Weimin Chen

Cooperating Doctoral Program: Microbiology and Molecular Genetics

EITS Track: Toxicology

Education: B.S., Biological Sciences, Nankai University

Research Interests:
I am interested in characterizing the mechanism for immune modulation by marijuana derived compound, 9-tetrahydrocannabinol, mediated via the cannabinoid receptors within the immune system. The current objective is to investigate the role of cannabinoid receptors1 (CB1) and 2 (CB2) i the generation of immunological responses to viral antigens, using 9-THC or CB1-/-/-/CB2-/- (KO) mice. Peptides from the envelope protein (gp120) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 1 strain Hxbc2 are being used to elicitate functional cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in vitro. The activity of CTL will be assessed by doing CTL surface marker staining for flow cytometry, standard 51Cr release assay, and IFN gamma and Granzyme B ELISPOT.

Major Professor:  Norbert Kaminski, Pharmacology and Toxicology

Contact: chenwe14@msu.edu