Hillary D. White

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Dartmouth College
Medical School
Microbiology and Immunology
Associate ProfessorAppointed: 1998
Professional Headshot of Hillary D. White

Mailing Address

Department of Microbiology and Immunology HB7556
Dartmouth Medical School
1 Medical Center Drive
Lebanon, New Hampshire
United States

Contact Information

Phone: (603) 650-8262
Fax: (603) 650-6223
Hillary.D.White@dartmouth.edu

Qualifications

Postdoctoral - NIH Fellow, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Molecular Biology, Beta Globin Genetics, 1983.
Howard Hughes Postdoc Fellow, University of Washington, Enzymology and Protein Kinases, 1981.
Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara, Chemistry, 1979.
Post-Baccalaureate, University of California, Santa Barbara, 1974.
B.A., University of California, Santa Barbara, Chemistry, 1973.
Undergraduate, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chemistry, 1970.

Expertise and Research Interests

Dr. White has studied the neuroendocrine regulation of immune cells within the human (and murine) female reproductive tract. In particular, Dr. White's laboratory discovered that cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) lytic function is low or absent from the premenopausal uterinem endometrium. During the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle, the window of time during which a semiallogeneic embryo can implant, CTL activity is absent. In contrast, CTL activity, which mediates cellular immunity, is high in uterine endometrial tissue after menopause and in lower reproductive tract tissues throughout the menstrual cycle. Implications of CTL activity that is regulated temporally in response to endocrine state and anatomically with respect to site within the reproductive tract, and the resultant consequences for fertility and sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV are discussed in Dr. White's publications. Dr. White's finding that uterine endometrial CD8+ T cells are down-regulated during the time at which implantation of an embryo can occur suggests the adaptive immune system is regulated to allow for reproduction. Dysregulation of this state is likely to result in infertility. The functional status of CD8+ T cells is also likely to have consequences with respect to disease.

A second project involves the study of T cell dysfunction in freshly isolated human tumor samples from the human female reproductive tract (ovarian, endometrial and cervical cancers). T cells are considered by many to be the prime mediators of an effective anti-tumor response. Tumor infiltrating T lymphocytes (TIL) from established tumors have been shown by us and by others to by non-lytic and unable to kill tumor cells. Dr. White is currently working with Dr. Roby at the University of Kansas Medical Center to study CTL using Dr. Roby's rodent ovarian cancer model system, in particular the regulation of CTL by reproductive site related hormones.

Other Expertise

Academic Experience:
- 1973 BA in Chemistry, University of California at Santa Barbara (initial years at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
- 1979 Ph.D. Chemistry/biochemistry, University of California at Santa Barbara
- 1979-1981 postdoc with Dr. Edwin G. Krebs, Nobelist for work on protein kinases, University of Washington, Seattle
- 1981-1983 postdoc with Drs. Clyde Hutchison and Marshall Edgell, worked on beta globin molecular genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Selected invited talks:
- 4/9/96 National Institute of Child Development and Human Development symposium on 'Enhancing Vaginal Defense Mechanisms: Immunology and Physiology,' and 'Hormone regulation of mucosal immunity in the female genital tract'
- 9/29/03 New England Frontiers in Mucosal Immunology Symposium, Harvard Digestive Diseases Center

Future Research

Dr. White is currently focusing on immunologic vaccines for a variety of chronic illnesses.

Projects related to chronic pain (FDA model is Fibromyalgia Syndrome) are also underway.

Industrial Relevance

Therapies for reproductive tract cancers, ovarian cancer
Therapies for hypersensitivity to pain, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue.

Translational research:
CSO, White Mountain Pharma, Chronic pain therapies
VP Research and Development, ImmuRx, Immunologic vaccines

Keywords

COS Keywords:

Cancer Or Carcinogenesis, HIV, Human Reproduction Or Fertility, Immunology, Lymphocytes, Microbiology, Reproductive Physiology, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Tumor Immunology, Tumors.

Additional Terms:

CTL Activity, Human Female Reproductive Tract, Immunosuppression, Mucosal Immunology, Neuroendocrinologic Immunology, T-lymphocyte Function, Tumor Infiltrating T-lymphocytes.

