A person smiling while using a microscope in a lab setting.

Lorise C. Gahring, PhD

Languages spoken: English

Academic Information

Departments Primary - Internal Medicine

Divisions: Geriatrics

Dr. Gahring joined the faculty team of the Division of Geriatrics in 1993 and also holds an adjunct professorship in the Pathology Department, specializing in microbiology and immunology.

She is interested in how inflammation affects diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy or just normal aging. Her lab studies several aspects of neuroinflammation that involve how inflammatory cytokines interact with neurotransmitter receptors. During the course of a peripheral inflammatory event, cytokines are produced locally and upon release into the blood stream stimulate cells within the central nervous system (CNS) to produce more cytokines.

In most cases, inflammatory cytokines are produced transiently in the brain and have a positive effect on neuronal survival. Interleukin-1 ( a and b ), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF a ) can protect neurons against subsequent toxic challenges (including b -amyloid peptide, paraquat, and N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA)). Chronic stimulation of these inflammatory cytokines, however, can have deleterious effects on neuronal viability. Overexpression of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF is detected in neurological diseases.

Dr. Gahring's laboratory investigates the effects of inflammatory cytokines on neurons through measuring intracellular events induced by these proteins. We require proper immune and inflammatory responses to maintain a healthy status during microbial assault, but with age these same processes become dysregulated and can themselves contribute to the pathogenesis of many age-related diseases. In particular, the tight control of signaling among key mediators of the immune and inflammatory system, the inflammatory cytokines, become compromised. Dr. Gahring's lab studies several aspects of inflammation that involve alterations in inflammatory cytokine production and how these alterations impact on nicotinic receptors, which have anti-inflammatory properties. In the mouse model, we can determine the interplay between the cytokines and the nicotinic receptors to assess how maintenance of the balance between these systems can prevent several pathologies of the aged.

Education History

Undergraduate University of California
 BS
Graduate Training California State University Fullerton
 MA
Doctoral Training University of Utah
 PhD
Postdoctoral Fellowship Research Institute of Scripps Clinic
 Postdoctoral Fellow
Postdoctoral Fellowship Research Institute of Scripps Clinic
 Postdoctoral Fellow

