Nancy Ruddle, PhD
Professor Emeritus of EpidemiologyCards
Appointments
Contact Info
Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases
PO Box 208034, 60 College Street
New Haven, CT 06520-8034
United States
About
Titles
Professor Emeritus of Epidemiology
Biography
Nancy Ruddle is known for her discovery and analysis of lymphotoxin, a protein produced by T cells that plays a role in the protective immune system and destroys tumor cells. She and researchers in her laboratory have engaged in research on the lymphotoxin/tumor necrosis factor family, their regulation and roles in lymphoid organ development, regulation of high endothelial venues and lymphatic vessels, and pathogenesis of viral and autoimmune disease. The more than 170 scientific articles Ruddle has authored or co-authored have explored the immunology of such diseases as leukemia, experimental allergic encephalomyelitis and Leishmania amazonensis infection, among others. She is particularly well known for her analysis of tertiary lymphoid organs, accumulations of lymphoid cells in autoimmunity, chronic infection, and cancer .
Appointments
Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases
EmeritusPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Cancer Immunology
- Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases
- Human and Translational Immunology Program
- NIH T32 Program
- Rheumatic Diseases Research Core
- Yale Cancer Center
- Yale School of Public Health
Education & Training
- Postdoctoral Fellow
- Yale University (1974)
- PhD
- Yale University (1968)
- BA
- Mount Holyoke College, Zoology (1962)
Research
Overview
Professor Ruddle's research concentrates on cell trafficking and
inflammation, particularly with regard to the lymphotoxin/tumor
necrosis factor (LT/TNF) family. Her group studies these and other
cytokines in autoimmune and infectious diseases. They study autoimmune
diseases, the inflammatory stage of Type 1 diabetes mellitus, and
experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a model for multiple
sclerosis. Cytokines, autoantigens, or infectious organisms can give
rise to chronic cellular accumulations called "ectopic" or "tertiary
lymphoid organs," through a process termed lymphoid organ neogenesis.
Three “tertiary lymphoid organs” can contribute to diseases and even
serve as a site of prion accumulations. Dr. Ruddle’s group identified a
role for LT in normal lymphoid organ development. Their studies
demonstrate that the roles of the cytokines in lymphoid organ
development and inflammation are similar, in that in both contexts they
induce chemokines and vascular adhesion molecules. The functions of
lymph nodes and tertiary lymphoid organs may be comparable with regard
to antigen presentation, serving both helpful and harmful roles in
defense and autoimmunity.
Medical Research Interests
ORCID
0000-0002-0103-1461
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
Peter James Krause, MD
Diane McMahon-Pratt, PhD
Akiko Iwasaki, PhD
Alfred Bothwell, PhD
Ann Haberman, PhD
David A. Hafler, MD, FANA
Lymphoid Tissue
Publications
2024
Tertiary Lymphoid Structures and Immunotherapy: Challenges and Opportunities
Ruddle N. Tertiary Lymphoid Structures and Immunotherapy: Challenges and Opportunities. Methods In Molecular Biology 2024, 2864: 299-312. PMID: 39527229, DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-4184-2_16.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsImmune-related adverse eventsImmune checkpoint inhibitorsTertiary lymphoid structuresSecondary lymphoid organsTA-TLSSusceptibility to immune-related adverse eventsAssociated with favorable clinical outcomesPositive response to immunotherapyResponse to immunotherapyFavorable clinical outcomesCellular compositionVascular growth factorsAccumulation of lymphoid cellsCheckpoint inhibitorsLymphoid neogenesisLymphoid structuresProcess of lymphoid neogenesisClinical outcomesAdenovirus vectorLymphoid cellsTumor-associatedAdverse eventsTumor environmentOrgan rejectionChronic inflammationLymphotoxin
Ruddle N. Lymphotoxin. 2024 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-128-24465-4.00033-8.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2023
Posttransplant Tertiary Lymphoid Organs
Ruddle N. Posttransplant Tertiary Lymphoid Organs. Transplantation 2023, 108: 1090-1099. PMID: 37917987, PMCID: PMC11042531, DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000004812.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTertiary lymphoid organsOrgan rejectionLymphoid organsCase of immunosuppressionEctopic lymphoid structuresDevelopment of lymphomaLymphoid neogenesisLymph nodesIschemic reperfusionChronic inflammationLymphoid structuresNephrotoxic agentsTumor antigensVascular componentLymphoid cellsTherapeutic manipulationSustained exposureMicrobial infectionsCellular compositionStaging schemeCancerOrgansRejectionImmunosuppressionReperfusionRegulation, maintenance, and remodeling of high endothelial venules in homeostasis, inflammation, and cancer
