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STEVEN A. HOFFMAN Associate Professor Ph.D., University of Colorado, Boulder Send e-mail to stevehoffman@asu.edu

Research

Scientific

Our research focuses on the interactions and relations between mind, brain and the immune system. This includes biomedical research into how the immune system can lead to neuropsychiatric manifestations. The primary focus is on CNS lupus, but there are implications for diseases such as multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis and rheumatoid arthritis. The research also investigates how the central nervous system (CNS) can contribute to an autoimmune state; how psychosocial factors influence the immune system (e.g., how stress affects the immune system); and the neuro-immunological circuitry (viz., interconnections between the brain and immune system). Some questions addressed are: How do psychosocial factors contribute to an autoimmune disease? How does the immune system signal the brain? What are the mechanisms leading to CNS lupus?

More specifically, we are currently pursuing two areas of scientific research: (1) The role of brain reactive autoantibodies (and immune assault in general) in causing mental disorders, particularly in autoimmune mediated diseases, e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus. Our methodology uses cell culture, hybridoma technology, monoclonal antibodies, ELISA, immunoblotting, gel electrophoresis, immunohistochemistry, as well as behavioral and neuroscience techniques; (2) Neural modulation of tolerance and autoimmune states, with a focus on the role of substance P, using the techniques of flow cytometry, cell culture, etc. We are also interested in, and have done research on, the relation between psychosocial factors and the immune system in autoimmune disease, as well as computer models of the immune system.

Philosophic

Our studies also take us into the interface between philosophy and science. This examines some of the foundations for the research we do in our laboratory. Our current research in this area focuses on psychoneuroimmunology and the mind-brain relation. What are the theoretical foundations of PNI? Do they favor one theory of the mind-brain relation over another (e.g., dualistic interactionism vs. materialist identity theory)? Other topics of interest include philosophy of immunology, philosophy of mind (concepts of self and the mind-brain relation), biomedical ethics, science and religion, the nature of scientific inquiry (focusing on theoretical frameworks and constructs).

Current Students

Graduate Students

Stephanie Williams

Undergraduate Students

Sean Beach

Kyle Carman

Blake Atkinson

Selected Publications

Zameer, A. and Hoffman , S.A. , B and T cells in the brains of autoimmune mice, J. Neuroimmunol. 146: 134-140, 2004

Ballok, D.A., Earls, A.M., Krasnik, C., Hoffman , S.A. and Sakic, B., Autoimmunity-induced damage of the midbrain dopaminergic system in lupus-prone mice, J. Neuroimmunol. 152: 83-97, 2004

Zameer, A. and Hoffman , S.A. , Increased ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression in the brains of autoimmune mice, J. Neuroimmunol. 142:67-74, 2003

Zameer, A. and Hoffman , S.A. , Immunoglobulin binding to brain in autoimmune mice, J. Neuroimmunol. 120: 10-18, 2001

Hoffman , S.A. , Harbeck, R.J. and Shucard, D.W. The immune system can affect learning: Chronic immune complex disease in a rat model. J. Neuroimmunol. 86:163-170, 1998

Crimando, J., Cooper, K. and Hoffman , S.A. Inhibition of sodium channel currents by antineuronal autoantibody from autoimmune mic. Ann. N.Y.A.S. 823:303-307, 1997

Crimando, J. and Hoffman , S.A. Characterization of brain-reactive monoclonal IgG autoantibodies. Brain Behav. Immun. 9:165-181, 1995.

Khin, N.A and Hoffman , S.A. Brain-reactive monoclonal autoantibodies: Production and characterization. J. Neuroimmunol., 44:137-148, 1993.

Bartholomew, S.A and Hoffman, S.A. Effects of peripheral cytokine injections on multiple unit activity in the anterior hypothalamic area of the mouse. Brain Behav. Immun. 7:301-316. 1993

Maag, T.J. and Hoffman , S.A. Anti-brain antibodies in the sera of rheumatoid arthritis patients: Relation to disease activity and psychological status. J. Neuroimm. 45:37-46, 1993

Harrington, L., Affleck, G., Urrows, S., Tennen, H., Higgins, P., Zautra, A. and Hoffman, S. Temporal covariation of soluble interleukin-2 receptors, daily stress, and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis. Arth. Rheum. 36:199-203, 1993

Schiffer, R.B. and Hoffman , S.A. Behavioral sequelae of autoimmune disease. Review in: Psychoneuroimmunology II, Ader, R., ed., Academic Press, N.Y., 1991

Hoffman , S.A. and Madsen, C.S. Brain specific autoantibodies in murine models of systemic lupus erythematosus. J. Neuroimmunol. 30:229-237, 1990

Narendran, A. and Hoffman , S.A. Characterization of brain reactive autoantibodies in murine models of systemic lupus erythematosus. J. Neuroimm. 24:113-123, 1989

Hoffman , S.A. , Narendran, A., Shucard, D.W. and Harbeck R.J. Autoantibodies, immune complexes and behavioral disorders: Neuropsychiatric involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus. Drug Dev. Res., 15:237-251, 1988

Narendran, A., and Hoffman , S.A. Identification of autoantibody reactive integral brain membrane antigens -- A two dimensional analysis. J. Immunol. Meth. 114: 227-234, 1988

Hoffman , S.A. , Arbogast, D.N., Ford, P.M., Shucard, D.W., & Harbeck, R.J. Brain reactive autoantibody levels, as a function of age, in the sera of autoimmune mice. Clin. Exp. Immunol. 70: 74-83, 1987

Hoffman , S.A. , Arbogast, D.N., Biundo, T.T., Shucard, D.W., and Harbeck, R.J. Permeability of the blood cerebrospinal fluid barrier during acute immune complex disease. J.Immunol. 130:1695-1698, 1983

Hoffman , S.A. , Shucard, D.W., Brodie, H.A., Reinfenrath, C., and Harbeck, R.J. Suppression of water intake by immune complex formation in the hypothalamus: Implications for systemic lupus erythematosus. J. Neuroimmunol. 2: 167-176, 1982

Manuscripts in Preparation:

Hoffman , S.A. The immunologic self: Perspectives on philosophic concepts of self

Hoffman , S.A. and Ching, P. Increased expression of MHC class I in MRL/lpr mice

Book Chapters

Hoffman , S.A. and Harbeck, R.J. CNS Lupus and the Blood Brain Barrier. In: Implications of the Blood Brain Barrier and its Manipulation, Vol. 2, Neuwelt, E., ed., Plenum, N.Y., 1989.

Schiffer, R.B. and Hoffman , S.A. Behavioral sequelae of autoimmune disease. In: Psychoneuroimmunology II, Ader, R., ed., Academic Press, N.Y., 1991.