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Gahring LC, Carlson NG, Wieggel WA, Howard J, Rogers SW (1999). Alcohol blocks TNFalpha but not other cytokine-mediated neuroprotection to NMDA. Alcohol Clin Exp Res, 23(10), 1571-9. (Read full article)
  2. Schmitt MK, Roberts LK, Gahring LC, Daynes RA (1983). Enhanced tumorigenicity of cloned UV-regressor tumor lines following selected in vivo and in vitro manipulations. Am J Pathol, 113(3), 269-78. (Read full article)
  3. Gahring LC, Carlson NG, Rogers SW (1998). Antibodies prepared to neuronal glutamate receptor subunit3 bind IFNalpha-receptors: implications for an autoimmune process. Autoimmunity, 28(4), 243-8. (Read full article)
  4. Twyman RE, Gahring LC, Spiess J, Rogers SW (1995). Glutamate receptor antibodies activate a subset of receptors and reveal an agonist binding site. Neuron, 14(4), 755-62. (Read full article)
  5. McDonald S, Carlson NG, Gahring LC, Ely KR, Rogers SW (1999). A model for a glutamate receptor agonist antibody-binding site. J Mol Recognit, 12(4), 219-25. (Read full article)
  6. Rogers SW, Gahring LC, Papke RL, Heinemann S (1991). Identification of cultured cells expressing ligand-gated cationic channels. Protein Expr Purif, 2(2-3), 108-16. (Read full article)
  7. Gahring LC, Rogers SW (2008). Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor expression in the hippocampus of 27 mouse strains reveals novel inhibitory circuitry. Hippocampus, 18(8), 737-49. (Read full article)
  8. Rogers SW, Weis JJ, Ma Y, Teuscher C, Gahring LC (2008). Mouse chromosome 11 harbors genetic determinants of hippocampal strain-specific nicotinic receptor expression. Hippocampus, 18(8), 750-7. (Read full article)
  9. Gahring LC, Weigle WO (1990). The effect of aging on the induction of humoral and cellular immunity and tolerance in two long-lived mouse strains. Cell Immunol, 128(1), 142-51. (Read full article)
  10. Gahring LC, Ernst DN, Romball CG, Thoman ML, Torbett BE, Hobbs M, Weigle WO (1993). The expression of CD45RB on antigen-responsive CD4+ lymphocytes: mouse strain polymorphism and different responses to distinct antigens. Cell Immunol, 148(2), 269-82. (Read full article)
  11. Rogers SW, Gregori NZ, Carlson N, Gahring LC, Noble M (2001). Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor expression by O2A/oligodendrocyte progenitor cells. Glia, 33(4), 306-13. (Read full article)
  12. Robertson BA, Gahring LC, Daynes RA (1986). Neuropeptide regulation of interleukin-1 activities. Capacity of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone to inhibit interleukin-1-inducible responses in vivo and in vitro exhibits target cell selectivity. Inflammation, 10(4), 371-85. (Read full article)
  13. Gahring LC, Heffron F, Finlay BB, Falkow S (1990). Invasion and replication of Salmonella typhimurium in animal cells. Infect Immun, 58(2), 443-8. (Read full article)
  14. Carlson NG, Gahring LC, Twyman RE, Rogers SW (1997). Identification of amino acids in the glutamate receptor, GluR3, important for antibody-binding and receptor-specific activation. J Biol Chem, 272(17), 11295-301. (Read full article)
  15. Meyer EL, Gahring LC, Rogers SW (2002). Nicotine preconditioning antagonizes activity-dependent caspase proteolysis of a glutamate receptor. J Biol Chem, 277(13), 10869-75. (Read full article)
  16. Meyer EL, Strutz N, Gahring LC, Rogers SW (2003). Glutamate receptor subunit 3 is modified by site-specific limited proteolysis including cleavage by gamma-secretase. J Biol Chem, 278(26), 23786-96. (Read full article)
  17. Gahring LC, Osborne-Hereford AV, Vasquez-Opazo GA, Rogers SW (2008). Tumor necrosis factor alpha enhances nicotinic receptor up-regulation via a p38MAPK-dependent pathway. J Biol Chem, 283(2), 693-9. (Read full article)
  18. Gahring LC, Vasquez-Opazo GA, Rogers SW (2010). Choline promotes nicotinic receptor alpha4 + beta2 up-regulation. J Biol Chem, 285(26), 19793-801. (Read full article)
  19. Gahring LC, Rogers SW (2010). Nicotinic receptor subunit alpha5 modifies assembly, up-regulation, and response to pro-inflammatory cytokines. J Biol Chem, 285(34), 26049-57. (Read full article)
  20. Gahring LC, Buckley A, Daynes RA (1985). Presence of epidermal-derived thymocyte activating factor/interleukin 1 in normal human stratum corneum. J Clin Invest, 76(4), 1585-91. (Read full article)
  21. Gahring LC, Days EL, Kaasch T, Gonzalez de Mendoza M, Owen L, Persiyanov K, Rogers SW (2005). Pro-inflammatory cytokines modify neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor assembly. J Neuroimmunol, 166(1-2), 88-101. (Read full article)
  22. Osborne-Hereford AV, Rogers SW, Gahring LC (2008). Neuronal nicotinic alpha7 receptors modulate inflammatory cytokine production in the skin following ultraviolet radiation. J Neuroimmunol, 193(1-2), 130-9. (Read full article)
