Division of Gastroenterology

Waliul Khan

Associate Professor, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine

Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine

Assistant: Heather Gemmiti
X76274




Research Interests

Main Research Areas: Mucosal immunology, immuno-physiology and host defense in the context of intestinal infection/inflammation.

Specific Focus: Mucosal injury and inflammation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is associated with activation of immune system and alteration in the intestinal physiology which includes changes in motility, mucus production and neuro-endocrine function.  Using the model of enteric nematode infection my research involves studies to elucidate the immunological basis of altered intestinal physiology and pathophysiology specifically the roles T cell subsets, cytokines, and chemokines in regulation of intestinal goblet and enteroendocrine cells biology, and intestinal muscle function in the context of GI infection/inflammation in relation to host defense.  In addition, my research also includes investigations on immunological strategies to modulate intestinal inflammation in experimental colitis model.   

Methodologies: Cell culture, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, lymphocyte proliferation study, ELISA, western blotting, physiological studies on muscle, laser capture micro-dissection and RT- PCR. 

Selected Publications

  1. WI Khan, Y Motomura, PA Blennerhassett, AK Varghese, J Gauldie,  SM. Collins CD40-CD40 (2004) ligand interaction plays a critical role in the development of intestinal muscle hypercontractility and host immunity during nematode infection.  Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. Jan;288(1):G15-22, 2005. 
  2. P Bercik, L Wang, EF Verdu, YK Mao, P Blennerhasset, WI Khan, I Kean, G Tougas and SM Collins.  Visceral hyperalgesia and intestinal dysmotility in a mouse model of post infective gut dysfunction.  Gastroenterology 127(1):179, 2004. 
  3. WI Khan and SM Collins. Immune-mediated alteration in gut physiology and its role in host defense. Parasite Immunology (in press), 2004. 
  4. Y Motomura, H Kanbayashi,  WI Khan,  Y Deng,  PA Blennerhassett,  P Margetts,  J Gauldie,  K Egashira and SM Collins.  (2004). The gene transfer of soluble VEGF type I receptor (Flt-1) attenuates peritoneal fibrosis formation In mice but not soluble TGF-b type II receptor gene transfer.  Am J Physiol Jan ;288(1):G143-G150, 2005. 
  5. M Sagar, I Padol, WI Khan, RP Bonin, PA Blennerhasset, R Hunt. The Establishment of Th2 based parasitic infection model using Trichinella spiralis in mongolian gerbils. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology 39(7): 668, 2004. 
  6. WI Khan, M Richard, H Akiho, PA Blennerhasset, N Humphreys, RK Grencis, J Van-Snick,  SM Collins.  Modulation of intestinal muscle contractility by IL-9 or anti-IL-9: correlation with worm expulsion in nematode infections.  Infection & Immunity 71(5):2330, 2003. 
  7. WI Khan, PA Blennerhasset, AK Varghese, SK Chowdhury, SM. Collins. Intestinal nematode infection ameliorates experimental colitis. Infection & Immunity 70:5931, 2002. 
  8. DM McKay, WI Khan.  Stat6 is an absolute requirement for murine rejection of Hymenolepsis diminuta.  Journal of Parasitology 89(1): 188, 2003. 
  9. WI Khan, P. Blennerhasset, Y. Deng, J. Gauldie, SM Collins. IL-12 gene transfer in nematode infected mice induces Th1 immune response and attenuates physiological changes and delays worm expulsion.  Am J Physiol. 281: G16, 2001. 
  10. WI Khan, BA Vallance, P Blennerhasset, Y Deng, KI Matthaei, SM Collins. Critical role for signal transducer and activator of transcription factor 6 in mediating intestinal muscle hypercontractility and worm expulsion in Trichinella spiralis-infected mice. Infection & Immunity 69(2): 838, 2001. 
  11. WI Khan, P Blennerhasset, M. Chen, SM Collins (2001). Stat6 dependent goblet cell hyperplasia during intestinal nematode infection.  Parasite Immunology 23 (1): 39, 2001.