Jian Hong, M.D., Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Neurology

Medical School

M.D. (1991) Shanghai Second Medical University, China

Graduate School

Ph.D. (1997) Shanghai Second Medical University, China

Research Interests

Autoreactive T cell responses to myelin antigens, including myelin basic protein (MBP), proteolipid protein (PLP), myelin oligodendrocyte protein (MOG) and their role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). The structural and functional properties of myelin autoreactive T cells and their relevance to the disease process. The nature and antigen specificity of autoimmunity in the different CNS compartments. Clonotypic regulation of autoreactive T cells and their therapeutic implications. Mechanisms of T cell vaccination for treatment of multiple sclerosis and development of new T cell vaccine. Role of regulatory T cells in the pathogenesis and treatment of MS. Regulation of inflammatory cytokine networks by beta-IFN. Kinetics of neutralizing antibodies against beta-IFN and Copolymer-I and their roles in the pathogenesis of MS. Gene array analysis of gene expression in response to beta-IFN and Copolymer-I for treatment evaluation in patients with MS. Molecular mechanisms underlying activation of autoreactive T cells by microbial antigens, such as bacterial superantigens and viral proteins that share sequence homology with myelin autoantigens.

Publications
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Hong J, Zang YC, Nie H, Zhang JZ. CD4+ regulatory T cell responses induced by T cell vaccination in patients with multiple sclerosis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2006;103:5024-9.
Sun W, Hong J, Zang YC, Liu X, Zhang JZ. Altered expression of vasoactive intestinal peptide receptors in T lymphocytes and aberrant Th1 immunity in multiple sclerosis. Int Immunol 2006;18:1691-700.
Wang Z, Hong J, Sun W, Xu G, Li N, Chen X, Liu A, Xu L, Sun B, Zhang JZ. Role of IFN-gamma in induction of Foxp3 and conversion of CD4+ CD25- T cells to CD4+ Tregs. J Clin Invest 2006;116:2434-41.
Hong J, Li N, Zhang X, Zheng B, Zhang JZ. Induction of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells by copolymer-I through activation of transcription factor Foxp3. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2005;102:6449-54.
Xu G, Nie H, Li N, Zheng W, Zhang D, Feng G, Ni L, Xu R, Hong J, Zhang JZ. Role of osteopontin in amplification and perpetuation of rheumatoid synovitis. J Clin Invest 2005;115:1060-7.
Hong J, Zang YC, Hutton G, Rivera VM, Zhang JZ. Gene expression profiling of relevant biomarkers for treatment evaluation in multiple sclerosis. J Neuroimmunol 2004;152:126-39.
Hong J, Zang YC, Li S, Rivera VM, Zhang JZ. Ex vivo detection of myelin basic protein-reactive T cells in multiple sclerosis and controls using specific TCR oligonucleotide probes. Eur J Immunol 2004;34:870-81.
Zang YC, Li S, Rivera VM, Hong J, Robinson RR, Breitbach WT, Killian J, Zhang JZ. Increased CD8+ cytotoxic T cell responses to myelin basic protein in multiple sclerosis. J Immunol 2004;172:5120-7.
Salama HH, Hong J, Zang YC, El-Mongui A, Zhang J. Blocking effects of serum reactive antibodies induced by glatiramer acetate treatment in multiple sclerosis. Brain 2003;126:2638-47.
Tejada-Simon MV, Zang YC, Hong J, Rivera VM, Zhang JZ. Cross-reactivity with myelin basic protein and human herpesvirus-6 in multiple sclerosis. Ann Neurol 2003;53:189-97.
Zang Y, Hong J, Robinson R, Li S, Rivera VM, Zhang JZ. Immune regulatory properties and interactions of copolymer-I and beta-interferon 1a in multiple sclerosis. J Neuroimmunol 2003;137:144-53.
Zang YC, Hong J, Rivera VM, Killian J, Zhang JZ. Human anti-idiotypic T cells induced by TCR peptides corresponding to a common CDR3 sequence motif in myelin basic protein-reactive T cells. Int Immunol 2003;15:1073-80.
Hong J, Tejada-Simon MV, Rivera VM, Zang YC, Zhang JZ. Anti-viral properties of interferon beta treatment in patients with multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler 2002;8:237-42.
Tejada-Simon MV, Hong J, Rivera VM, Zhang JZ. Skewed autoantibody reactivity to the extracellular domain of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein in multiple sclerosis. Immunology 2002;107:403-10.
