Dr Pascale Kropf PhD
- 284
- LSHTM
- Keppel Street
- London
- WC1E 7HT
- T: 0207 927 29 72
Pascale Kropf completed her PhD at Imperial College London, investigating T cell responses in an experimental model of non-healing leishmaniasis. During her time as a post-doc, she worked on macrophages, more specifically on alternative activation of macrophages and the regulation of the L-arginine metabolism. In 2005, she was awarded a Wellcome Trust Research Career Development Fellowship to investigate the impact of arginase on immune effector functions in experimental leishmaniasis. Pascale joined the LSHTM in 2010 as a Senior Lecturer in Immunology.
Affiliation
Teaching
Pascale Kropf teaches on the MSc Immunology of Infectious Diseases.
Research
My current research focuses on arginase mediated L-arginine metabolism in experimental and human leishmaniasis, tuberculosis and HIV infections.
Recently, we have identified a novel mechanism in experimental models of leishmaniasis that contributes to the failure to heal persistent lesions. We showed that during active disease the levels of arginase is increased, leading to a reduction in the amino acid L-arginine. This amino acid is known to be essential for an effective immune response. Indeed, we have shown that supplementation with L-arginine during infection restored T-cell effector function and ameliorates pathology.
Currently, we are in the process of investigating how these findings obtained in the experimental model of leishmaniasis translate to human disease. In order to do this, I have set up collaborations with scientists and clinicians in Ethiopia where we are investigating the impact of arginase mediated L-arginine metabolism in visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis, tuberculosis and HIV/visceral leishmaniasis co-infection. Our aim is to understand how arginase mediated L-arginine metabolism is dysregulated and investigate whether modulation of the level of L-arginine can be developed as a therapeutic strategy to boost immune responses.
Research areas
- Parasites
Disciplines
- Immunology
- Immunopathology
- Parasitology
Disease and Health Conditions
- HIV/AIDS
- Infectious disease
- Leishmaniasis
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Selected publications
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Increased level of arginase activity correlates with disease severity in HIV-seropositive patients.
Cloke, T.E.; Garvey, L.; Choi, B.S.; Abebe, T.; Hailu, A.; Hancock, M.; Kadolsky, U.; Bangham, C.R.; Munder, M.; Müller, I.; Taylor, G.P.; Kropf, P.;
J Infect Dis, 2010; 202(3):374-85
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Differential impact of L-arginine deprivation on the activation and effector functions of T cells and macrophages.
Choi, B.S.; Martinez-Falero, I.C.; Corset, C.; Munder, M.; Modolell, M.; Müller, I.; Kropf, P.;
J Leukoc Biol, 2009; 85(2):268-77
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Evaluation of T cell responses in healing and nonhealing leishmaniasis reveals differences in T helper cell polarization ex vivo and in vitro.
Choi, B.S.; Kropf, P.;
Parasite Immunol, 2009; 31(4):199-209
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Local suppression of T cell responses by arginase-induced L-arginine depletion in nonhealing leishmaniasis.
Modolell, M.; Choi, B.S.; Ryan, R.O.; Hancock, M.; Titus, R.G.; Abebe, T.; Hailu, A.; Müller, I.; Rogers, M.E.; Bangham, C.R.; Munder, M.; Kropf, P.;
PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 2009; 3(7):e480
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L-arginine deprivation impairs Leishmania major-specific T-cell responses.
Munder, M.; Choi, B.S.; Rogers, M.; Kropf, P.;
Eur J Immunol, 2009; 39(8):2161-72
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Age-related alteration of arginase activity impacts on severity of leishmaniasis.
Müller, I.; Hailu, A.; Choi, B.S.; Abebe, T.; Fuentes, J.M.; Munder, M.; Modolell, M.; Kropf, P.;
PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 2008; 2(5):e235
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Arginase activity mediates reversible T cell hyporesponsiveness in human pregnancy.
Kropf, P.; Baud, D.; Marshall, S.E.; Munder, M.; Mosley, A.; Fuentes, J.M.; Bangham, C.R.; Taylor, G.P.; Herath, S.; Choi, B.S.; Soler, G.; Teoh, T.; Modolell, M.; Müller, I.;
Eur J Immunol, 2007; 37(4):935-45
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Arginase and polyamine synthesis are key factors in the regulation of experimental leishmaniasis in vivo.
Kropf, P.; Fuentes, J.M.; Fähnrich, E.; Arpa, L.; Herath, S.; Weber, V.; Soler, G.; Celada, A.; Modolell, M.; Müller, I.;
FASEB J, 2005; 19(8):1000-2
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