About

Michael Lipscomb, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Minnesota. He received his B.S. degree from the University of California Los Angeles with a focus on Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, and earned his Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of Pittsburgh. His postdoctoral training was conducted at the University of Pennsylvania and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Lipscomb joined the Department of Pharmacology in 2022, having previously been a faculty member at Howard University, and is affiliated with the Center for Immunology. His research employs both basic and translational approaches to understand the immunoregulatory networks that govern antigen-presenting myeloid cell development and function. His investigations focus on defining the roles of novel genes that regulate dendritic cells, monocytes, and macrophages, particularly examining intracellular signaling events such as modulation of Ca2+ and cyclic nucleotides levels, activation and inactivation of protein kinases, and post-translational modifications that influence downstream functional responses. Additionally, his lab studies how antigen-presenting myeloid cells contribute to autoimmune disorders, exploring inflammatory regulating genes within the MHC class III locus and their collective impact on autoimmune pathologies. The laboratory also employs biomaterial compounds seeded with immune cells to generate new organoid structures aimed at tissue restoration for immunodeficiency disorders.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Sociology
• Environmental health
• Internal medicine
• Demography
• Biology
• Endocrinology
• Bioinformatics
• Cell biology
• Immunology
• Geography
• Socioeconomics

Selected publications

• COVID-19 vaccination shifts neutrophils toward a mixed activated and regulatory phenotype in patients with severe disease

  Molecular Biology Reports · 2026-04-11

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: Dysregulation of the innate immune response to SARS-CoV-2 has been linked to poor outcomes in COVID-19. Neutrophils are key players in this response, displaying distinct functional profiles associated with disease severity. This study investigates how neutrophil phenotypes, and their mediators are modulated in severe COVID-19 following vaccination. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted an observational case-control study using clinical data, serum samples, and circulating neutrophils from patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19. Neutrophils from vaccinated patients exhibited increased expression of surface markers including TREM-1, CD182, HLA-DR, and PD-L1, alongside higher HLA-DR mean fluorescence intensity (MFI). These cells also showed a higher proportion of inflammatory (CD16⁺CD182⁺TREM-1⁺) and immunoregulatory (HLA-DR⁺PD-L1⁺) subsets compared to non-vaccinated individuals. Exploratory principal component analysis (PCA) revealed a trend toward separation of vaccinated and non-vaccinated groups, suggestively driven by inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, GM-CSF, IL-18) and neutrophil surface markers (HLA-DR, PD-L1, TREM-1, CD16). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that prior COVID-19 vaccination is associated with a distinct neutrophil activation profile in patients with severe disease, characterized by the concomitant expression of pro-inflammatory and immunoregulatory markers. This immune phenotype may reflect a more balanced inflammatory response during severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. These findings open avenues for future studies incorporating functional assays and larger, independent cohorts to confirm and extend the biological and clinical relevance of these observations.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Genealogy

  Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks · 2024-03-12

  book-chapter1st authorCorresponding

  This essay examines genealogy as a critical-theoretical tool of analysis as it is developed in the work of Friedrich Nietzsche and Michel Foucault. Particular attention is given to the ways in which genealogy both augments and challenges the materialist tradition inaugurated by Karl Marx and what that elaboration means for the living tradition of critical political theory.

  PublisherDOI

• Implantation of Islets Co-Seeded with Tregs in a Novel Biomaterial Reverses Diabetes in the NOD Mouse Model

  Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine · 2024-12-30 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Abstract Background: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) results in autoreactive T cells chronically destroying pancreatic islets. This often results in irreplaceable loss of insulin-producing beta cells. To reverse course, a combinatorial strategy of employing glucose-responsive insulin restoration coupled with inhibiting autoreactive immune responses is required. Methods: Non-obese diabetic mice received a single intraperitoneal implantation of a novel biomaterial co-seeded with insulin-producing islets and T regulatory cells (Tregs). Controls included biomaterial seeded solely with islets, or biomaterial only groups. Mice were interrogated for changes in inflammation and diabetes progression via blood glucose monitoring, multiplex serum cytokine profiling, flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry assessments. Results: Islet and Tregs co-seeded biomaterial recipients had increased longevity, insulin secretion, and normoglycemia through 180 days post-implantation compared to controls. Serum profile revealed reduced TNFα, IFNγ, IL-1β and increased IL-10, insulin, C-Peptide, PP and PPY in recipients receiving co-seeded biomaterial. Evaluation of the resected co-seeded biomaterial revealed reduced infiltrating autoreactive CD8 + and CD4 + T cells concomitant with sustained presence of Foxp3 + Tregs; further analysis revealed that the few infiltrated resident effector CD4 + or CD8 + T cells were anergic, as measured by low levels of IFNγ and Granzyme-B upon stimulation when compared to controls. Interestingly, studies also revealed increased Tregs in the pancreas. However, there was no restoration of the pancreas beta cell compartment, suggesting normoglycemia and production of insulin levels were largely supported by the implanted co-seeded biomaterial. Conclusion: These studies show the efficacy of a combinatorial approach seeding Tregs with pancreatic islets in a novel self-assembling organoid for reversing T1D.

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• Spatial and temporal modeling of the global burden of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Brazil: A 21-year ecological study

  PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2024-11-20 · 5 citations

  articleOpen accessCorresponding

  BACKGROUND: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected tropical disease endemic in Brazil. Morbidity and disabilities caused by CL lesions require an analysis of a Global Burden of Disease (GBD), which would help discern the impact on the Brazilian population. Herein, we assess the burden of CL and its spatial and temporal patterns in Brazil between 2001 and 2021. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We estimated rates per 100,000 population for years lived with disabilities (YLD), years of life lost prematurely (YLL) and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) for each year of the study, sex assigned at birth, age group, and for each municipality in Brazil. In addition, the relative changes in these metrics over time for each region and sex were determined, as well as temporal trends using segmented joinpoint regression models. Using spatiotemporal analysis tools, we created choropleth maps representing DALY, YLD and YLL for three distinct periods (P1 = 2001 to 2007; P2 = 2008 to 2014; P3 = 2015 to 2021). These maps were constructed to visualize the inferences from Bayesian spatial statistics and Moran's autocorrelation using the Poisson model. The data were obtained from the DATASUS database. Although the global burden of CL has reduced over two decades, with the continual high impact among adults aged 20 to 39 years. In turn, YLL increased over time in 40-year-old populations, while among the elderly (>60 years old) this rate almost doubled from 2010 to 2021. Regarding the region of residence, we observed an average increase of 28% in YLL in Southeast, South and Central-West. Furthermore, the global burden of CL does not have a random spatial distribution, since there was a high-risk clustering of YLD in the north of the country. Interestingly, the YLL showed a vast geographic expansion through Brazilian territory. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the burden of CL in Brazil, pointing out areas of highest disease burden, where control and surveillance efforts should be undertaken.

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• Spatial and temporal modeling of the global burden of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Brazil: a 21-year ecological study

  LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · 2024-01-01

  articleOpen access

  Universidade Federal de Sergipe. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde. Aracaju, SE, Brasil.

