Averil Ma, MD

Title(s)Professor, Medicine
SchoolSchool of Medicine
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    Collapse Biography 
    Collapse Education and Training
    Harvard CollegeA.B.1980Biochemistry
    Columbia Medical SchoolM.D.1984
    Massachusetts General Hospital1987Internal Medicine
    Columbia Medical School1989Gastroenterology
    Collapse Awards and Honors
    2010Chief, UCSF Division of Gastroenterology
    2009Elected, AAAP
    2010  - 2012Chair, NIH CMI-A study section
    2001AGA/GRG Young Investigator Award
    2001Elected, ASCI
    1997Cancer Research Institute Scholar
    1989James McDonnell Scholar

    Collapse Overview 
    Collapse Overview
    Dr. Ma is Director of the UCSF IBD Center and Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology.
    He oversees translational and basic research in IBD and related inflammatory diseases.

    Their lab studies the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying inflammation and cancer. They have focused upon a subset of ubiquitin regulating proteins that play dominant roles in prevent inflammation and cancer. A20 and several biochemically related binding partners are potent regulators of ubiquitination and disease. These proteins exert several biochemical functions to (1) prevent inflammatory diseases and cancer in human patients; (2) prevent inflammation and cancer in mice; (3) restrict NFB signaling and immune cell activation; (4) restrict inflammasome activation; (5) prevent multiple forms of cell death; and (6) preserve tissue integrity. Patients born with haploinsufficient A20 genes develop early onset inflammatory diseases. Ongoing studies utilize genetic engineering, cell signaling, and mass spectrometry techniques to unravel the mechanisms by which A20 and related proteins regulate ubiquitin dependent signals and tissue homeostasis. They have recently generated a series of A20 knock-in mice to dissect the biochemical mechanisms by which A20 performs these critical functions. Translational research in the laboratory seeks to align insights from biochemical and mouse based biology with the biology of human peripheral blood cells and intestinal tissues. These efforts should improve our understanding of human disease subtypes and ultimately develop novel approaches of treating inflammatory and malignant diseases.

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    Collapse Bibliographic 
    Collapse Publications
    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Researchers can login to make corrections and additions, or contact us for help. to make corrections and additions.
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    Altmetrics Details PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
    1. Pathways from Immune Profiling to Therapies for Rare Diseases. Med. 2021 01 15; 2(1):14-15. Ma A. PMID: 35590128.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    2. Non-catalytic ubiquitin binding by A20 prevents psoriatic arthritis-like disease and inflammation. Nat Immunol. 2020 04; 21(4):422-433. Razani B, Whang MI, Kim FS, Nakamura MC, Sun X, Advincula R, Turnbaugh JA, Pendse M, Tanbun P, Achacoso P, Turnbaugh PJ, Malynn BA, Ma A. PMID: 32205880; PMCID: PMC7195210.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 34     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    3. A20 and ABIN-1 synergistically preserve intestinal epithelial cell survival. J Exp Med. 2018 07 02; 215(7):1839-1852. Kattah MG, Shao L, Rosli YY, Shimizu H, Whang MI, Advincula R, Achacoso P, Shah S, Duong BH, Onizawa M, Tanbun P, Malynn BA, Ma A. PMID: 29930103; PMCID: PMC6028510.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 33     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    4. A20 upregulation during treated HIV disease is associated with intestinal epithelial cell recovery and function. PLoS Pathog. 2018 03; 14(3):e1006806. Chitre AS, Kattah MG, Rosli YY, Pao M, Deswal M, Deeks SG, Hunt PW, Abdel-Mohsen M, Montaner LJ, Kim CC, Ma A, Somsouk M, McCune JM. PMID: 29505600; PMCID: PMC5854440.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 8     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    5. Ubiquitin-Modifying Enzymes and Regulation of the Inflammasome. J Mol Biol. 2017 11 10; 429(22):3471-3485. Kattah MG, Malynn BA, Ma A. PMID: 29031697; PMCID: PMC5675782.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 26     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimals
