Jean Regal, Ph.D.

Contact Information Phone: 218-726-8950 Fax: 218-726-7906 Email: jregal@d.umn.edu Address: 313 SMed 1035 University Drive Duluth, MN 55812

Professor

Director, Academic Health Center Duluth Women's Mentoring Program

Integrated Biosciences Graduate Program

Toxicology Graduate Program

Research Interests

Dr. Regal's research laboratory is focused on defining mechanisms and mediators of asthma and anaphylactic shock.

Childhood Asthma
As a chronic inflammatory lung disease caused by numerous different allergens, asthma has a serious impact on both children and adults.  Our work in basic animal models of asthma is comparing the dose of allergen that causes asthmatic symptoms in young vs adult, male vs female animals.  As part of this work, we are utilizing RNA expression analysis and microarray technology to assist in defining mechanistic differences in adult and childhood asthma.  These experiments will provide the basis for determining whether allergen avoidance in the young is a realistic therapeutic strategy in reducing asthma morbidity and mortality in both children and adults. 

Occupational Asthma and Immunotoxicology
Current evidence indicates that asthma is a syndrome and occurs by different mechanisms, depending on the allergen.  Examining these mechanisms in detail in the research laboratory is crucial for the identification of the very best treatment for each individual in the clinical setting.    My research in immunotoxicology is using measurements of inflammation and pulmonary function along with RNA expression analysis and microarray technology to define differences in effector mechanisms in occupational asthma.  These studies are comparing the allergic pulmonary response to trimellitic anhydride, a chemical used in the paints and plastics industries, to the classic protein allergen, ovalbumin.  In addition, the role of the innate immune system, particularly the plasma complement system, in mediating the symptoms of occupational asthma is being explored. The approaches are interdisciplinary, spanning molecular to physiological techniques.

Education

Ph.D., Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, 1977

Laboratory Personnel

Professional Societies, Activities, and Publications

Publications on PubMed

Memberships

American Association of Immunologists

American Society of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics

Society of Toxicology, Vice President, Immunotoxicology Specialty Section

American Thoracic Society

Sigma Xi

Recent Presentations

ECVAM Expert Meeting:  Progress in the development of New Approaches to the Identification of Respiratory Allergens.  April 2-4, 2008, Ispra, Italy

Society of Toxicology, March 25, 2007, Charlotte, NC.  Continuing Education presentation.  “Allergy of the Respiratory Tract.”

Japanese Society of Immunotoxicology, 13^th annual meeting, Sept 14-15, 2006, Kurashiki, Japan.  “Models and Mechanisms of Chemical respiratory allergy:  Not all allergens are equal”

Minnesota ACE Network, Networking group for women in higher education, Regional spring conference, Presentation on “How to Publish”, April 18, 2008, Duluth, MN

Duluth Dental Forum, Presentation on “Asthma: Aspects of concern for Dentists”, March 6, 2008, Duluth, MN

University of Minnesota AHC Fall Faculty Forum, Creating Successful Mentoring Relationships, Presented the AHC Duluth Women’s Mentoring Program and participated as a panel discussant.  Nov, 2, 2007, Minneapolis, MN

Selected Activities

NIAID Review Panel-RFA AI-07-002-Asthma and Allergic Diseases Cooperative Research Centers, ZAI1-QV-I-(J1), October 2007 & March 2006

NIEHS Special Emphasis Panel for review of Superfund Basic Research and Training Programs (RFA ES-05-001).  Sept 21, 2005, Phase I review.

Editorial Board, Journal of Immunotoxicology

Peer Review Panel for review of the Murine Local Lymph Node Assay sponsored by the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM) for the National Toxicology Program, 1998, 2008.

Institute of Medicine's Committee on Health Effects Associated with Exposures Experienced during the Persian Gulf War, 1999-2001

American Chemistry Council, Peer Review Panel for RFP "Susceptibility of the Developing Immune System to Immunosuppressive Agents", 2001

Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Review of draft document setting exposure limits for the occupational allergen Trimellitic anhydride, 2000.

Minnesota Heart Association Research Peer Review Subcommittee, 1985-1992
Vice Chair, 1988-90, Chair, 1990-92

Minnesota Heart Association Research Committee, 1989-92

Minnesota Heart Association Executive Committee and Board of Directors, 1990-1992

Recent Reviews and Book Chapters

Regal, J.F.  Allergic asthma and rhinitis:  Toxicological considerations.  In  General and Applied Toxicology, 3^rd ed.  Ed. B. Ballantyne, T. Marrs, T. Syversen.  John Wiley and Sons, Ltd, UK.  In Press

Regal, J.F. and Selgrade MJ:  Hypersensitivity Reactions in the Respiratory Tract. In  Immune System Toxicology, Vol 5, Comprehensive Toxicology. 2^nd ed.  Ed. I.G. Sipes, C.A. McQueen, A.J. Gandolfi.  Elsevier Science.  In Press

Regal, J.F., Greene, A.L., and Regal, R.R.:  Mechanisms of Occupational Asthma: Not all Allergens are Equal.  Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine 12:161-167, 2007.

Regal, J.F.: Complement. pp. 153-158. In Encyclopedic Reference of Immunotoxicology. Ed. H-W Vohr. Springer-Verlag, Germany, 2005.

Regal, J. F.: Complement and Allergy. pp. 147-150. In Encyclopedic Reference of Immunotoxicology. Ed. H-W Vohr. Springer-Verlag, Germany, 2005.

Regal, J.F. Immunologic Effector Mechanisms in Animal Models of Occupational Asthma. J. Immunotoxicology 1:25-38, 2004.

Regal, J.F. Murine Asthma Models. Current Protocols in Toxicology. 18.3.1-18.3.21, 2004.

Regal, J.F.: Committee member and Co-author of "Gulf War and Health, Volume 1: Depleted Uranium, Sarin, Pyridostigmine Bromide, and Vaccines." Institute of Medicine, National Academy Press, Washington D.C. 2000.

Recent refereed publications

Roggen EL, Aufderheide M, Cetin Y, Dearman RJ, Gibbs S, Hermanns I, Kimber I, Regal JF, Rovida C, Warheit DB, Uhlig S, Casati S.    Progress in the Development of Novel Approaches to the Identification of Chemical and Protein Respiratory Allergens.  Submitted to Alternatives to Testing in Laboratory Animals.

Regal JF, Greene AL, Rutherford MS, Regal RR, Duan M, Haynes V, Mohrman M: Effectiveness of primary prevention of asthma varies with age and sex in a mouse model.  Submitted to Clinical Experimental Allergy.

Regal, J.F., Regal, R.R., Meehan, J.L., Duan, M., Mohrman, M.E.: Contributions of Age and Sex to Heterogeneity of Symptoms and Effectiveness of Secondary Prevention Strategies in Asthma as Modeled in the Guinea Pig. J Immunotox 4, 1-13, 2007.

Regal, J.F., Regal, R.R., Meehan J.L., Mohrman, ME:  Primary Prevention of Asthma: Age and Sex Influence Sensitivity to Allergen-induced Airway Inflammation and Contribute to Asthma Heterogeneity in Guinea Pigs. Int Arch Allergy Immunol., 141:241-256, 2006.

Teske, S., Bohn, A.A., Regal, J.F., Neumiller, and Lawrence, B.P.: Activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor increases pulmonary neutrophilia and diminishes host resistance to influenza A virus. Am J Physiol, Lung Cell Mol Physiol 289: L111-24, 2005.

Greene , A.L., Rutherford, M.S., Regal, R.R., Flickinger, G.H., Hendrickson, J.A., Giulivi, C, Mohrman, M.E., Fraser, D.G., Regal, J.F.: Arginase activity differs with allergen in the effector phase of ovalbumin- vs trimellitic anhydride-induced asthma. Toxicological Sciences 88: 420-433, 2005

Larsen, C.P. and Regal, J.F.: Trimellitic anhydride (TMA) dust induces airway obstruction and eosinophilia in non-sensitized guinea pigs. Toxicology 178: 89-99, 2002.

Schlesinger, R.B., Cohen, M.D., Gordon, T., Nadziejko, C., Zelikoff, J.T., Sisco, M., Regal, J.F., and Menache, M.: Ozone Differentially Modulates Airway Responsiveness in Atopic vs Nonatopic Guinea Pigs. Inhalation Toxicology 14: 431-457, 2002.

Larsen, C.P. and Regal, J.F.: Trimellitic anhydride-induced cellular infiltration into guinea pig lung varies with age but not gender. Int Archs Allergy appl Immun. 127:63-72, 2002.

Regal, J.F., Mohrman, M.E. and Sailstad, D.M.: Trimellitic anhydride-induced eosinophilia in a mouse model of occupational asthma. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 175:234-242, 2001.

Larsen, C.P., Regal, R.R. and Regal, J.F.: Trimellitic anhydride-induced allergic response in the guinea pig lung involves antibody-dependent and -independent complement system activation. J. Pharmacol. exp Ther 296:284-292, 2001.

Regal, J.F., Fraser, D.G., Weeks, C.E. and Greenberg, N.A.: Dietary phytoestrogens have anti-inflammatory activity in a guinea pig model of asthma. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 223: 372-378, 2000.

Regal, J.F. and A. Klos: Minor role of the C3a receptor in systemic anaphylaxis in the guinea pig. Immunopharmacol. 46: 15-28, 2000.

Recent Published Abstracts

Regal JF, Greene AL, Rutherford MS, Regal RR, Duan M, Haynes V, Mohrman M:  Limiting allergen exposure during development:  Differential effect on asthma symptoms in a mouse model. The Toxicologist CD – An official Journal of the Society of Toxicology 91, number S-1,  2008.

Regal, J.F., Greene, A.L., Rutherford M.S., Regal, R.R., Duan M., Haynes V.L., Mohrman M.E. Age and Sex Influence the Effectiveness of Primary Prevention of Asthma in a Mouse Model. Am J Resp Crit Care Med 175:A254, 2007.

Regal, J.F., Greene, A.L., Rutherford, M.S., Regal, R.R., Duan, M., Haynes, V., Meehan, J., Mohrman, M.: Age and sex contribute to asthma heterogeneity in animal models. Abstract 1155. The Toxicologist CD - An official Journal of the Society of Toxicology 90, number S-1, 2007.

Regal, J.F., Greene, A.L., Rutherford, M., Regal, R.R., Giulivi, C., Mohrman, M., Flickinger, G., Hendrickson, J. Differential gene expression and effector mechanisms in murine models of trimellitic anhydride and ovalbumin- induced asthma. Toxicological Sciences, 2006.

Greene, A.L., Rutherford M.S., Regal R.R., Flickinger G.H., Hendrickson J.A., Mohrman, M.E., Regal, J.F. Chemokine expression differs with allergen in the effector phase of ovalbumin- vs trimellitic anhydride-induced asthma. Keystone Symposium on Allergy, Allergic Inflammation and Asthma. Breckenridge, CO. April 6-11, 2006.

Regal, J.F. Primary Prevention of Asthma: Sensitivity to Allergen Differs for Young and Adult, Male and Female Mice. 2006 Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program Military Health Research Forum, San Juan Puerto Rico. May 1-4, 2006.