  Publisher

• Obesity in Severe COVID-19 Patients Has a Distinct Innate Immune Phenotype

  Biomedicines · 2023-07-27 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  Obesity alters the capacity of effective immune responses in infections. To further address this phenomenon in the context of COVID-19, this study investigated how the immunophenotype of leukocytes was altered in individuals with obesity in severe COVID-19. This cross-sectional study enrolled 27 ICU COVID-19 patients (67% women, 56.33 ± 19.55 years) that were assigned to obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, n = 9) or non-obese (BMI < 30kg/m2, n = 18) groups. Monocytes, NK, and both Low-Density (LD) and High-Density (HD) neutrophils were isolated from peripheral blood samples, and surface receptors’ frequency and expression patterns were analyzed by flow cytometry. Clinical status and biochemical data were additionally evaluated. The frequency of monocytes was negatively correlated with BMI, while NK cells and HD neutrophils were positively associated (p < 0.05). Patients with obesity showed a significant reduction of monocytes, and these cells expressed high levels of PD-L1 (p < 0.05). A higher frequency of NK cells and increased expression of TREM-1+ on HD neutrophils were detected in obese patients (p < 0.05). The expression of receptors related to antigen-presentation, phagocytosis, chemotaxis, inflammation and suppression were strongly correlated with clinical markers only in obese patients (p < 0.05). Collectively, these outcomes revealed that obesity differentially affected, and largely depressed, innate immune response in severe COVID-19.

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• sTREM-1 and TNF-α levels are associated with the clinical outcome of leprosy patients

  Frontiers in Medicine · 2023-06-29 · 5 citations

  articleOpen access

  Leprosy reaction (LR) and physical disability (PD) are the most significant clinical complications of leprosy. Herein, we assessed the circulating serum-sTREM-1 and TNF-α levels and their genetic polymorphisms in leprosy. Serum-sTREM-1 and TNF-α levels were measured in leprosy patients (LP) before treatment ( n = 51) and from their household contacts (HHCs; n = 25). DNA samples were genotyped using TREM-1 rs2234246 and TNF-α rs1800629-SNP in 210 LPs and 168 endemic controls. The circulating sTREM-1 and TNF-α levels are higher in the multibacillary form. The ROC curve of the serum-sTREM-1 levels was able to differentiate LR from non-LR and PD from non-PD. Similarly, LPs with serum-sTREM-1 levels >210 pg/ml have 3-fold and 6-fold higher chances of presenting with LR and PD, respectively. Genotypes CC+CT of the TREM-1 were associated with leprosy. Taken together, our analyses indicated that sTREM-1 and TNF-α play an important role in the pathogenesis of leprosy and provide promising biomarkers to assist in the diagnosis of leprosy complications.

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• The increase in SARS-CoV-2 lineages during 2020–2022 in a state in the Brazilian Northeast is associated with a number of cases

  Frontiers in Public Health · 2023-12-14 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  SARS-CoV-2 has caused a high number of deaths in several countries. In Brazil, there were 37 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 700,000 deaths caused by the disease. The population size and heterogeneity of the Brazilian population should be considered in epidemiological surveillance due to the varied tropism of the virus. As such, municipalities and states must be factored in for their unique specificities, such as socioeconomic conditions and population distribution. Here, we investigate the spatiotemporal dispersion of emerging SARS-CoV-2 lineages and their dynamics in each microregion from Sergipe state, northeastern Brazil, in the first 3 years of the pandemic. We analyzed 586 genomes sequenced between March 2020 and November 2022 extracted from the GISAID database. Phylogenetic analyses were carried out for each data set to reconstruct evolutionary history. Finally, the existence of a correlation between the number of lineages and infection cases by SARS-CoV-2 was evaluated. Aracaju, the largest city in northeastern Brazil, had the highest number of samples sequenced. This represented 54.6% (320) of the genomes, and consequently, the largest number of lineages identified. Studies also analyzed the relationship between mean lineage distributions and mean monthly infections, daily cases, daily deaths, and hospitalizations of vaccinated and unvaccinated patients. For this, a correlation matrix was created. Results revealed that the increase in the average number of SARS-CoV-2 variants was related to the average number of SARS-CoV-2 cases in both unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals. Thus, our data indicate that it is necessary to maintain epidemiological surveillance, especially in capital cities, since they have a high rate of circulation of resident and non-resident inhabitants, which contributes to the dynamics of the virus.

