Tumor Immunology Laboratory

Anahid Jewett Lab
Dr. Anahid Jewett

Principal Investigator:

Anahid Jewett, M.P.H., Ph.D.

About

One of my contributions to NK cell biology was the identification, characterization and the establishment of the concept of split anergy in NK cells. I coined this concept to demonstrate that during interaction of NK cells by tumor-targets, NK cells lose the ability to mediate cytotoxicity, and switch their phenotype to promote differentiation of other cells.

The second discovery which formed the basis for the conception that NK cells were important for the selection and differentiation of cancer stem cells came from the discoveries that when genes of significance such as NFkB, TNF-a or COX2 were knocked out, NK cells became significantly activated.

In line with the significance of NK cells in providing differentiation signals we also identified N-acetylcysteine (NAC) as an important differentiation agent.

One of my most significant contributions is the identification of NK cells as the key cells to target and kill cancer stem cells. In addition, I have identified that differentiated cells are not targeted by the NK cells and that de-differentiation of the cells activates NK cell function

We also postulated that differentiation by NK cells are the means of halting inflammation, and more recently we have demonstrated the direct in vivo evidence of the above-mentioned observations in humanized BLT mouse model system in oral, pancreatic, lung, Glioblastoma and melanoma tumor models. In addition, we have found osteoclasts to have significant activating effect for NK cells and now are using this strategy to expand NK cells with superior ability to target cancer stem cells and provide differentiation of stem cells, which we coined as super-charged NK cells. One application of osteoclast expanded NK cells was able to prevent growth and metastasis of oral, pancreatic and melanoma tumors in humanized BLT mice. We are now planning in using osteocalst expanded NK cells, a patented technology, in human clinical trials.

Affiliation:                   

  • Dental and Craniofacial Research Institute
  • Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (JCCC)
  • The Jane and Jerry Weintraub Center for Reconstructive Biotechnology 
    UCLA Tumor Immunology subgroup

Current Projects and Grants

Granting Institution: Codondex
Title: Super-charged NK Education Studies Using Trp53 Sequences in Tumor Cells 
Objective: To Establish Immunotherapeutic Strategy for Oral and Pancreatic Cancers in Humanized Mice

Granting Institution: UCLA Foundation for ALS studies
Title: NK, B, monocyte, Treg, CD4+ and CD8+ studies in ALS. Taming CD8+ T Cell Functions by the Use of Therapeutic Strategies Established and Patented in the Laboratory
Objective: To Establish Underlying Mechanisms of ALS Progression, and Designing Therapeutic Strategies

Granting Institution: Glioma studies
Title: NK Immunotherapy in Glioma Tumors
Objective: To Establish Immunotherapeutic Strategy for Glioma Brain Tumors

Granting Institution: XO-Club
Title: NK immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer
Objective: To Establish Immunotherapeutic Strategy for Pancreatic Cancers

Granting Institution: Redchamber
Title: NK Immunotherapy in Pancreatic Cancer
Objective: To Establish Immunotherapeutic Strategy for Pancreatic Cancers

Granting Institution: PAPD-APD
Title: NK Immunotherapy in Pancreatic Cancer
Objective: To Establish Immunotherapeutic Strategy for Pancreatic Cancers

Granting Institution: Nature Medic
Title: Effect of Fucoidan on NK cells
Objective: To Determine the Effect of Fucoidan on NK Cell Function

Publications

  • Kawaljit Kaur1, Hui-Hua Chang2, Paytsar Topchyan1, Jessica Morgan Cook1, Andre Barkhordarian1, Guido Eibl2 and Anahid Jewett1,3,4*Deficiencies in Natural Killer Cell Numbers, Expansion, and Function at the Pre-Neoplastic Stage of Pancreatic Cancer by K
  • Kaur, K., P. Topchyan, A. K. Kozlowska, N. Ohanian, J. Chiang, P. O. Maung, S.-H. Park, M.-W. Ko, C. Fang, I. Nishimura and A. Jewett (2018). "Super-charged NK cells inhibit growth and progression of stem-like/poorly differentiated oral tumors in vivo
  • Jewett A. Editorial overview: Tumour immunology: Are we on the path to win the battle against cancer through immunotherapy? Curr Opin Immunol. 2018 Apr;51:vii-ix. doi: 10.1016/j.coi.2018.04.018.
  • Wang, D., Kawaljit Kaur, Avina Paranjpe, Eric Lee, Matthew Wasilewski, Danielle Sung, David Han, Eric C. Sung and Anahid Jewett., N-acetyl cysteine prevents pain and hypersensitivity of bleaching agents without affecting their aesthetic appeal; evidenc
  • Kawaljit Kaur, Anna Karolina Kozlowska, Paytsar Topchyan, Meng‐Wei Ko, Nick Ohanian, Jessica Chiang ,Jessica Cook, Phyu Ou Maung, So‐Hyun Park, Nicholas Cacalano, Changge Fang and Anahid Jewett. Probiotic‐Treated Super‐Charged NK Cells Efficiently Clea

