Neuroimmunophysiology Laboratory

Carlson 106 and 1B03

phone: 303-492-7331

Research Interests

To determine how physical activity status changes the impact of stress on behavior, neural, endocrine, and immune system function.

Personnel

Laboratory Director: Monika Fleshner, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellows: Ben Greewood, Ph.D.

Graduate Students: Kristin Speaker, Kurt Marshall, Lida Beninson, Paul Strong; Robert Thompson; Teresa Foley, Tom Maslanik

Undergraduate Students: Bradley Frazier, Brianne Loughridge, Lydia Urrutia, Tony Le

Professional Research Assistant: Carla Elliott

Collaborators: David Diamond, Ph.D., Department of Psychology, University of Florida; Steven Maier, Ph.D., Department of Psychology, University of Colorado at Boulder; Robert Mazzeo, Ph.D., Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado at Boulder; Jerry Rudy, Ph.D., Department of Psychology, University of Colorado at Boulder; Linda Watkins, Ph.D., Department of Psychology, University of Colorado at Boulder.

(L to R, standing) Kurt Marshal, Tony Le, Teresa Foley, Brianne Loughridge, Lydia Urrutia, Paul Strong, Ben Greenwood, Moni Fleshner, Bradley Frazier;
(front row) Kristin Speaker, Robert Thompson, Tom Maslanik, Lida Beninson

Current Research Projects

Overview: Exposure to acute and chronic stressors (mental or physical) influences many aspects of physiology. This lab investigates the impact of exposure to stressors on neural, hormonal, and immunological function, and how these systems interact to influence the whole organism. The body's stress response is a powerful and wonderfully integrated series of responses that under normal conditions functions to facilitate fight/flight responses, restore homeostasis, and promote survival. If, however, the stressor is excessive or frequent, the response is inappropriate, or the organism suffers from other illnesses or vulnerabilities, the stress response can have negative health consequence. Current projects include:

Stress and immunity: immune suppression/immune potentiation

Stress and immunity: impact of acute or chronic stressor exposure on sterile inflammatory processes. Potential impact on vascular function.

Stress-buffering effects of exercise on central serotonin and autonomic neural circuits and behavior

Neurobiology of exercise: involvement of dopamine motivational circuits and changes in learning and memory processes

Opportunities for Undergraduates

The requirements for undergraduate students who want a research experience in our Laboratory are:

Have an understanding and acceptance of the use of animals in research.
Successful completion of one course with bench top laboratory requirements.
Enroll in independent study (IPHY 4860) for 8-10 hours/week for at least one semester.
Demonstrate maturity, commitment, and dependability.

For more information, contact Prof. Monika Fleshner(fleshner@colorado.edu)

Recent Publications

Campbell AM,Park CF, Zoladz PR, Munoz C, Fleshner M, Diamond DM. Pretraining administration of tianeptine, but not propranolol, protects hippocampus-dependent memory from being impaired by predator stress. European Neuropsychopharmacology 18: 87-98, 2008.

Fleshner M, Johnson JD, Friedman J. Extracellular Hsp72: a double-edged sword for host defense. In Heat Shock Proteins: Potent Mediators of Inflammation and Immunity. New York, NY: Springer, pp. 235-263, 2007.

Foley TE, Fleshner M. Neuroplasticity of dopamine circuits after exercise: implications for central fatigue. Neuromolecular Medicine 10: 67-80, 2008.

Grant RW, Mariani RA, Veira VJ, Fleshner M, Smith TP, Keylock DT, Lowder TW, McAuley E, Hu L, Chapman-Novakofski K, Woods JA. Cardiovascular exercise intervention improves the primary antibody response to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) in previously sedentary older adults. Brain, Behavior and Immunity 22: 923-932, 2008.

Greenwood BN, Fleshner M. Exercise, learned helplessness, and the stress resistant brain. Neuromolecular Medicine 10: 81-98, 2008.

Greenwood BN, Strong PV, Brooks L, Fleshner M. Anxiety-like behaviors produced by acute fluoxetine administration in male F344 rates are prevented by prior exercise. Psychopharmacology 199: 209-222, 2008.

Greenwood BN, Strong PV, Dorey AA, Fleshner M. Therapeutic effects of exercise: wheel running reverses stress-induced interference with shuttle box escape. Behavioral Neuroscience 121: 992-1000, 2007.

Greenwood BN, Strong P, Foley TE, Thompson RS, Fleshner M. Learned helplessness is independent of levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the hippocampus. Neuroscience 144: 1193-1208, 2007.

Johnson JD, Cortez VC, Kennedy SL, Foley TE, Hanson II HH, Fleshner M. Role of central and peripheral adrenergic receptors in regulating proinflammatory cytokine responses to a peripheral bacterial challenge. Brain, Behavior and Immunity 22: 1071-1086, 2008.

Zoladz PR, Conrad CD, Fleshner M, Diamond DM. Acute episodes of predator exposure in conjuction with chronic social instability as an animal model of post-traumatic stress disorder. Stress: The International Journal on the Biology of Stress 11: 259-281, 2008.

Funding

2004-2009, NIH, "Stress, Heat-Shock Proteins, and Innate Immunity."

2004-2009, NIMH, "The Neurobiology of the Stress Resistant Brain."

2004-2009, NIH, "Chemotherapy and Cognition in Older Breast Cancer Patients."

2005-2007, NARSAD, "Prevention of the Negative Behavioral Effects of Acute Fluoxetine: Role of BDNF."