Research Assistant Professor of Physiology
Dr. Pioli was awarded a bachelor of science degree cum laude in Biology from George Washington University in 1993. She received her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Dartmouth Medical School and joined the Department of Physiology in 2001 as a research fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Paul Guyre. Dr. Pioli was appointed Research Assistant Professor of Physiology in 2004.
The human female reproductive tract (FRT) is immunologically unique in that it must tolerate allogeneic sperm and permit implantation and fetal development, while simultaneously detect and respond to a broad diversity of sexually transmitted pathogens. To accommodate these disparate functions, the FRT relies upon both innate and acquired immune defense mechanisms. As leader of Project 3 (Sex Hormone Effects on Myeloid Cell Function) within the Program Project entitled Sex Hormone Regulation of Innate Immunity (C. Wira, P.I.). Dr. Pioli’s research is focused on elucidating the influence of hormones and cytokines on the regulation of immune responses mediated by myeloid cells within the human female reproductive tract. Her studies investigate the effects of sex hormones on monocyte, macrophage, and dendritic cell function in response to pathogenic challenge and inflammation.
Toll-like receptor (TLR) signal transduction is a central component of the innate immune response. Recent work in the lab has documented the constitutive expression of TLRs 1-6 in the FRT, and has demonstrated the differential expression of TLR2 and TLR4, which are involved in bacterial recognition, throughout the human female genital tract. Given these findings, current studies are aimed at assessing the effects of sex hormones on TLR function and expression.
Enhanced understanding of the influence of sex hormones on myeloid cells and their subsequent impact on innate and adaptive immune mechanisms may provide insight into the pathogenesis of sexually transmitted diseases and the deleterious sequelae associated with genital tract infection.
Pioli PA, Amiel E, Schaefer TM, Connolly JE, Wira CR, Guyre PM.
Differential expression of Toll-like receptors 2 and 4 in tissues of the human female reproductive tract. Infect Immun. 2004 Oct;72(10):5799-806.
Pioli PA, Goonan KE, Wardwell K, Guyre PM.
TGF-beta regulation of human macrophage scavenger receptor CD163 is Smad3-dependent. J Leukoc Biol. 2004 Aug;76(2):500-8.
Sulahian TH, Pioli PA, Wardwell K, Guyre PM. Cross-linking of FcgammaR triggers shedding of the hemoglobin-haptoglobin scavenger receptor CD163. J Leukoc Biol. 2004 Jul;76(1):271-7.
