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Christopher Allen, PhD

Title(s)Associate Professor, Cardiovascular Research Inst
SchoolSchool of Medicine
Address555 Mission Bay Blvd South
San Francisco CA 94158
Phone415-476-5178
ORCID ORCID Icon0000-0002-1879-9047 Additional info
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    Collapse Biography 
    Collapse Education and Training
    University of California, San Francisco, CAPh.D.2007 Graduate Division (Biomedical Sciences)
    University of California, San Francisco, CA12/2020Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training
    Collapse Awards and Honors
    2012  - 2017NIH Director's New Innovator Award
    2016Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences

    Collapse Overview 
    Collapse Overview
    My laboratory is interested in the cellular communication and differentiation programs in allergic immune responses, particularly in asthma. My laboratory is applying sophisticated imaging, flow cytometry, mouse genetics, and other techniques to uncover novel paradigms underlying allergic inflammation. As a major area of emphasis, we are studying the generation and function of IgE antibodies that initiate allergic inflammation. We generated fluorescent IgE reporter mice and allowing us to identify and track rare IgE-producing B cells in vivo. We also optimized a flow cytometry procedure to identify rare IgE-producing B cells in both mouse and human samples, facilitating mechanistic studies. Our work has revealed that the IgE B cell receptor exhibits antigen (ligand)-independent signaling that promotes plasma cell differentiation and limits IgE germinal center B cell responses. We are also imaging the lungs and associated lymphoid tissues by two-photon laser scanning microscopy to directly visualize cellular interactions in situ. Using this approach, we achieved the first in vivo analysis of the interactions of CD4 T cells with basophils, which are rare IgE effector cells. We are now analyzing the interactions of basophils with other cell types during secondary immune responses to further elucidate the functions of these cells. More broadly, we are considering the combined cellular interactions among various types of inflammatory cells in the lungs in mouse models of asthma.

    Collapse Research 
    Collapse Research Activities and Funding
    Molecular basis for the regulation of IgE class switch recombination by IL-21 and STAT3
    NIH R21AI154335Jan 21, 2021 - Dec 31, 2022
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Regulation of IgE responses by B cell receptor signaling
    NIH R01AI130470Nov 20, 2017 - Oct 31, 2022
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Function of bronchus-associated macrophages
    NIH R21AI130495Jun 7, 2017 - May 31, 2019
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Analysis of basophil function in secondary immune responses
    NIH R01AI103146Dec 1, 2012 - Nov 30, 2017
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Cellular interactions in asthma
    NIH DP2HL117752Sep 30, 2012 - Jun 30, 2017
    Role: Principal Investigator

    Collapse ORNG Applications 
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    Collapse In The News
    Collapse Student Projects