Ruddle N. Regulation, maintenance, and remodeling of high endothelial venules in homeostasis, inflammation, and cancer. Current Opinion In Physiology 2023, 36: 100705. PMID: 38523879, PMCID: PMC10956444, DOI: 10.1016/j.cophys.2023.100705.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHigh endothelial venulesTertiary lymphoid structuresLymphoid organsEndothelial venulesImmune checkpoint blockadeFavorable clinical outcomeAdhesion molecule-1Peripheral node addressinAutoimmune lesionsCheckpoint blockadeClinical outcomesEffector cellsChronic inflammationLymphoid structuresAcute inflammationLymphoid cellsMolecule-1InflammationCentral memoryAdhesion moleculesBlood vesselsPrecursor cellsImmunotherapyVenulesOrgans
2020
Basics of Inducible Lymphoid Organs
Ruddle NH. Basics of Inducible Lymphoid Organs. Current Topics In Microbiology And Immunology 2020, 426: 1-19. PMID: 32588229, DOI: 10.1007/82_2020_218.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsTertiary lymphoid organsSecondary lymphoid organsLymphoid tissue organizerHigh endothelial venulesLymphoid organsDendritic cellsB cellsEctopic lymphoid organsFollicular dendritic cellsTertiary lymphoid structuresTertiary lymphoid tissueLymph nodesNK cellsChronic inflammationLTi cellsLymphoid structuresTolerance inductionInducer cellsLymphoid tissueEndothelial venulesAntigen presentationT cellsAccumulation of cellsStromal cellsAutoimmunityLymphotoxin targeted to salivary and lacrimal glands induces tertiary lymphoid organs and cervical lymphadenopathy and reduces tear production
Truman LA, Bentley KL, Ruddle NH. Lymphotoxin targeted to salivary and lacrimal glands induces tertiary lymphoid organs and cervical lymphadenopathy and reduces tear production. European Journal Of Immunology 2020, 50: 418-425. PMID: 32012252, DOI: 10.1002/eji.201948300.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsTertiary lymphoid organsLacrimal glandCervical lymphadenopathySjögren's syndromeLymphoid organsTear productionRole of lymphotoxinTLO formationAutoantibody titresMALT lymphomaLymphoid tissueTransgenic miceLymphotoxinMiceLymphadenopathyGlandSyndromeOrgansAutoimmunityMucosalLymphomaLTαTitresSalivaryLTβ
2019
Aging Induces an Nlrp3 Inflammasome-Dependent Expansion of Adipose B Cells That Impairs Metabolic Homeostasis
Camell CD, Günther P, Lee A, Goldberg EL, Spadaro O, Youm YH, Bartke A, Hubbard GB, Ikeno Y, Ruddle NH, Schultze J, Dixit VD. Aging Induces an Nlrp3 Inflammasome-Dependent Expansion of Adipose B Cells That Impairs Metabolic Homeostasis. Cell Metabolism 2019, 30: 1024-1039.e6. PMID: 31735593, PMCID: PMC6944439, DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2019.10.006.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAge-associated B cellsFat-associated lymphoid clustersB cellsAdipose tissue leukocytesB-cell depletionB cell accumulationBody temperature maintenanceFALC formationVisceral adiposityCell depletionNLRP3 inflammasomeFemale miceLymphoid clustersMetabolic dysfunctionIL-1Metabolic impairmentIL-1RTissue leukocytesCell accumulationMetabolic homeostasisUnique populationLipolysisCellsTemperature maintenanceAdiposityImmunotherapy for Infectious Diseases, Cancer, and Autoimmunity
Krause P, Kavathas P, Ruddle N. Immunotherapy for Infectious Diseases, Cancer, and Autoimmunity. 2019, 265-276. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-25553-4_16.ChaptersConceptsSubset of patientsMonoclonal antibodiesSide effectsAutoimmune side effectsRespiratory syncytial virusMinimal side effectsInitial unresponsivenessCheckpoint inhibitorsAdverse eventsField of immunologyCheckpoint inhibitionTreatment failureCytokine inhibitorsSyncytial virusAutoimmune diseasesCancer immunotherapyInhibitory receptorsLate toleranceLung cancerImmune cellsPassive transferImmune regulationImmune responseImmunotherapyLatent infectionAdaptive Immunity: Effector Functions, Regulation, and Vaccination
Kavathas P, Krause P, Ruddle N. Adaptive Immunity: Effector Functions, Regulation, and Vaccination. 2019, 75-95. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-25553-4_5.ChaptersConceptsAntigen-presenting cellsT cellsB cellsImmune responseInnate cellsEffector cellsInnate antigen-presenting cellsCD4 T helper cellsEffector T cellsB memory cellsT helper cellsSecondary lymphoid organsNaive T cellsBalanced immune responsePathogen-infected host cellsCD4 subsetCytokine milieuHelper cellsLymphoid organsEffector TPlasma cellsEffector functionsAdaptive immuneTypes of pathogensMacrophage responseAdaptive Immunity: Antigen Recognition by T and B Lymphocytes
Kavathas P, Krause P, Ruddle N. Adaptive Immunity: Antigen Recognition by T and B Lymphocytes. 2019, 55-74. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-25553-4_4.ChaptersConceptsB cell receptorCell receptorMajor histocompatibility complexB lymphocytesKiller T cellsEffective immune responseVariety of antigensT cell receptors (TCRs) bindCentral toleranceT cellsImmune responseHLA proteinsAntigen recognitionHistocompatibility complexIntracellular pathogensCell surfaceReceptorsHLALymphocytesCorresponding antibodiesHost cellsAntibodiesIsotypesMHC systemDefense mechanisms
News
News
- November 18, 2021Source: Nature News
COVID reinfections likely within one or two years, models propose
- September 01, 2021
Yale's Vaccine Pioneer
- May 04, 2021
Nancy Ruddle to Receive Top Scientific Award from State of Connecticut
- February 24, 2020
A Half Century in Science, Ruddle Narrates a “Yale Story”
Get In Touch
Contacts
Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases
PO Box 208034, 60 College Street
New Haven, CT 06520-8034
United States
Locations
60 College Street
Academic Office
Rm 712
New Haven, CT 06510