  23. Gahring LC, Persiyanov K, Rogers SW (2004). Neuronal and astrocyte expression of nicotinic receptor subunit beta4 in the adult mouse brain. J Comp Neurol, 468(3), 322-33. (Read full article)
  24. Gahring LC, Persiyanov K, Dunn D, Weiss R, Meyer EL, Rogers SW (2004). Mouse strain-specific nicotinic acetylcholine receptor expression by inhibitory interneurons and astrocytes in the dorsal hippocampus. J Comp Neurol, 468(3), 334-46. (Read full article)
  25. Gahring LC, Weigle WO (1990). The regulatory effects of cytokines on the induction of a peripheral immunologic tolerance in mice. J Immunol, 145(5), 1318-23. (Read full article)
  26. Gahring LC, Daynes RA (1986). Desensitization of animals to the inflammatory effects of ultraviolet radiation is mediated through mechanisms which are distinct from those responsible for endotoxin tolerance. J Immunol, 136(8), 2868-74. (Read full article)
  27. Gahring LC, Weigle WO (1989). The induction of peripheral T cell unresponsiveness in adult mice by monomeric human gamma-globulin. J Immunol, 143(7), 2094-100. (Read full article)
  28. Weigle WO, Gahring LC, Romball CG, Goodman MG (1989). The effect of lipopolysaccharide desensitization on the regulation of in vivo induction of immunologic tolerance and antibody production and in vitro release of IL-1. J Immunol, 142(4), 1107-13. (Read full article)
  29. Carlson NG, Wieggel WA, Chen J, Bacchi A, Rogers SW, Gahring LC (1999). Inflammatory cytokines IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha impart neuroprotection to an excitotoxin through distinct pathways. J Immunol, 163(7), 3963-8. (Read full article)
  30. Gahring L, Carlson NG, Meyer EL, Rogers SW (2001). Granzyme B proteolysis of a neuronal glutamate receptor generates an autoantigen and is modulated by glycosylation. J Immunol, 166(3), 1433-8. (Read full article)
  31. Robertson B, Gahring L, Newton R, Daynes R (1987). In vivo administration of interleukin 1 to normal mice depresses their capacity to elicit contact hypersensitivity responses: prostaglandins are involved in this modification of immune function. J Invest Dermatol, 88(4), 380-7. (Read full article)
  32. Burnham DK, Gahring LC, Daynes RA (1986). Clonal origin of tumors induced by ultraviolet radiation. J Natl Cancer Inst, 76(1), 151-8. (Read full article)
  33. Beeson JH, Daynes RA, Weinert AM Jr, Gahring LC (1984). Tumors arising from injection of cultured murine placental cells into normal animals: direct evidence for placental origin of tumors of two histologic types. J Natl Cancer Inst, 73(3), 705-9. (Read full article)
  34. Cauley K, Marks M, Gahring LC, Rogers SW (1996). Nicotinic receptor subunits alpha 3, alpha 4, and beta 2 and high affinity nicotine binding sites are expressed by P19 embryonal cells. J Neurobiol, 30(2), 303-14. (Read full article)
  35. Gahring LC, Cauley K, Rogers SW (1996). Kainic acid induced excitotoxicity and cfos expression in fibroblasts transfected with glutamate receptor subunit, GluR1. J Neurobiol, 31(1), 56-66. (Read full article)
  36. Carlson NG, Bacchi A, Rogers SW, Gahring LC (1998). Nicotine blocks TNF-alpha-mediated neuroprotection to NMDA by an alpha-bungarotoxin-sensitive pathway. J Neurobiol, 35(1), 29-36. (Read full article)
  37. Rogers SW, Gahring LC, White HS (1998). Glutamate receptor GluR1 expression is altered selectively by chronic audiogenic seizures in the Frings mouse brain. J Neurobiol, 35(2), 209-16. (Read full article)
  38. Gahring LC, Persiyanov K, Days EL, Rogers SW (2004). Age-related loss of neuronal nicotinic receptor expression in the aging mouse hippocampus corresponds with cyclooxygenase-2 and PPARgamma expression and is altered by long-term NS398 administration. J Neurobiol, 62(4), 453-468. (Read full article)
  39. Gahring LC, Meyer EL, Rogers SW (2003). Nicotine-induced neuroprotection against N-methyl-D-aspartic acid or beta-amyloid peptide occur through independent mechanisms distinguished by pro-inflammatory cytokines. J Neurochem, 87(5), 1125-36. (Read full article)
  40. Rogers SW, Gahring LC, Collins AC, Marks M (1998). Age-related changes in neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit alpha4 expression are modified by long-term nicotine administration. J Neurosci, 18(13), 4825-32. (Read full article)
  41. Carlson NG, Gahring LC, Rogers SW (2001). Identification of the amino acids on a neuronal glutamate receptor recognized by an autoantibody from a patient with paraneoplastic syndrome. J Neurosci Res, 63(6), 480-5. (Read full article)
  42. Carlson NG, Howard J, Gahring LC, Rogers SW (2000). RNA editing (Q/R site) and flop/flip splicing of AMPA receptor transcripts in young and old brains. Neurobiol Aging, 21(4), 599-606. (Read full article)