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• Influence of Testosterone in Neglected Tropical Diseases: Clinical Aspects in Leprosy and In Vitro Experiments in Leishmaniasis

  Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease · 2023-07-10 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  Neglected tropical diseases encompass a group of chronic and debilitating infectious diseases that primarily affect marginalized populations. Among these diseases, leprosy and leishmaniasis are endemic in numerous countries and can result in severe and disfiguring manifestations. Although there have been reports indicating a higher incidence of leprosy and leishmaniasis in males, the underlying factors contributing to this observation remain unclear. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine both clinical and experimental evidence regarding the role of testosterone in leprosy and leishmaniasis. A prospective clinical study was conducted to compare the clinical forms of leprosy and assess circulating testosterone levels. Additionally, the impact of testosterone on Leishmania amazonensis-infected macrophages was evaluated in vitro. The findings demonstrated that serum testosterone levels were higher in women with leprosy than in the control group, irrespective of the multi- or pauci-bacillary form of the disease. However, no differences in testosterone levels were observed in men when comparing leprosy patients and controls. Interestingly, increasing doses of testosterone in macrophages infected with L. amazonensis resulted in a higher proportion of infected cells, decreased CD40 expression on the cell surface, elevated expression of SOCS1, and decreased expression of IRF5. These findings provide biological evidence to support the influence of testosterone on intracellular infections, though the interpretation of clinical evidence remains limited.

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• Use of N-acetylcysteine as treatment adjuvant regulates immune response in visceral leishmaniasis: Pilot clinical trial and in vitro experiments

  Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology · 2022-11-24 · 7 citations

  articleOpen access

  This investigation aimed to assess the effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) as an adjuvant treatment to alleviate visceral leishmaniasis (VL). The present work includes both blinded randomized clinical intervention and experimental in vitro studies. The clinical trial included 60 patients with VL randomly allocated into two groups: a test group (n = 30) treated with meglumine antimoniate plus NAC (SbV + NAC) and a control group (n = 30) treated with meglumine antimoniate only (SbV). The primary outcome was clinical cure (absence of fever, spleen and liver sizes reduction, and hematological improvement) in 180 days. The cure rate did not differ between the groups; both groups had similar results in all readout indices. The immunological parameters of the patients treated with SbV + NAC showed higher sCD40L in sera during treatment, and the levels of sCD40L were negatively correlated with Interleukin-10 (IL-10) serum levels. In addition, data estimation showed a negative correlation between the sCD40L levels and the spleen size in patients with VL. For the in vitro experiments, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) or PBMC-derived macrophages from healthy donors were exposed to soluble Leishmania antigen (SLA) or infected with stationary promastigotes of Leishmania infantum in the presence or absence of NAC. Results revealed that NAC treatment of SLA-stimulated PBMCs reduces the frequency of monocytes producing IL-10 and lowers the frequency of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells expressing (pro-)inflammatory cytokines. Together, these results suggest that NAC treatment may modulate the immune response in patients with VL, thus warranting additional investigations to support its case use as an adjuvant to antimony therapy for VL.

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Recent grants

• Crosstalk and the cytoskeleton in dendritic cell antigen presentation

  NIH · $441k · 2015–2018

• Development of tolerogenic dendritic cell-based immunotherapies and restorative insulin approaches to alleviate type 1 diabetes

  NIH · $1.5M · 2018–2022

Frequent coauthors

• Tatiana Rodrigues de Moura

  Universidade Federal de Sergipe

  14 shared

• Lucas Sousa Magalhães

  13 shared

• Amélia Ribeiro de Jesus

  Universidade Federal de Sergipe

  13 shared

• Diana M. Elizondo

  13 shared

• Roque Pacheco de Almeida

  12 shared

• Ricardo Luís Louzada da Silva

  Universidade Federal de Sergipe

  11 shared

• Janis K. Burkhardt

  Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

  9 shared

• Márcio Bezerra Santos

  8 shared

Labs

• Center for Emerging VirusesPI

  Not provided