    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.
    Newest   |   Oldest   |   Most Cited   |   Most Discussed   |   Timeline   |   Field Summary   |   Plain Text
    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. IL-21 is a broad negative regulator of IgE class switch recombination in mouse and human B cells. J Exp Med. 2020 05 04; 217(5). Yang Z, Wu CM, Targ S, Allen CDC. PMID: 32130409.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    2. B Cell Responses: Cell Interaction Dynamics and Decisions. Cell. 2019 04 18; 177(3):524-540. Cyster JG, Allen CDC. PMID: 31002794.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 33     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    3. A case of mistaken identity: The MAR-1 antibody to mouse FceRIa cross-reacts with Fc?RI and Fc?RIV. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2019 04; 143(4):1643-1646.e6. Tang XZ, Jung JB, Allen CDC. PMID: 30639345.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    4. Genetic engineering in primary human B cells with CRISPR-Cas9 ribonucleoproteins. J Immunol Methods. 2018 06; 457:33-40. Wu CM, Roth TL, Baglaenko Y, Ferri DM, Brauer P, Zuniga-Pflucker JC, Rosbe KW, Wither JE, Marson A, Allen CDC. PMID: 29614266.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 9     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    5. Chick cranial neural crest cells use progressive polarity refinement, not contact inhibition of locomotion, to guide their migration. Dev Biol. 2018 12 01; 444 Suppl 1:S252-S261. Genuth MA, Allen CDC, Mikawa T, Weiner OD. PMID: 29501457.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    6. The Affinity of IgE for Antigen is a Primary Determinant of Basophil Activation. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2018 Feb 1; 141(2):ab191. James B. Jung, Christopher D.C. Allen. .
      View in: Publisher Site   Mentions:
    7. Study of IgE-Producing B Cells Using the Verigem Fluorescent Reporter Mouse. Methods Mol Biol. 2018; 1799:247-264. Yang Z, Jung JB, Allen CDC. PMID: 29956157.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCellsPHPublic Health
    8. Expression of Exogenous Genes in Murine Primary B Cells and B Cell Lines Using Retroviral Vectors. Methods Mol Biol. 2018; 1707:39-49. Yang Z, Allen CDC. PMID: 29388098.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    9. The Eph-related tyrosine kinase ligand Ephrin-B1 marks germinal center and memory precursor B cells. J Exp Med. 2017 03 06; 214(3):639-649. Laidlaw BJ, Schmidt TH, Green JA, Allen CD, Okada T, Cyster JG. PMID: 28143955.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 19     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    10. IL-4 Haploinsufficiency Specifically Impairs IgE Responses against Allergens in Mice. J Immunol. 2017 03 01; 198(5):1815-1822. Robinson MJ, Prout M, Mearns H, Kyle R, Camberis M, Forbes-Blom EE, Paul WE, Allen CD, Le Gros G. PMID: 28115531.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    11. Regulation of B cell fate by chronic activity of the IgE B cell receptor. Elife. 2016 12 09; 5. Yang Z, Robinson MJ, Chen X, Smith GA, Taunton J, Liu W, Allen CD. PMID: 27935477.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 13     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    12. Germinal center quality control: death by Fas. Immunity. 2015 May 19; 42(5):783-5. Allen CD. PMID: 25992852.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    13. IgE-activated basophils regulate eosinophil tissue entry by modulating endothelial function. The Journal of Cell Biology. 2015 Mar 30; 208(7):2087oia41. Laurence E. Cheng, Brandon M. Sullivan, Lizett E. Retana, Christopher D.C. Allen, Hong-Erh Liang, Richard M. Locksley. .
      View in: Publisher Site   Mentions:
    14. IgE-activated basophils regulate eosinophil tissue entry by modulating endothelial function. J Exp Med. 2015 Apr 06; 212(4):513-24. Cheng LE, Sullivan BM, Retana LE, Allen CD, Liang HE, Locksley RM. PMID: 25779634.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 16     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    15. Regulatory constraints in the generation and differentiation of IgE-expressing B cells. Curr Opin Immunol. 2014 Jun; 28:64-70. Yang Z, Robinson MJ, Allen CD. PMID: 24632082.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 8     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    16. Germinal Center Centroblasts Transition to a Centrocyte Phenotype According to a Timed Program and Depend on the Dark Zone for Effective Selection. Immunity. 2013 Dec 1; 39(6):1182. Oliver Bannard, Robert M. Horton, Christopher D.C. Allen, Jinping An, Takashi Nagasawa, Jason G. Cyster. .
      View in: Publisher Site   Mentions:
    17. Germinal center centroblasts transition to a centrocyte phenotype according to a timed program and depend on the dark zone for effective selection. Immunity. 2013 Nov 14; 39(5):912-24. Bannard O, Horton RM, Allen CD, An J, Nagasawa T, Cyster JG. PMID: 24184055.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 68     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    18. Fluorescent in vivo detection reveals that IgE(+) B cells are restrained by an intrinsic cell fate predisposition. Immunity. 2012 May 25; 36(5):857-72. Yang Z, Sullivan BM, Allen CD. PMID: 22406270.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 55     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    19. MicroRNA-29 regulates T-box transcription factors and interferon-? production in helper T cells. Immunity. 2011 Aug 26; 35(2):169-81. Steiner DF, Thomas MF, Hu JK, Yang Z, Babiarz JE, Allen CD, Matloubian M, Blelloch R, Ansel KM. PMID: 21820330.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 122     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    20. The sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor S1P2 maintains the homeostasis of germinal center B cells and promotes niche confinement. Nat Immunol. 2011 Jun 05; 12(7):672-80. Green JA, Suzuki K, Cho B, Willison LD, Palmer D, Allen CD, Schmidt TH, Xu Y, Proia RL, Coughlin SR, Cyster JG. PMID: 21642988.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 78     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    21. B cells within germinal centers migrate preferentially from dark to light zone. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 May 24; 108(21):8755-60. Beltman JB, Allen CD, Cyster JG, de Boer RJ. PMID: 21555569.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 17     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    22. Genetic analysis of basophil function in vivo. Nat Immunol. 2011 Jun; 12(6):527-35. Sullivan BM, Liang HE, Bando JK, Wu D, Cheng LE, McKerrow JK, Allen CD, Locksley RM. PMID: 21552267.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 101     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    23. Follicular dendritic cell networks of primary follicles and germinal centers: phenotype and function. Semin Immunol. 2008 Feb; 20(1):14-25. Allen CD, Cyster JG. PMID: 18261920.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 126     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    24. Role of CXCR5 and CCR7 in follicular Th cell positioning and appearance of a programmed cell death gene-1high germinal center-associated subpopulation. J Immunol. 2007 Oct 15; 179(8):5099-108. Haynes NM, Allen CD, Lesley R, Ansel KM, Killeen N, Cyster JG. PMID: 17911595.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 270     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    25. Germinal-center organization and cellular dynamics. Immunity. 2007 Aug; 27(2):190-202. Allen CD, Okada T, Cyster JG. PMID: 17723214.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 311     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    26. Imaging of germinal center selection events during affinity maturation. Science. 2007 Jan 26; 315(5811):528-31. Allen CD, Okada T, Tang HL, Cyster JG. PMID: 17185562.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 265     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    27. TIM-2 is expressed on B cells and in liver and kidney and is a receptor for H-ferritin endocytosis. J Exp Med. 2005 Oct 03; 202(7):955-65. Chen TT, Li L, Chung DH, Allen CD, Torti SV, Torti FM, Cyster JG, Chen CY, Brodsky FM, Niemi EC, Nakamura MC, Seaman WE, Daws MR. PMID: 16203866.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 73     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    28. Germinal center dark and light zone organization is mediated by CXCR4 and CXCR5. Nat Immunol. 2004 Sep; 5(9):943-52. Allen CD, Ansel KM, Low C, Lesley R, Tamamura H, Fujii N, Cyster JG. PMID: 15300245.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 232     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
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