Faculty

Zheng Fan, MD Research Assistant Professor E-mail: zheng@pitt.edu Phone: 412-624-3848 Fax: 412-624-4953 Address: 530 Parran Hall 130 DeSoto Street Pittsburgh, PA 15261

Education

MD; Shanghai First Medical College; 1970
MS; Shanghai Medical University; 1981

Research Interests

Cellular immunity to human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus

Research Summary

Dr. Fan’s research focus is on anti-HIV/SIV cellular immunity, particularly the function of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). He is also interested in the role of cytokines in dendritic cell (DC) activation of T cells in the immunopathogenesis of HIV infection, especially the primary CTL against HIV antigen. The studies include comparisons of different viral proteins, peptides, and DNA delivery systems to enhance T cell activation by DC. This research has implications for understanding the immunopathogenesis of HIV infection, and in developing appropriate anti-HIV treatment and vaccine strategies.

Recently, Dr. Fan is also interested in the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV-1 co-infection, especially the defects in the maturation of DC antigen presentation function and a prominent role for the evolving viral quasispecies in HCV pathogenesis. This research is to characterize and test DC function with different maturation and Th1 polarizing stimuli for enhancement of antigen presentation in a cross sectional study of CD8+ and CD4+ T cells from HCV and HIV-1 co-infected subjects. It will enhance our understanding of the immune function defects and the role of viral evolution in HCV disease progression and will be important in the future development of efficient immunotherapies for HCV infection.

Recent Publications

Peer Reviewed

• Rinaldo, C., Liebmann, J., Huang, X., Fan, Z., AI-Shboul, Q., McMahon, D., Day, R., Riddler, S., and Mellors, J. (1999) Prolonged suppression of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) viremia in persons with advanced disease results in enhancement of CD4 T cell reactivity to microbial antigens but not to HIV-1 antigens. JID 179:329-336.
  
• Zheng, L., Huang, X., Fan, Z., Borowski, L., and Rinaldo, C. (1999) Delivery of liposome-encapsulated HIV type 1 proteins to human dendritic cells for stimulation of HIV type 1- specific memory Cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses. AIDS Res Hum Retro. 15:1011-1020.
  
• Huang, X., Fan, Z., Kalinyak, C., Mellors, J., and Rinaldo, C. (2000) CD8+ T cell gamma interferon production specific for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in HIV-1 infected subjects. Clin Diag Lab Immunol. 7:279-287.
  
• Rinaldo, C., Huang, X., Fan, Z., Margolick, J Borowski, L., Hoji, A., Kalinyak, C., McMahon, D., Riddler, S., Hildebrand, W., Day, R., and Mellors, J. (2000) Anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) CD8+ T-lymphocyte reactivity during combination antiretroviral therapy in HIV-1-infected patients with advanced immunodeficiency. J Virol. 74:4127-4138.
  
• Fan, Z., Huang, X., Borowski, L., Mellors J., and Rinaldo, C. (2001) Restoration of anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) responses in CD8+ T cells from late-stage patients on prolonged antiretroviral therapy by stimulation in vitro with HIV-1 protein-loaded dendritic cells. J Virol. 75:4413-4419.
  
• Zhao, X., Huang, X., Gupta, P., Borowski, L., Fan, Z., Watkins, SC., Thomas, EK., and Rinaldo, C. (2002) Induction of anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell reactivity by dendritic cells loaded with HIV-1 X4-infected apoptotic cells. J Virol. 76:3007-3014.
  
• Wang, Q., Huang, X., Rappocciolo, G., Jenkins, F., Hildebrand, W., Fan, Z., and Rinaldo, C. (2002) Identification of an HLA-A*0201 restricted CD8+ T cell epitope for the glycoprotein B homolog of human herpesvirus 8. Blood 99:3360-3366.
  
• Huang X., Fan, Z., Zheng, L., Borowski, L., Li, H., Thomas, E.K., Hildebrand, W.H., Zhao, X.Q., Rinaldo, Jr. C.R. (2003) Priming of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-specific CD8+ T cell responses by dendritic cells loaded with HIV-1 proteins. J Infect Dis. 187:315-319.
• Huang X. L., Fan Z., Colleton B. A., Buchli R., Li H., Hildebrand W.H., and Rinaldo, C.R., Jr. (2005) Processing and presentation of exogenous HLA class I peptides by dendritic cells from HIV-1 infected persons. J.Virol. 79:3052-3062.

• Huang, X-L., Fan, Z., Gupta, P. and Rinaldo, C.R., Jr. (2006) Activation of HIV type 1 specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes from semen by HIV type 1 antigen-presenting dendritic cells and IL-12. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 22:93-98.

• Fan, Z., Huang, X-L., Kalinski, P., Young, S., and Rinaldo, C.R., Jr. (2007) Dendritic cell function during chronic hepatitis C virus and HIV-1 infection. Clin. Vacc. Immunol,  14:1127-1137.
• Huang X., Fan Z., Borowski L., and Rinaldo Jr CR., Maturation of dendritic cells for enhanced activation of anti-HIV-1 CD8+ T cell immunity.  J Leukocyte Biology 83:1530-40, 2008