Languages

(Reading, Writing, Speaking)

English: (Fluent, Fluent, Fluent)

Memberships

American Association of Immunologists
Eastern Pain Association
New England Pain Association
Society of Mucosal Immunologists

Honors and Awards

2003-2004, Mentor award, Biomedical Sciences Careers Project, Harvard University, Mentor for minority recruitment into biomedical sciences

Previous Positions

1987-1998, Assistant Professor, Dartmouth College, Medical School, Department of Microbiology & Immunology
1982-1983, NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology, beta-globin molecular biology
1981-1982, American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellow, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology, beta-globin molecular biology
1980-1981, American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Washington, School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Protein Kinase Enzymology
1979-1980, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Associate, University of Washington, School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Protein Kinase Enzymology

Patents

Use of Androgen Therapy in Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Patent Number: 5935949, 1999, Institution-owned, United States of America.

Funding Received

  • National Institutes of Health (NIH): Creation of an Anti-CD40 Superagonistic Monoclonal Antibody, 2009 to 2010.
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH): Rescue of Ovarian Tumor Dysregulated CTL by CRH Stress Hormone Antagonism, 2006 to 2008.
  • Marolyn and Bob Bingham Cancer Research Fund at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center: Hormone action on CTL in ovarian cancer, 2002 to 2006.
  • New Hampshire Industrial Research Center and Bentley Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Androgen Therapy in Fibromyalgia, 2001 to 2004.