    6. The Ubiquitin Binding Protein TAX1BP1 Mediates Autophagasome Induction and the Metabolic Transition of Activated T Cells. Immunity. 2017 03 21; 46(3):405-420. Whang MI, Tavares RM, Benjamin DI, Kattah MG, Advincula R, Nomura DK, Debnath J, Malynn BA, Ma A. PMID: 28314591; PMCID: PMC5400745.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 36     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    7. The ubiquitin-modifying enzyme A20 restricts ubiquitination of the kinase RIPK3 and protects cells from necroptosis. Nat Immunol. 2015 Jun; 16(6):618-27. Onizawa M, Oshima S, Schulze-Topphoff U, Oses-Prieto JA, Lu T, Tavares R, Prodhomme T, Duong B, Whang MI, Advincula R, Agelidis A, Barrera J, Wu H, Burlingame A, Malynn BA, Zamvil SS, Ma A. PMID: 25939025; PMCID: PMC4439357.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 160     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    8. A20 restricts ubiquitination of pro-interleukin-1β protein complexes and suppresses NLRP3 inflammasome activity. Immunity. 2015 Jan 20; 42(1):55-67. Duong BH, Onizawa M, Oses-Prieto JA, Advincula R, Burlingame A, Malynn BA, Ma A. PMID: 25607459; PMCID: PMC4302274.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 151     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    9. A20 restricts wnt signaling in intestinal epithelial cells and suppresses colon carcinogenesis. PLoS One. 2013; 8(5):e62223. Shao L, Oshima S, Duong B, Advincula R, Barrera J, Malynn BA, Ma A. PMID: 23671587; PMCID: PMC3645994.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 17     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    10. Dimerization and ubiquitin mediated recruitment of A20, a complex deubiquitinating enzyme. Immunity. 2013 May 23; 38(5):896-905. Lu TT, Onizawa M, Hammer GE, Turer EE, Yin Q, Damko E, Agelidis A, Shifrin N, Advincula R, Barrera J, Malynn BA, Wu H, Ma A. PMID: 23602765; PMCID: PMC3665706.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 85     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    11. The ubiquitous nature of IL-17. Nat Immunol. 2012 Nov; 13(11):1034-5. Ma AI. PMID: 23080197.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 3     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    12. A20: linking a complex regulator of ubiquitylation to immunity and human disease. Nat Rev Immunol. 2012 Nov; 12(11):774-85. Ma A, Malynn BA. PMID: 23059429; PMCID: PMC3582397.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 250     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    13. Specific recognition of linear polyubiquitin by A20 zinc finger 7 is involved in NF-κB regulation. EMBO J. 2012 Oct 03; 31(19):3856-70. Tokunaga F, Nishimasu H, Ishitani R, Goto E, Noguchi T, Mio K, Kamei K, Ma A, Iwai K, Nureki O. PMID: 23032187; PMCID: PMC3463848.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 118     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    14. Direct, noncatalytic mechanism of IKK inhibition by A20. Mol Cell. 2011 Nov 18; 44(4):559-71. Skaug B, Chen J, Du F, He J, Ma A, Chen ZJ. PMID: 22099304; PMCID: PMC3237303.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 133     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    15. Expression of A20 by dendritic cells preserves immune homeostasis and prevents colitis and spondyloarthritis. Nat Immunol. 2011 Oct 23; 12(12):1184-93. Hammer GE, Turer EE, Taylor KE, Fang CJ, Advincula R, Oshima S, Barrera J, Huang EJ, Hou B, Malynn BA, Reizis B, DeFranco A, Criswell LA, Nakamura MC, Ma A. PMID: 22019834; PMCID: PMC3419270.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 133     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    16. Ubiquitin makes its mark on immune regulation. Immunity. 2010 Dec 14; 33(6):843-52. Malynn BA, Ma A. PMID: 21168777; PMCID: PMC3030984.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 79     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    17. The ubiquitin modifying enzyme A20 restricts B cell survival and prevents autoimmunity. Immunity. 2010 Aug 27; 33(2):181-91. Tavares RM, Turer EE, Liu CL, Advincula R, Scapini P, Rhee L, Barrera J, Lowell CA, Utz PJ, Malynn BA, Ma A. PMID: 20705491; PMCID: PMC2931361.