Lab Members

Collaborators

List of collaborators within and outside of UCLA:

Below you will find my collaborative work with other investigators at UCLA and elsewhere around the world.

  • NK and High fat Calorie Diet in Pancreatic Cancer
    Dr. Guido Eibl, Professor
    Department of Surgery/David Geffen School of Medicine 
     
  • Oncolytic Viruse and Super-charged NK Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer
    Dr. Yuman Fong, Professor/Chief
    Department of Surgery/City of Hope
     
  • Pancreatic Cancer and Super-charged NK Cells
    Dr. Nicholas Cacalano, Professor
    Radiation Oncology/David Geffen School of Medicine
     
  • CAR/T and NK Cells
    Dr. Prasad  Adusumilli, Professor
    Surgery/Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
     
  • Mechanisms of NK Cell Killing
    Dr. Janko Kos, Professor
    Faculty of Pharmacy/University of Ljubljana-Slovenia
     
  • Super-charged NK Clinical Trials
    Dr. Changge Fang, CSO
    PAPD/APD/Beijing-China
     
  • Omega 3 and NK Cells
    Maria Ohlander
    Smart-Fish/Norway
     
  • AJ2 Probiotic in Pancreatic Cancer
    Mr. Ming Shin Kou, Yoshiteru Koide, Scott Goldsmith,
    DM Advantage; LA/Probioferm-Iowa
     
  • Novel Cell Killing Assay with CTL Elispot
    Dr. Paul Lehmann, President
    CTL company/Ohio
     
  • NK Therapy in Melanoma
    Dr. Andrzej Mackiewicz, Professor
    Poznan University of Medical Sciences-Poland
     
  • NK and Targeting of Tumors by Abs
    Drs. Jose Trevejo (Vice President) and Zack Shriver
    Visterra Co.
     
  • NK Therapy Using Activating Compounds
    Nick Kim, Susana Trujillo-Frias
    Nature Medic
     
  • Distribution and Marketing Bleaching with Protectant
    Nkore
     
  • Role of NK Cells in Invasive Breast Cancer
    Ira Skvortsova
    University of Innsbruk, Austria


List of Lab Members:
​​​​​​​Current Laboratory members

  • Dr. Kawaljit Kaur- PhD, MS, Assistant Project Scientist
  • Dr. Tahmieh Safaei- DDS, MS, Assistant Project Scientist
  • Dr. Milan Fiala-  MD, PhD, Assistant Project Scientist
  • Dr. liu jun, MD, PhD, Assistant Project Scientist
  • Dr. Andre Barkhordarian, PhD, Lecturer
  • Dr. Barbara Breznik PhD, Post-doctoral fellow
  • Emanuela Senjor, PhD Candidate
  • Dr. Meng-Wei Ko, DVM, PhD candidate 
  • Dr. Po-chun Chen, DVM, Masters degree candidate
  • Dr. Patricia Reese, DDS, Masters degree candidate
  • Dr. Nnishant Chovatiya DDS,  Masters degree candidate
  • Dr. Majed bamatraf, DDS, Masters degree candidate
  • Dr. Rakshit  Oberoi DDS,  Resident in Endodontics
  • Nelson Poliran, BS, DDS and PhD candidate
  • Kristiyn Y. Nguyen. BS, DDS candidate
  • Paul Wong, Undergraduate student
  • Izabel Comandante, Undergraduate student
  • Yuhao Wang, Undergraduate Student
  • Matthew Farzam, Undergaduate Student
  • Artin Keshishian Namagerdi, Undergaduate Student
  • Ji Hyuk Seo, Undergaduate Student

Opportunities

We have research opportunities open for Masters, PhD, post-doc, predoc and residents. Indeed, the laboratory enjoys from the interactions between students from all these different categories as can be seen in the make up of the current personnel in the laboratory.

Contact Us

(310) 206-3970
ajewett@ucla.edu