Mahin Khatami
Keynote: J Cell Sci Ther
U nresolved infl ammation was defi ned as loss of balance between two biologically opposing arms, termed ?Yin? (apoptosis, pro-infl ammatory, growth-arresting or ?tumoricidal?) and ?Yang? (wound healing, post-infl ammatory, growth- promoting or ?tumorigenic?) responses of acute infl ammation. Unresolved or persistent infl ammation could create an ?immunological chaos? or ?immune tsunami? in susceptible aff ected tissues by inappropriate co-expression of apoptotic and wound healing mediators that would cause damage to cellular components and functions (e.g., altered chromosomal and genetic function, inappropriate expressi on of cellular and extracellular components, proteins or receptor molecules or defective membrane function). Infl ammation-induced alterations in immune dynamics were suggested as fundamental basis for initiation and progression of a wide range of acute (rap id, severe) infl ammatory diseases (e.g., sepsis, meningitis, pneumonia), including perhaps drug-induced cancer cachexia and anorexia or a wide range of age-associated chronic autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases as well as cancer. Our earlier discoveries (1980?s) that were established on experimental models of acute and chronic ocular infl ammatory diseases are suggestive of the fi rst evidence for a direct association between infl ammation and tumorigenesis. Recent extension of these studies and integration of data led to a fi rst report on infl ammation-induced identifi able developmental stages of immune dysfunction that included changes in clinical, histopathological and immunological fi ndings (e.g., tissue edema, tearing, vascular hyperpermeability, neovascularization and angiogenesis, loss of mast cell function-?leaky? MCs , activation of macrophages, site-specifi c antibody profi les, histamine and prostaglandin synthesis, involvement of goblet cells, thickening and/or thinning of epithelial tissues) tha t led to induction of massive lymphoid hyperplasia in conjunctival-associated lymphoid tissues (CALTs). Extension, confi rmations and validations of these ground-breaking studies are potentially essential steps toward systematic identifi cation of developmental stages of infl ammation-induced immune response dysfunction that would lead to carcinogenesis. Infl ammation is likely a common denominator in the genesis and progression of chronic diseases and cancer. Promotion of inherent capacity of immune system (immune surveillance) is suggested as key strategies in appropriate designs of clinical trials and eff ective therapeutics.
Dr. Mahin Khatami immigrated to USA in 1969 after training in Chemistry (BS) and Science Education (MS) in Iran. She received h er MA in Biochemistry from SUNY at Buffalo (1977) and Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University Of Pennsylvania (UPA, 1980). Her Postdoctoral framings were in physiology, protein chemistry and immunology at UVA, Fox Chase Cancer Center & UPenn. She became A Faculty of Medicine at Dept. Ophthalmology-UPA until 1992; and in collaboration with a team of scientists, under direc tion and support of John H Rockey, MD, Ph.D., she quickly earned her supervisory responsibilities on two major projects; cell/molecu lar biology of diabetic retinopathy/maculopathy and experimental models of acute and chronic in fl ammatory diseases. As a junior Faculty, she was perhaps a most productive scientist in the country as she published 39 scienti fi c articles and over 60 abstracts in conference proceedings in the fi rst decade of her academic career. Since 1998, at NCI/NIH, extension of her earlier discoveries on immunobiology of in fl ammatory diseases became closely relevant to her duties as Program Director-HAS for developing concepts for molecular diagnosis ,prevention and therapy of cancer for large clinical Trials ( Prostate-Long-Colorectal- Ovarian) and designs of cohor t clinical studies. Dr. Khatami has lectured internationally; served as scienti fi c judge; consultant to pharmaceutical companies; research advisor; member of professional societies; editorial member ships & reviewer activities; symposia organizer; president of graduate women In Science, Washington Chapter. Before retiring in 2009, her position title was Assistant Director for Technology Program Developm ent, Of fi ce of Technology and Industrial Relations and Program Director-IMAT, Of fi ce of Director, NCI/NIH. She is currently Book Editor on In fl ammatory Diseases
