Herbert L. Mathews, Ph.D.
Professor

Ph.D., West Virginia University

Immunologist

Immune dysregulation and homeostasis

Physiological and psychological stressors impact the immune system, resulting in the dysregulation of normal immune homeostasis. Such dysregulation has a particular impact upon individuals who are already debilitated or are compromised by medical intervention. These individuals are especially susceptible to invasive agents either of exogenous or endogenous origin. It is the focus of this laboratory to understand the impact of these stressors upon the immune system, to determine the molecular basis by which immune dysregulation results from these stressors, and to explore methods by which to return the immune system to normal homeostasis. 

Our approach is an integrative one in which interactions among the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems are analyzed within the framework of psychoneuroimmunology. Research is focused on the physiological impact on the immune system of radiation and surgery for breast cancer, surgery for radical prostatectomy and for herniated disk repair, as well as for patients with multiple sclerosis. The impact of cancer diagnosis and the experience of pain and/or mood disturbance are analyzed for their psychological effect on immune function. We have identified specific and unique effects of these stressors on cytokine expression, immune cell targeting, and upon the trafficking and release of immune effector cell populations. These identified effects are at the cellular level and differ for each of these physiological and psychological stressors. It is our ultimate goal to delineate the molecular basis for these differences and to devise the means by which to counteract their effects at both the cellular and molecular level.

Selected Publications

Witek-Janusek L, Albuquerque K, Chroniak KR, Chroniak C, Durazo-Arvizu R, Mathews HL. Effect of mindfulness based stress reduction on immune function, quality of life and coping in women newly diagnosed with early stage breast cancer.Brain Behav Immun. 2008 Mar 20; [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 18359186 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Starkweather AR, Witek-Janusek L, Nockels RP, Peterson J, Mathews HL.The multiple benefits of minimally invasive spinal surgery: results comparing transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion and posterior lumbar fusion. J Neurosci Nurs. 2008 Feb;40(1):32-9.

Witek-Janusek, L., Gabram, S. and H. L. Mathews. Psychologic stress, reduced NK cell activity, and cytokine dysregulation in women experiencing diagnostic breast biopsy. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2007 Jan;32(1):22-35. 

Starkweather, A R., L. Witek-Janusek, R. P. Nockels, J. Peterson and H. L. Mathews.  Immune function, Pain, Psychological Distress and Immune Function in Patients Undergoing Spinal Surgery. The Spine Journal  (2006) Aug 15;31(18):E641-7.

M. R. Sorenson, L.Janusek, and H. L. Mathews. Perceived Stress, Illness Uncertainty, and Disease Symptomatology in Multiple Sclerosis.Spinal Cord Injury Journal , in press.

Starkweather, A., L. Witek-Janusek, and H. L. Mathews.: Neural-Immune Interactions: Implications for Pain Management in Patients with Low Back Pain and Sciatica. Biol. Res. (2005) 6:196-206. 

Starkweather, A., L. Witek-Janusek, and H. L. Mathews.: Applying the psychoneuroimmunology framework to nursing research. J Neurosci. (2005) Feb;37:56-62.

Search PubMed for a complete listing of Herb Mathews' publications

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