Kathleen L. McCoy, Ph.D.
Professor

Phone: (804) 828-2305
Dept. Fax: (804) 828-9946
e-mail: kmccoy@vcu.edu

Address:
Department of Microbiology & Immunology
Virginia Commonwealth University
P.O. Box 980678
1217 E. Marshall St., 229 Medical Sciences Building
Richmond, VA 23298-0678

Professional Experience

• B.S., 1976, St. John Fisher College 
• M.S., 1979, University of Washington
• Ph.D., 1983, University of Washington
• Postdoctoral: 1983-1985, L.M.I., National Institutes of Health; 1985-1988, L.C.M.I., National Institutes of Health

Research Interests:

The activation of helper T cells occurs following the recognition of foreign protein antigens bound to the appropriate Major Histocompatibility Complex molecules on the cell surface of antigen presenting cells. Peptide fragments are generated inside antigen-presenting cells by a mechanism termed processing. In my laboratory, both genetic and biochemical approaches are being utilized to investigate the regulation and mechanism of antigen processing. Various aspects of antigen processing, including a lysosomal cysteine pump, thiols, and proteases, are being studied in B cells, macrophages, and mutant cell lines. In addition, the step at which the drug, THC, and the chemical, gallium arsenide, interfere with antigen processing is being analyzed. Besides antigen processing, antigen-presenting cells perform other function that are critical for a T cell response. Occupancy of the T cell antigen receptor alone is usually not sufficient to stimulate maximally the proliferation and cytokine secretion by T cells. A second signal, termed co-stimulatory activity, provided by antigen-presenting cells is also essential. The co-stimulatory signal in many systems is delivered by plasma membrane proteins expressed by the antigen presenting cells. Recently, we reported that THC selectively down-regulates the expression of heat- stable antigen, a co-stimulatory molecule, on macrophages. The mechanism by which THC decreases the expression of heat-stable antigen is currently being investigated.
 

Selected Publications:

McCoy KL. Programmed B and T cell development. Nutr Rev. 1998 Jan;56(1 Pt 2):S19-26. Review.

Lewis TA, Hartmann CB, McCoy KL. Gallium arsenide differentially affects processing of phagolysosomal targeted antigen by macrophages. J Leukoc Biol. 1998 Mar;63(3):321-30.

Caffrey-Nolan RE, McCoy KL. Direct exposure to gallium arsenide upregulates costimulatory activity of murine macrophages. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 1998 Aug;151(2):330-9.

Lewis TA, Hartmann CB, McCoy KL. Gallium arsenide modulates proteolytic cathepsin activities and antigen processing by macrophages. J Immunol. 1998 Sep 1;161(5):2151-7.

Clements DJ, Matveyeva M, McCoy KL. Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol suppresses macrophage costimulation by decreasing heat-stable antigen expression. Int J Immunopharmacol. 1998 Aug;20(8):415-28.

McCoy, K.L., M. Matveyeva, S.J.. Carlisle and G.A. Cabral. Cannabinoid
inhibition of the processing of intact lysozyme by macrophages: Evidence for CB2 receptor participation. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 289:1620-1625 (1999).

Matveyeva, M., C.B. Hartmann, M.T. Harrison, G.A. Cabral and K.L. McCoy.
Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol selectively increases aspartyl cathepsin D
proteolytic activity and impairs lysozyme processing by macrophages. Int. J. Immunopharmacol. 22: 373-381 (2000).

Buckley, N.E., K.L. McCoy, E. Mezey, T. Bonner, A. Zimmer, C.C. Felder, M. Glass and A. Zimmer. Immunomodulation by cannabinoids is absent in mice deficient for the CB2 cannabinoid receptor. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 396:141-149 (2000).

Harrison, M.T. and K.L. McCoy. Immunosuppression by arsenic: A comparison of cathepsin L inhibition and apoptosis. Int. Immunopharmacol. 1:647-656 (2001).

Harrison, M.T., C.B. Hartmann and K.L. McCoy. Impact of in vitro gallium arsenide exposure on macrophages. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 186:18-27 (2003).

Gondre-Lewis, T.A., C.B. Hartmann, R.E. Caffrey and K.L. McCoy. Gallium arsenide exposure impairs splenic B cell accessory function. Int. Immunopharmacol. 3:403-415 (2003).

Becker, S.M. and K.L. McCoy. Gallium arsenide selectively upregulates inflammatory cytokine expression at exposure site. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 307:1045-1053 (2003).

Chuchawankul, S., M. Shima, N.E. Buckley, C.B. Hartmann and K.L. McCoy. Role of cannabinoid receptors in inhibiting macrophage costimulatory activity. Int. Immunopharmacol.  4:265-278 (2004).

Hartmann, C.B. and K.L. McCoy. Gallium arsenide exposure impairs processing of particulate antigen by macrophages: Modification of the antigen reverses the functional defect. Life Sci. 75:485-498 (2004).

Hartmann, C.B., M.T. Harrison and K.L. McCoy. Immunotoxicity of gallium arsenide on antigen presentation: Comparative study of intratracheal and intraperitoneal exposure routes. J. Immunotoxicol. 2:1-9 (2005).

Creasy, B.M., C.B. Hartmann, F.K. Higgins White and K.L. McCoy. New assay using fluorogenic substrates and immunofluorescence staining to measure cysteine cathepsin activity in live cell subpopulations. Cytometry Part A. 71A:114-123 (2007).

Virginia Commonwealth University | School of Medicine
Date Last Modified: 09/03/2009
Contact Department Webmaster