Debra K. Newman, PhD
Professor, Pharmacology and Toxicology; Senior Investigator at Versiti Blood Research Institute; Adjunct Professor, Microbiology & Immunology
Locations
- Versiti Blood Research Institute
Blood Center of Wisconsin
Contact Information
General Interests
Education
Research Experience
- Blood Platelets
- Phosphotyrosine
- Platelet Activation
- Platelet Adhesiveness
- Platelet Aggregation
- Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
- Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins
- Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs
- Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases
- Signal Transduction
Research Interests
Platelets are important in early wound healing, where they initially adhere to the extracellular matrix that underlies damaged blood vessels and then aggregate with one another to form a platelet plug. Excessive bleeding occurs when platelet counts are low, or when platelet activity is compromised. Children, especially neonates, who undergo cardiac surgery for repair of congenital heart defects experience excessive bleeding at higher rates than do adults undergoing similar surgeries. We seek to determine the extent to which deficiencies in platelet number or function contribute to excessive bleeding in the setting of pediatric cardiac surgery. This research will help physicians identify pediatric cardiac surgery patients who are at risk for bleeding and administer appropriate blood products in a timely manner should bleeding need to be controlled in this setting.
A major focus of research in our laboratory is Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (PECAM-1). PECAM-1 is an inhibitory molecule that functions in two important contexts. First, PECAM-1 dampens platelet aggregation in response to low levels of stimulation, which is important to prevent pathological thrombosis. Second, PECAM-1 inhibits T cell responses and interferes with the ability of T cells to kill tumors. We have recently discovered that the ability of PECAM-1 to inhibit T cell anti-tumor responses depends on Transforming Growth Factor β (TGFβ), which is another potent T cell suppressor. Our current work is dedicated to development of a better understanding of how PECAM-1 and TGFβ work together to inhibit T cell responses. This research will help us improve T cell-based therapies for treatment of cancer.
Publications
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Does anti-HPA-1a affect birthweight in fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia?
(McKelvy M, Tyagi S, Haar EV, Lakkaraja M, Tomy T, Corke S, Palmer T, Rottenstreich A, Kapur R, Zhi H, Newman D, Scatz-Siemers N, Bussel J.) Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2024 Apr;71(4):e30835 PMID: 38212881 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85182151782 01/12/2024
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Antigen-specific immunotherapy for platelet alloimmune disorders
(Newman DK, Newman PJ.) Human Immunology. November 2024;85(6) SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85208290159 11/01/2024
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(Zhi H, Sheridan D, Newman DK, Newman PJ.) Blood. 2022 Nov 17;140(20):2146-2153 PMID: 35881848 PMCID: PMC9837438 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85141527258 07/27/2022
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(Liao D, Sundlov J, Zhu J, Mei H, Hu Y, Newman DK, Newman PJ.) Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2022 Feb;42(2):193-204 PMID: 34937389 PMCID: PMC8942131 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85123879120 12/24/2021
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Preclinical evaluation of immunotherapeutic regimens for fetal/neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia.
(Zhi H, Ahlen MT, Skogen B, Newman DK, Newman PJ.) Blood Adv. 2021 Sep 28;5(18):3552-3562 PMID: 34470046 PMCID: PMC8945581 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85116162042 09/02/2021
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Generation of PECAM-1 (CD31) conditional knockout mice.
(Zhi H, Kanaji T, Fu G, Newman DK, Newman PJ.) Genesis. 2020 Feb;58(2):e23346 PMID: 31729819 PMCID: PMC7021573 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85075415188 11/16/2019
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(Zwifelhofer NMJ, Bercovitz RS, Cole R, Yan K, Simpson PM, Moroi A, Newman PJ, Niebler RA, Scott JP, Stuth EAD, Woods RK, Benson DW, Newman DK.) Thromb Haemost. 2020 Jan;120(1):94-106 PMID: 31752040 PMCID: PMC7003188 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85077799720 11/22/2019
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Diacylglycerol kinase ζ is a negative regulator of GPVI-mediated platelet activation.
(Moroi AJ, Zwifelhofer NM, Riese MJ, Newman DK, Newman PJ.) Blood Adv. 2019 Apr 09;3(7):1154-1166 PMID: 30967391 PMCID: PMC6457232 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85068307036 04/11/2019
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(Zwifelhofer NMJ, Bercovitz RS, Weik LA, Moroi A, LaRose S, Newman PJ, Newman DK.) J Thromb Haemost. 2019 Feb;17(2):295-305 PMID: 30549403 PMCID: PMC6410711 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85060529568 12/15/2018
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(Newman DK, Fu G, McOlash L, Schauder D, Newman PJ, Cui W, Rao S, Johnson BD, Gershan JA, Riese MJ.) J Leukoc Biol. 2018 Nov;104(5):883-893 PMID: 30063264 PMCID: PMC6195461 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85053248137 08/01/2018
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G6b-B: the Y's and wherefores.
(Newman DK.) Blood. 2018 Sep 27;132(13):1359-1360 PMID: 30262581 PMCID: PMC6161768 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85053899523 09/29/2018
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(Wesley EM, Xin G, McAllister D, Malarkannan S, Newman DK, Dwinell MB, Cui W, Johnson BD, Riese MJ.) Immunohorizons. 2018 Apr 01;2(4):107-118 PMID: 30027154 PMCID: PMC6048965 07/22/2018