  43. Gahring LC, Persiyanov K, Rogers SW (2005). Mouse strain-specific changes in nicotinic receptor expression with age. Neurobiol Aging, 26(6), 973-80. (Read full article)
  44. Gahring LC, Rogers SW, Twyman RE (1997). Autoantibodies to glutamate receptor subunit GluR2 in nonfamilial olivopontocerebellar degeneration. Neurology, 48(2), 494-500. (Read full article)
  45. Gahring L, Baltz M, Pepys MB, Daynes R (1984). Effect of ultraviolet radiation on production of epidermal cell thymocyte-activating factor/interleukin 1 in vivo and in vitro. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 81(4), 1198-202. (Read full article)
  46. Rogers SW, Andrews PI, Gahring LC, Whisenand T, Cauley K, Crain B, Hughes TE, Heinemann SF, McNamara JO (1994). Autoantibodies to glutamate receptor GluR3 in Rasmussen's encephalitis. Science, 265(5172), 648-51. (Read full article)
  47. Leibold EA, Gahring LC, Rogers SW (2001). Immunolocalization of iron regulatory protein expression in the murine central nervous system. Histochem Cell Biol, 115(3), 195-203. (Read full article)
  48. Gahring LC, Carlson NG, Kulmar RA, Rogers SW (1996). Neuronal expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha in the murine brain. Neuroimmunomodulation, 3(5), 289-303. (Read full article)
  49. Gahring LC, Twyman RE, Greenlee JE, Rogers SW (1995). Autoantibodies to neuronal glutamate receptors in patients with paraneoplastic neurodegenerative syndrome enhance receptor activation. Mol Med, 1(3), 245-53. (Read full article)
  50. Gahring LC, White HS, Skradski SL, Carlson NG, Rogers SW (1997). Interleukin-1alpha in the brain is induced by audiogenic seizure. Neurobiol Dis, 3(4), 263-9. (Read full article)
  51. Gahring LC, Myers EJ, Dunn DM, Weiss RB, Rogers SW (2018). Lung Eosinophilia Induced by House Dust Mites or Ovalbumin is Modulated by Nicotinic Receptor Alpha 7 and Inhibited by Cigarette Smoke.LID - 10.1152/ajplung.00230.2018 [doi]. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, 315(4), L553-L562. (Read full article)
  52. Gahring LC, Osborne AV, Reed M, Rogers SW (2010). Neuronal nicotinic alpha7 receptors modulate early neutrophil infiltration to sites of skin inflammation. J Neuroinflammation, 7(1), 38. (Read full article)
  53. Rogers SW, Tvrdik P, Capecchi MR, Gahring LC (2012). Prenatal ablation of nicotinic receptor alpha7 cell lineages produces lumbosacral spina bifida the severity of which is modified by choline and nicotine exposure. Am J Med Genet A, 158A(5), 1135-44. (Read full article)
  54. Weiss RB, Baker TB, Cannon DS, von Niederhausern A, Dunn DM, Matsunami N, Singh NA, Baird L, Coon H, McMahon WM, Piper ME, Fiore MC, Scholand MB, Connett JE, Kanner RE, Gahring LC, Rogers SW, Hoidal JR, Leppert MF (2008). A candidate gene approach identifies the CHRNA5-A3-B4 region as a risk factor for age-dependent nicotine addiction. PLoS Genet, 4(7), e1000125. (Read full article)
  55. Rogers SW, Gahring LC (2012). Nicotinic receptor Alpha7 expression during tooth morphogenesis reveals functional pleiotropy. PLoS One, 7(5), e36467. (Read full article)
  56. Gahring LC, Enioutina EY, Myers EJ, Spangrude GJ, Efimova OV, Kelley TW, Tvrdik P, Capecchi MR, Rogers SW (2013). Nicotinic receptor alpha7 expression identifies a novel hematopoietic progenitor lineage. PLoS One, 8(3), e57481. (Read full article)
  57. Gahring LC, Myers E, Palumbos S, Rogers SW (2014). Nicotinic receptor Alpha7 expression during mouse adrenal gland development. PLoS One, 9(8), e103861. (Read full article)
  58. Enioutina EY, Myers EJ, Tvrdik P, Hoidal JR, Rogers SW, Gahring LC (2015). The nicotinic receptor Alpha7 impacts the mouse lung response to LPS through multiple mechanisms. PLoS One, 10(3), e0121128. (Read full article)
  59. Wee YS, Weis JJ, Gahring LC, Rogers SW, Weis JH (2015). Age-related onset of obesity corresponds with metabolic dysregulation and altered microglia morphology in mice deficient for Ifitm proteins. PLoS One, 10(4), e0123218. (Read full article)
  60. Rogers SW, Gahring LC (2015). Upregulation of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor alph4+beta2 through a Ligand-Independent PI3Kbeta Mechanism That Is Enhanced by TNFalpha and the Jak2/p38Mapk Pathways. PLoS One, 10(11), e0143319. (Read full article)
  61. Gahring LC, Myers EJ, Dunn DM, Weiss RB, Rogers SW (2017). Nicotinic alpha 7 receptor expression and modulation of the lung epithelial response to lipopolysaccharide. PLoS One, 12(4), e0175367. (Read full article)
  62. Gahring LC, Myers EJ, Dunn DM, Weiss RB, Rogers SW (2017). Lung epithelial response to cigarette smoke and modulation by the nicotinic alpha 7 receptor. PLoS One, 12(11), e0187773. (Read full article)
  63. Rogers SW, Myers EJ, Gahring LC (2012). The expression of nicotinic receptor alpha7 during cochlear development. Brain Behav, 2(5), 628-39. (Read full article)