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 142     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    18. Inhibition of NF-kappaB signaling by A20 through disruption of ubiquitin enzyme complexes. Science. 2010 Feb 26; 327(5969):1135-9. Shembade N, Ma A, Harhaj EW. PMID: 20185725; PMCID: PMC3025292.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 326     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    19. A bacterial E3 ubiquitin ligase IpaH9.8 targets NEMO/IKKgamma to dampen the host NF-kappaB-mediated inflammatory response. Nat Cell Biol. 2010 Jan; 12(1):66-73; sup pp 1-9. Ashida H, Kim M, Schmidt-Supprian M, Ma A, Ogawa M, Sasakawa C. PMID: 20010814; PMCID: PMC3107189.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 127     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    20. Macrophage- and dendritic-cell-derived interleukin-15 receptor alpha supports homeostasis of distinct CD8+ T cell subsets. Immunity. 2009 Nov 20; 31(5):811-22. Mortier E, Advincula R, Kim L, Chmura S, Barrera J, Reizis B, Malynn BA, Ma A. PMID: 19913445.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 108     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    21. ABIN-1 is a ubiquitin sensor that restricts cell death and sustains embryonic development. Nature. 2009 Feb 12; 457(7231):906-9. Oshima S, Turer EE, Callahan JA, Chai S, Advincula R, Barrera J, Shifrin N, Lee B, Benedict Yen TS, Yen B, Woo T, Malynn BA, Ma A. PMID: 19060883; PMCID: PMC2642523.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 98     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    22. Multiple polymorphisms in the TNFAIP3 region are independently associated with systemic lupus erythematosus. Nat Genet. 2008 Sep; 40(9):1062-4. Musone SL, Taylor KE, Lu TT, Nititham J, Ferreira RC, Ortmann W, Shifrin N, Petri MA, Kamboh MI, Manzi S, Seldin MF, Gregersen PK, Behrens TW, Ma A, Kwok PY, Criswell LA. PMID: 19165919; PMCID: PMC3897246.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 224     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    23. The ubiquitin-editing enzyme A20 restricts nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain containing 2-triggered signals. Immunity. 2008 Mar; 28(3):381-90. Hitotsumatsu O, Ahmad RC, Tavares R, Wang M, Philpott D, Turer EE, Lee BL, Shiffin N, Advincula R, Malynn BA, Werts C, Ma A. PMID: 18342009; PMCID: PMC3606373.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 182     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    24. Homeostatic MyD88-dependent signals cause lethal inflamMation in the absence of A20. J Exp Med. 2008 Feb 18; 205(2):451-64. Turer EE, Tavares RM, Mortier E, Hitotsumatsu O, Advincula R, Lee B, Shifrin N, Malynn BA, Ma A. PMID: 18268035; PMCID: PMC2271029.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 146     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    25. The ubiquitin-modifying enzyme A20 is required for termination of Toll-like receptor responses. Nat Immunol. 2004 Oct; 5(10):1052-60. Boone DL, Turer EE, Lee EG, Ahmad RC, Wheeler MT, Tsui C, Hurley P, Chien M, Chai S, Hitotsumatsu O, McNally E, Pickart C, Ma A. PMID: 15334086.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 519     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    26. De-ubiquitination and ubiquitin ligase domains of A20 downregulate NF-kappaB signalling. Nature. 2004 Aug 05; 430(7000):694-9. Wertz IE, O'Rourke KM, Zhou H, Eby M, Aravind L, Seshagiri S, Wu P, Wiesmann C, Baker R, Boone DL, Ma A, Koonin EV, Dixit VM. PMID: 15258597.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 881     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    27. Failure to regulate TNF-induced NF-kappaB and cell death responses in A20-deficient mice. Science. 2000 Sep 29; 289(5488):2350-4. Lee EG, Boone DL, Chai S, Libby SL, Chien M, Lodolce JP, Ma A. PMID: 11009421; PMCID: PMC3582399.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 633     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    28. IL-15 receptor maintains lymphoid homeostasis by supporting lymphocyte homing and proliferation. Immunity. 1998 Nov; 9(5):669-76. Lodolce JP, Boone DL, Chai S, Swain RE, Dassopoulos T, Trettin S, Ma A. PMID: 9846488.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 462     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells