patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) with the goal of developing new and improved treatments. To date, our studies have unraveled quantitative and functional differences in monocytes and their control of T effector functions with possible involvement of ITP platelets in driving autoimmunity. Current research focus is on identifying immunological signatures of ITP drug response. Lab Personnel Weili Bao, MS, Associate Lab Manager Anqi Guo, BS, MPH, Research Assistant Yunfeng Liu, PhD, Research Scientist Mouli Pal, MS, Research Assistant Shan Su, PhD, Research Fellow Woelsung Yi, PhD, Staff Scientist Funding Support NIH P01 HL149626 Yazdanbakhsh (PD) 07/20/2020 – 06/30/2025 “Complications of Hemolysis and Transfusion Therapy” NIH R01 HL145451 Yazdanbakhsh (PI) 7/2019-6/2023 “Patrolling Monocytes in Sickle Pain Crisis and following Transfusion” NIH R01 HL130139 (NCE) Yazdanbakhsh (PI) 5/2016-1/2022 "Mechanisms Controlling Transfusion-Associated Antibody Responses in SCD Alloimmunization Education and Training Doctoral Training PhD, Molecular Biology, National Institute for Medical Research (MRC), Mill Hill, London, UK Postdoctoral Training Columbia University, Rockefeller University Publications Publications on PubMed Key Publications Pal M, Bao W, Wang R, Liu Y, An X, Mitchell WB, Lobo CA, Minniti C, Shi PA, Manwani D, Yazdanbakhsh K, Zhong H. Hemolysis inhibits humoral B-cell responses and modulates alloimmunization risk in patients with sickle cell disease. Blood. 2021 Jan 14;137(2):269-280. Yazdanbakhsh, K., Park, C.G., Winslow, G.M. and Choi, Y. Direct evidence for the role of COOH terminus of mouse mammary tumor virus superantigen in determining T cell receptor V specificity. J. Exp. Med. 1993; 178: 737-741. Yazdanbakhsh, K., Choi, J.W., Li, Y., Lau, L.F. and Choi, Y. Cyclosporin A blocks apoptosis by inhibiting the DNA binding activity of the transcription factor 77. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1995; 92: 437-441. Yazdanbakhsh, K., Lee, S., Yu, Q., and Reid, M.E. Identification of a defect in the intracellular trafficking of a Kell blood group variant. Blood, 1999; 94; 310-318. Tamasauskas, D., Powell, V., Saksela, K., and Yazdanbakhsh, K. A Homologous naturally-occurring mutation in Duffy and CCR5 leading to reduced receptor expression. Blood. 2001. 97 (11), 3651-3654. Yazdanbakhsh, K., Kang S., Tamasauskas, D., Sung D., and Scaradavou, A. Complement receptor 1 inhibitors for prevention of immune-mediated red cell destruction: potential for transfusion therapy. Blood. 2003;101(12):5046-52. Mqadmi, A., Zheng, X., and Yazdanbakhsh, K. CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells control induction of autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Blood, 2005, 105(9):3746-8. Yu J, Heck S, Patel V, Levan J, Yu Y, Bussel JB, Yazdanbakhsh K. Defective circulating CD25 regulatory T cells in patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura. Blood 2008;112(4):1325-8. Bao W, Yu J, Heck S, Yazdanbakhsh K. Regulatory T cell status in red cell alloimmunized responder and non-responder mice. Blood 2009 113: 5624-5627. Bao W, Bussel JB, Heck S, He W, Karpoff M, Boulad N, Yazdanbakhsh K. Improved regulatory T cell activity in patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia treated with thrombopoietic agents. Blood, 2010 116(22):4639-45. Bao W, Zhong H, Li X, Lee MT, Schwartz J, Sheth S, Yazdanbakhsh K. Immune regulation in chronically transfused allo-antibody responder and nonresponder patients with sickle cell disease and β- thalassemia major. Am J Hematol. 2011 Dec;86(12):1001-6 Li X, Zhong H, Bao W, Boulad N, Evangelista J, Haider MA, Bussel J, and Yazdanbakhsh K. Defective regulatory B cell compartment in patients with immune thrombocytopenia. Blood, 2012 120(16):3318-25. Zhong H, Bao W, Li X, Miller, A, Seery, C, Haq, N, Bussel J, and Yazdanbakhsh K. CD16+ Monocytes Control T cell Subset Development in Immune Thrombocytopenia. Blood, 2012 120(16):3326-35. Yazdanbakhsh K., Ware, R and Noizat-Pirenne, F. Red blood cell alloimmunization in sickle cell disease: pathophysiology, risk factors, and transfusion management. Blood. 2012;120(3):528-37. Zhong H, and Yazdanbakhsh K. Differential control of Helios+/- Treg development by monocyte subsets through disparate inflammatory cytokines. Blood. 2013 Mar 28;121(13):2494-502. Zhong H, Bao, W, Freidman, D and Yazdanbakhsh K.Hemin controls T cell polarization in sickle cell alloimmunization. J Immunol. 2014 Jul 1;193(1):102-10. Zhong H, Bao, and Yazdanbakhsh K.Immunologic characterization suggests reduced alloimmunization in a murine model of thalassemia intermedia. Transfusion, 2014 Nov;54(11):2880-91. Zhong H, Bussel J and Yazdanbakhsh K. In vitro TNF blockade Enhances Ex Vivo Expansion of Regulatory T cells in Patients with Immune Thrombocytopenia. Br J Haematol. 2015;168(2):274-83. Godefroy E, Zhong H, Pham P, Friedman D, Yazdanbakhsh K. TIGIT+ Circulating Follicular Helper T cells Display Robust B cell Help Functions: Potential Role in Sickle Cell Alloimmunization. Haematologica. 2015, Nov;100(11):1415-25. Godefroy E, Liu Y, Shi P, Mitchell WB, Cohen D, Chou ST, Manwani D, Yazdanbakhsh K. Altered heme-mediated modulation of dendritic cell function in sickle cell alloimmunization. Haematologica. 2016, Sep;101(9):1028-38. Liu Y, Jing F, Yi F, Mendelson A, Shi P, Walsh R, Friedman DF, Minniti C, Manwani D, Chou ST, and Yazdanbakhsh K. HO-1hi Patrolling Monocytes Protect against Vaso-occlusion in Sickle Cell Disease. Blood 2018, Apr 5;131(14):1600-1610. Pirenne F, Yazdanbakhsh K. How I safely transfuse patients with sickle-cell disease and manage delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions. Blood 2018 Jun 21;131(25):2773-2781. Yi W, Bao W, Rodriguez M, Liu Y, Singh M, Ramlall V, Cursino-Santos JR, Zhong H, Elton CM, Wright GJ, Mendelson A, An X, Lobo CA, Yazdanbakhsh K. Robust adaptive immune response against Babesia microti infection marked by low parasitemia in a murine model of sickle cell disease. Blood Adv. 2018 Dec 11;2(23):3462-3478. Liu Y, Zhong H, Bao W, Mendelson A, An X, Shi P, Chou ST, Manwani D, Yazdanbakhsh K. Patrolling monocytes scavenge endothelial-adherent sickle RBCs: a novel mechanism of inhibition of vaso-occlusion in SCD. Blood. 2019 Aug 15;134(7):579-590. Mendelson A, Strat AN, Bao W, Rosston P, Fallon G, Ohrn S, Zhong H, Lobo C, An X, Yazdanbakhsh K. Mesenchymal stromal cells lower platelet activation and assist in platelet formation in vitro. JCI Insight. 2019 Aug 22;4(16). 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