Nan-Ping Peter Weng, M.D., Ph.D.

Age-associated changes in the adaptive immune system are complex and highly consequential for the health and wellbeing of older humans. What we have learned for the past decades are alterations of compositions of T and B cells and their functions with advance of age. However, the mechanisms underlying these age-related changes in lymphocytes are not fully understood. Our research interests are 1) to identify the key transcriptome and epigenetic changes that causes age-related reduced functions of CD8 T cells including both naïve and memory cells. We are applying the genomic and molecular techniques and methods including RNAseq, scRNAse, ATACseq and ChIPseq to analyze human and mouse T cells; 2) to determine the size of general and antigen-specific ab TCR repertoires and their changes with age. We have incorporated tetramer staining and cell sort to isolate antigen specific CD8 T cells for their repertoire and individual TCR structure and function analyses using deep sequencing and x-ray crystal structures; and 3) to elucidate the role of telomere and telomerase in regulation of lymphocyte proliferation and function in human longitudinal follow-up samples as well as genetically modified mouse models. Collectively, we hope to elucidate the mechanisms underlying age-associated changes in T cells.

Dr. Weng received his M.D. from Fudan University Shanghai Medical College (former Shanghai First Medical College), China in 1984 and Ph.D. in Immunology from Baylor College of Medicine in 1993. He obtained his postdoctoral training at National Cancer Institute, NIH. He joined the Laboratory of Immunology at NIA as a tenure-track investigator in 1997 and was tenured in 2006.