Tejada-Simon MV, Zang YC, Hong J, Rivera VM, Killian JM, Zhang JZ. Detection of viral DNA and immune responses to the human herpesvirus 6 101-kilodalton virion protein in patients with multiple sclerosis and in controls. J Virol 2002;76:6147-54.
Zang YC, Halder JB, Hong J, Rivera VM, Zhang JZ. Regulatory effects of estriol on T cell migration and cytokine profile: inhibition of transcription factor NF-kappa B. J Neuroimmunol 2002;124:106-14.
Zhang JZ, Rivera VM, Tejada-Simon MV, Yang D, Hong J, Li S, Haykal H, Killian J, Zang YC. T cell vaccination in multiple sclerosis: results of a preliminary study. J Neurol 2002;249:212-8.
Tejada-Simon MV, Hong J, Rivera VM, Zhang JZ. Reactivity pattern and cytokine profile of T cells primed by myelin peptides in multiple sclerosis and healthy individuals. Eur J Immunol 2001;31:907-17.
Zang YC, Halder JB, Samanta AK, Hong J, Rivera VM, Zhang JZ. Regulation of chemokine receptor CCR5 and production of RANTES and MIP-1alpha by interferon-beta. J Neuroimmunol 2001;112:174-80.
Hong J, Zang YC, Tejada-Simon MV, Li S, Rivera VM, Killian J, Zhang JZ. Reactivity and regulatory properties of human anti-idiotypic antibodies induced by T cell vaccination. J Immunol 2000;165:6858-64.
Tejada-Simon MV, Zang YC, Yang D, Hong J, Li S, Singh RA, Van den Berg-Loonen E, Killian JM, Rivera VM, Zhang JZ. Aberrant T cell responses to myelin antigens during clinical exacerbation in patients with multiple sclerosis. Int Immunol 2000;12:1641-50.
Zang YC, Hong J, Rivera VM, Killian J, Zhang JZ. Preferential recognition of TCR hypervariable regions by human anti-idiotypic T cells induced by T cell vaccination. J Immunol 2000;164:4011-7.
Zang YC, Hong J, Tejada-Simon MV, Li S, Rivera VM, Killian JM, Zhang JZ. Th2 immune regulation induced by T cell vaccination in patients with multiple sclerosis. Eur J Immunol 2000;30:908-13.
Zang YC, Samanta AK, Halder JB, Hong J, Tejada-Simon MV, Rivera VM, Zhang JZ. Aberrant T cell migration toward RANTES and MIP-1 alpha in patients with multiple sclerosis. Overexpression of chemokine receptor CCR5. Brain 2000;123 ( Pt 9):1874-82.
Zang YC, Yang D, Hong J, Tejada-Simon MV, Rivera VM, Zhang JZ. Immunoregulation and blocking antibodies induced by interferon beta treatment in MS. Neurology 2000;55:397-404.
Hong J, Zang YC, Tejada-Simon MV, Kozovska M, Li S, Singh RA, Yang D, Rivera VM, Killian JK, Zhang JZ. A common TCR V-D-J sequence in V beta 13.1 T cells recognizing an immunodominant peptide of myelin basic protein in multiple sclerosis. J Immunol 1999;163:3530-8.
Kozovska ME, Hong J, Zang YC, Li S, Rivera VM, Killian JM, Zhang JZ. Interferon beta induces T-helper 2 immune deviation in MS. Neurology 1999;53:1692-7.
Singh RA, Zang YC, Shrivastava A, Hong J, Wang GT, Li S, Tejada-Simon MV, Kozovska M, Rivera VM, Zhang JZ. Th1 and Th2 deviation of myelin-autoreactive T cells by altered peptide ligands is associated with reciprocal regulation of Lck, Fyn, and ZAP-70. J Immunol 1999;163:6393-402.
Zang YC, Kozovska MM, Hong J, Li S, Mann S, Killian JM, Rivera VM, Zhang JZ. Impaired apoptotic deletion of myelin basic protein-reactive T cells in patients with multiple sclerosis. Eur J Immunol 1999;29:1692-700.
Hong J, Fu SL, Shen ZY, Lu PH, Chou KY. Trichosanthin inhibits T cell activation by interfering with the recruitment of ZAP-70 to CD3 zeta chain. Cell Res 1998;8:33-9.

Book Chapters
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Skinner SM, Hong J, Zhang JZ. Regulatory mechanisms induced by T cell vaccination in humans. In: Zhang JZ, Cohen IR, editors. T cell vaccination. Hauppauge (NY): Nova Science Publishers, Inc.; 2008 (in press).
Skinner SM, Zang YCQ, Hong J, Zhang JZ. T cell vaccination for multiple sclerosis. In: Broglio PV, editor. Neuroimmunology research focus. Hauppauge (NY): Nova Science Publishers, Inc.; 2007. p. 139-157.
Skinner SM, Zang YCQ, Hong J, Zhang JZ. T cell vaccination in autoimmune disease. In: Zhang JZ, editor. Immune regulation and immunotherapy in autoimmune disease. New York: Springer Science; 2007. p. 339-368.

Contact Information

Jian Hong, M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Neurology
Baylor College of Medicine
One Baylor Plaza, MS NB302
Houston, Texas 77030

Tel: 713-798-6629
Fax: 713-798-3771
Email: