Michael S Kuhns, PhD

Interim co-Chair, Immunobiology

Professor, Immunobiology

Professor, BIO5 Institute

Professor, Genetics - GIDP

Member of the Graduate Faculty

Professor, Cancer Biology - GIDP

Senior Scientific Advisor, Center for Advanced Molecular & Immuno Therapies

Building Address:
1656 E. Mabel Street
P.O. Box 245221
Tucson, AZ 85724-5221
Room 224, MRB

Location:
Medical Research Building
Suite 224

(520) 626-6461

mkuhns@arizona.edu

Links

Kuhns Lab

Bibliography Links

Michael Kuhns did his PhD training with James Allison at UC Berkeley studying the role that CTLA-4 plays in regulating CD4 T cell responses. He then went on to Stanford University for his postdoctoral studies with Mark Davis, studying the architecture and function of the TCR-CD3 complex, and joined the Department of Immunobiology at the University of Arizona in 2010. When in search of a mental diversion, he enjoys mountain biking and hiking in the local desert and sky islands.

Degrees

BS: University of Arizona
PhD: University of California, Berkeley

Work Experience

Post-doctoral Fellow: Stanford University

Research Interests

T cell Biology and Synthetic Receptor Engineering

Publications

Lee, Mark S, Tuohy, Peter J, Kim, Caleb Y, et al. The CD4 transmembrane GGXXG and juxtamembrane (C/F)CV+C motifs mediate pMHCII-specific signaling independently of CD4-LCK interactions. Elife. 2024;12. doi:10.7554/eLife.88225

Lee, Mark S, Tuohy, Peter J, Kim, Caleb Y, et al. Enhancing and inhibitory motifs regulate CD4 activity. Elife. 2022;11. doi:10.7554/eLife.79508

Kim, Caleb Y, Parrish, Heather L, Kuhns, Michael S. The TCR Cα Domain Regulates Responses to Self-pMHC Class II. J Immunol. 2022;209(10):2033-2041. doi:10.4049/jimmunol.2200377

Kobayashi, Shio, Thelin, Martin A, Parrish, Heather L, et al. A biomimetic five-module chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) designed to target and eliminate antigen-specific T cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020;117(46):28950-28959. doi:10.1073/pnas.2012495117

Deshpande, Neha R, Uhrlaub, Jennifer L, Way, Sing Sing, Nikolich-Zugich, Janko, Kuhns, Michael S. A disconnect between precursor frequency, expansion potential, and site-specific CD4+ T cell responses in aged mice. PLoS One. 2018;13(6):e0198354. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0198354

Lichauco, Katrina, Lee, Mark S, Kuhns, Michael S. Bonds Voyage! A Dissociative Model of TCR-CD3 Triggering Is Proposed. Immunity. 2018;49(5):786-788. doi:10.1016/j.immuni.2018.11.008

Glassman, Caleb R, Parrish, Heather L, Lee, Mark S, Kuhns, Michael S. Reciprocal TCR-CD3 and CD4 Engagement of a Nucleating pMHCII Stabilizes a Functional Receptor Macrocomplex. Cell Rep. 2018;22(5):1263-1275. doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2017.12.104

Parrish, Heather L, Glassman, Caleb R, Keenen, Madeline M, Deshpande, Neha R, Bronnimann, Matthew P, Kuhns, Michael S. Correction: A Transmembrane Domain GGxxG Motif in CD4 Contributes to Its Lck-Independent Function but Does Not Mediate CD4 Dimerization. PLoS One. 2016;11(3):e0150876. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0150876

Bethune, Michael T, Gee, Marvin H, Bunse, Mario, et al. Domain-swapped T cell receptors improve the safety of TCR gene therapy. Elife. 2016;5. doi:10.7554/eLife.19095

Parrish, Heather L, Deshpande, Neha R, Vasic, Jelena, Kuhns, Michael S. Functional evidence for TCR-intrinsic specificity for MHCII. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. Published online January 1, 2016. doi:10.1073/pnas.1518499113