Review

  1. Twyman RE, Rogers SW, Gahring LC, Carlson NG, Donevan SD (1999). Antibodies to glutamate receptors: a role in excitatory dysregulation of the central nervous system? [Review]. Adv Neurol, 79, 535-41. (Read full article)
  2. Twyman RE, Rogers SW, Gahring LC, Carlson NG, Donevan SD (1999). Antibodies to glutamate receptors: a role in excitatory dysregulation of the central nervous system? [Review]. Adv Neurol, 79, 535-541.
  3. Gahring LC, Rogers SW (2002). Autoimmunity to glutamate receptors in the central nervous system. [Review]. Crit Rev Immunol, 22, (4), 295-316. (Read full article)
  4. Gahring LC, Rogers SW (2002). Autoimmunity to CNS Neurotransmitter Receptors. [Review]. Crit Rev Immunol, 22, 295-316.
  5. Daynes RA, Samlowski WE, Burnham DK, Gahring LC, Roberts LK (1986). Immunobiological consequences of acute and chronic UV exposure. [Review]. Curr Probl Dermatol, 15, 176-94. (Read full article)
  6. Daynes RA, Sholly SP, Gahring LC, Spangrude GJ (1984). The skin: the primary immunologic organ involved in burn injury. [Review]. J Trauma, 24, 584.
  7. Rogers SW, Twyman RE, Gahring LC (1996). The role of autoimmunity to glutamate receptors in neurological disease. [Review]. Mol Med Today, 2, (2), 76-81. (Read full article)
  8. Gahring LC, Rogers SW (1998). Autoimmunity to glutamate receptors in Rasmussen's encephalitis: A rare finding or the tip of an iceberg? [Review]. Neuroscientist, 4, 373-379.
  9. Gahring LC, Rogers SW (2005). Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor expression and function on nonneuronal cells. [Review]. AAPS J, 7, (4), E885-94. (Read full article)
  10. Gahring LC, Daynes RA (1985). The presence of functionally active ETAF/IL-1 in normal human stratum corneum. [Review]. 2, 375.
  11. Gahring LC, Carlson NG, Meyer EL, Days EL, Rogers S (2003). Neurodegenerative disease and the neuroimmunology of glutamate receptors. 32, 139-158.

Book Chapter

  1. Daynes RA, Samlowski WE, Burnham DK, Gahring LC, Roberts LK (1986). Biologic consequences of acute and chronic UV exposure. In Therapeutic Photomedicine. S. Karger Press.
  2. Heffron F, Gahring LC, Fields PA, Roth J (1988). Pathogenesis of the intracellular pathogen Salmonella typhimurium. In Horowitz M (Ed.), Bacteria-Host Cell Interaction (64, p. 303). UCLA Symposia on Molecular and Cellular Biology.
  3. Fields PA, Gahring LC, Heffron F, Smith LD (1989). Identification of new avirulent Salmonella strains as potential vaccine delivery systems. (8, p. 221).
  4. Gahring LC, Weigle W (1990). Experimental models of T cell tolerance. 175.

Abstract

  1. Gahring, L.C., Heffron, F., Finlay, B.B., Falkow, S. (2005). Normal Replication of Macrophage-sensitive mutants of S. Typhimurium in Epithelial cells [Abstract]. Infect Immun, 58, 443-448.
  2. Gahring, L.C., Vasquez-Opazo, G., Rogers, S.W. (2005). Choline Promotes NicotinicReceptor Alpha4 + Beta2 upregulation [Abstract]. J Biol Chem, 19793-801.
  3. Cauley, K., Marks, M., Gahring, L.C., Rogers, S.W. (2005). Neuronal Nicotinic Receptor Genes a4 and b2 and high affinity nicotine binding sites are induced in P19 Embryonal Carcinoma Cells by Retinoic Acid [Abstract]. J Neurobiol, 30, 303-314.
  4. Gahring, L.C.,Osborne-Hereford, A.V., Vasquez-Opazo, G.A., Rogers, S.W. (2005). TNFa Enhances Nicotinic Receptor Upregulation Via a p38MAPK-Dependent Pathway [Abstract]. Chemistry, (283), 693-9.
  5. Gahring, L.C., Rogers, S.W (2010). The Nicotinic Receptor Subunit Alpha5 Modifies Assembly, Upregulation and Response to Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines. 285(34), 26049-57.
  6. Gahring, L.C., Osborne, A.V., Reed, M., Rogers, S.W (2010). Neuronal Nicotinic Alpha7 Receptors Modulate Early Neutrophils Infiltration to Sites of Skin Inflammation. 7(1), 38.

Other

  1. Gahring LC (1995). Paying Attention to a Sick Rabbit. R & D Innovator (2, pp. 6-7).