Publications

  • Rudner, L.A., J.T. Lin, I-K. Park, J.M.M. Cates, D. Dyer, D.M. Franz, M.A. French, H.D. White, J.D. Gorham, Necroinflammatory Liver Disease in BALB/c-Background TGF-beta1 Deficient Mice Requires CD4+ T Cells, Journal of Immunology, 170(9), 4785-4792, 1 May 2003
  • Wira, CR, J. Fahey, HD White, GR Yeaman, A. Givan, A. Howell, The Mucosal Immune System in the Human Female Reproductive Tract: Influence of Stage of the Menstrual Cycle and Menopause on Mucosal Immunity in the Uterus', 359-391, 2002
  • White HD, Musey LK, Andrews MM, Yeaman GR, DeMars LR, Manganiello PD, Howell AL, Wira CR, Green WR, McElrath MJ, Human immunodeficiency virus-specific and CD3-redirected cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity in the human female reproductive tract: Lack of correlation between mucosa and peripheral blood, Journal of Infectious Diseases, 183(6), 977-83, 2001
  • White HD, Prabhala RH, Humphrey SL, Crassi KM, Richardson JM, Wira CR, A method for the dispersal and characterization of leukocytes from the human female reproductive tract, American Journal of Reproductive Immunology, 44(2), 96-103, August 2000 Abstract
  • Stern J E, Givan A L, Gonzalez J L, Harper D M, White H D, Wira C R, Leukocytes in the cervix: A quantitative evaluation of cervicitis, Obstetrics and Gynecology, 91(6), 987-92, June 1998
  • Yeaman G R, White H D, Howell A, Prabhala R, Wira C R, The mucosal immune system in the human female reproductive tract: Potential insights into the heterosexual transmission of HIV, Aids Research and Human Retroviruses, 14 Suppl 1, S57-62, April 1998
  • Givan A L, White H D, Stern J E, Colby E, Gosselin E J, Guyre P M, Wira C R, Flow cytometric analysis of leukocytes in the human female reproductive tract: Comparison of fallopian tube, uterus, cervix, and vagina, American Journal of Reproductive Immunology, 38(5), 350-9, November 1997
  • Yeaman G R, Guyre P M, Fanger M W, Collins J E, White H D, Rathbun W, Orndorff K A, Gonzalez J, Stern J E, Wira C R, Unique CD8+ T cell-rich lymphoid aggregates in human uterine endometrium., Journal of Leukocyte Biology, 61(4), 427-35, April 1997 Abstract
  • White H D, Crassi K M, Givan A L, Stern J E, Gonzalez J L, Memoli V A, Green W R, Wira C R, CD3+ CD8+ CTL activity within the human female reproductive tract: Influence of stage of the menstrual cycle and menopause, Journal of Immunology, 158(6), 3017-27, 15 Mar 1997
  • White H D, Yeaman G R, Givan A L, Wira C R, Mucosal immunity in the human female reproductive tract: cytotoxic T lymphocyte function in the cervix and vagina of premenopausal and postmenopausal women, American Journal of Reproductive Immunology, 37(1), 30-8, January 1997
  • Wira, C.R., H.D. White, G.R. Yeaman, R.H. Prabhala, A. Howell, Mucosal Immunity in the Reproductive Tract of Premenopausal Women, Mucosal Solutions: Advances in Mucosal Immunology, 1, 371-384, 1997
  • White, H.D., K.M. Crassi, C.R. Wira, Cytolytic Functional Activities of NK Cells and Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes (CTL) Are Coordinately Regulated in the Human Female Reproductive Tract', Mucosal Solutions: Advances in Mucosal Immunology, 1, 385-391, 1997
  • White H D, Roeder D A, Green W R, An immunodominant Kb-restricted peptide from the p15E transmembrane protein of endogenous ecotropic murine leukemia virus (MuLV) AKR623 that restores susceptibility of a tumor line to anti-AKR/gross M, Journal of Virology, 68(2), 897-904, February 1994
  • White H D, Roeder D A, Lam T, Green W R, Major and minor Kb-restricted epitopes encoded by the endogenous ecotropic murine leukemia virus AKR623 that are recognized by anti-AKR/gross MuLV CTL, Viral Immunology, 7(2), 51-9, 1994
  • Schwarz D A, Buhlmann J E, Kuhne M R, Lam T M, White H D, Green W R, Novel regulation of an MHC class I gene response to interferon-gamma., Cellular Immunology, 150(1), 90-100, August 1993 Abstract
  • White H D, Green W R, Gine N R, Molecular cloning of infectious ecotropic murine leukemia virus AK7 from an emv-14-positive AKXL-5 mouse and the resistance of AK7 to recognition by cytotoxic T lymphocytes, Journal of Virology, 67(8), 5045-50, August 1993
  • Rich R F, Gaffney K J, White H D, Green W R, Differential up-regulation of H-2D versus H-2K class I major histocompatibility expression by interferon-gamma: evidence against a trans-acting allele-specific factor, Journal of Interferon Research, 10(5), 505-14, October 1990
  • White H D, Robbins M D, Green W R, Mechanism of escape of endogenous murine leukemia virus emv-14 from recognition by anti-AKR/Gross virus cytolytic T lymphocytes., Journal of Virology, 64(6), 2608-19, June 1990 Abstract
  • Brinckerhoff CE, Ruby PL, Austin SD, Fini ME, White HD, Molecular cloning of human synovial cell collagenase and selection of a single gene from genomic DNA, Journal of Clinical Investigation, 79(2), 542-6, February 1987 Abstract
  • Fini ME, Austin SD, Holt PT, Ruby PL, Gross RH, White HD, Brinckerhoff CE, Homology between exon-containing portions of rabbit genomic clones for synovial cell collagenase and human foreskin and synovial cell mRNAs, Collagen and Related Research, 6(3), 239-48, July 1986 Abstract
  • White, HD, SB Smith, EG Krebs, Use of 1,N6-etheno-cAMP to study cAMP-dependent Protein Kinase, Methods in Enzymology vol on Protein Kinases, ed by JD Corbin, JG Hardman, 99, 162-167, 1983
  • Karr, TL, HD White, BA Coughlin, DL Purich, A Brain Microtubule Protein Preparation Depleted of Mitochondrial and Synaptosomal Components, Methods in Cell Biology, Ed. by L. Wilson, 24A, 51-60, 1982
  • Smith SB, White HD, Siegel JB, Krebs EG, Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase I: Cyclic nucleotide binding, structural changes, and release of the catalytic subunits, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA), 78(3), 1591-5, March 1981
  • Purich, DL, BJ Terry, HD White, BA Coughlin, TL Karr, D. Kristofferson, Microtubule-associated Protein Phosphorylation and Calcium Ion Regulation of Bovine Brain Microtubule Self-assembly, 8, Book B, 1143-1155, 1981
  • Smith, SB, HD White, JB Siegel, EG Krebs, Cyclic AMP-dependent Protein Kinase: Primary Steps of Allosteric Regulation, 8, Book A, 55-65, 1981
  • White HD, Coughlin BA, Purich DL, Adenosine triphosphatase activity of bovine brain microtubule protein, Journal of Biological Chemistry, 255(2), 486-91, 1980 Abstract
  • Coughlin BA, White HD, Purich DL, Autophosphorylation of brain microtubule protein: evidence for endogenous protein kinase/phosphoprotein phosphatase cycling and multiple phosphorylation of a microtubule associated protein, Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 92(1), 89-94, 1980 Abstract
  • Karr TL, White HD, Purich DL, Characterization of brain microtubule proteins prepared by selective removal of mitochondrial and synaptosomal components, Journal of Biological Chemistry, 254(13), 6107-11, 1979 Abstract
  • White, H.D, 'Microtubule-associated Phosphoryltransferases: Partial Purification, Kinetics, and Regulation of the ATPase, Protein Kinase and PHosphorylprotein Phosphatase Activities, Ph.D. Dissertation, University of California, Santa Barbara, 1979

Profile Details

Last Updated: 6/7/2009

COS Expertise ID #110798
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