Faculty

Xiao-li Huang, MD, MS Research Assistant Professor E-mail: xlhuang@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; 1982
Postdoctoral fellow; University of Pittsburgh; 1987-88

Research Interests

Cellular immunity to human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus, epidemiology of AIDS, clinical virology

Research Summary

Dr. Huang is interested in the area of AIDS. Her research focuses on anti-HIV and anti-HCV cellular immunity, particularly the function of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). The research has shown that HIV infected long-term nonprogressors have specific CTL reactivity against HIV antigens. She is investigating the role of CTL in HIV infection and the effect of antiretroviral treatment on cellular immunity to HIV, the delivery of HIV antigens to dendritic cells, and activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells specific for HIV. Current studies include enhanced anti-HIV-1 T cell responses stimulated by autologous dendritic cells loaded with HIV-1 peptides and priming of multifunctional, anti-HIV-1 CD8+ T cells by CD34+ cell-derived langerhans cells, dermal-interstitial dendritic cells and monocyte-derived dendritic cells. This research has implications for understanding the immunopathogenesis of HIV infection, and in developing appropriate anti-HIV treatment and vaccine strategies.

Recent Publications

• Huang, X.L., Fan, Z., Kalinyak, C., Mellors, J.W., and Rinaldo, C.R., Jr. (2000) CD8+ T cell gamma interferon production specific for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in HIV-1-infected subjects. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol. 7:279-287.
• Rinaldo, C.R., Jr., Huang, X.L., Fan, Z., Margolick, J.B., Borowski, L., Hoji, A., Kalinyak, C., McMahon, D.K., Riddler, S.A., Hildebrand, W.H., Day, R.B., and Mellors, J.W. (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.L., 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 anti-retroviral therapy by stimulation in vitro with HIV-1 protein-loaded dendritic cells. J Virol. 75:4413-4419.
• Zhao, X.Q., Huang, X.L., Gupta, P., Borowski, L., Fan, Z., Watkins, S.C., Thomas, E.K., and Rinaldo, Jr. C.R. (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.J., Huang, X.L., Rappocciolo, G., Jenkins, F.J., Hildebrand, W.H., Fan, Z., Thomas, E.K., and Rinaldo, Jr. C.R. (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.L., Fan, Z., Zheng, L., Borowski, L., Li, H., Thomas, E.K., Hildebrand, W.H., Zhao, X.Q., and 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.
• Majumder B., Janket M., Schafer E, Schaubert K, Huang X.,  Kan-Mitchell J., Rinaldo Jr. CR and Ayyavoo V., Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Vpr Impairs Dendritic Cell Maturation and T-Cell Activation: Implications for Viral Immune Escape. J. Virol. 79(13): 7990-8003, 2005
• Huang X., Fan Z., Gupta P., and Rinaldo Jr CR., 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(1):93-8, 2006
• Fan, Z., Huang, X., Kalinski P., Young S.,and Rinaldo Jr CR., Dendritic Cell Function during Chronic Hepatitis C Virus and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Infection. Clinical and Vaccine Immunology 14(9):1127-37, 2007
• 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