Mary Helen Foster | Scholars@Duke

Mary Helen Foster
Associate Professor of Medicine

Research in the Foster Lab focuses on autoimmune glomerulonephritis, a major cause of acute and chronic kidney disease worldwide.

Our experiments explore the origins and regulation of the pathogenic immune responses that underlie glomerulonephritis, and are designed to: identify tolerance mechanisms that regulate nephritogenic lymphocytes, with an emphasis on B cells and autoantibodies; determine the molecular basis of tolerance; identify defects in immune regulation and the contributions of genetic autoimmune predisposition; and identify environmental disease triggers. These experiments use novel models relevant to immune nephritis in both kidney-restricted and systemic autoimmunity (Goodpasture syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus, respectively), that are amenable to mechanistic dissection using basic immunological, molecular biological, and proteomics approaches. An ultimate goal is to advance novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to improve the lives of patients.

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Associate Professor of Medicine, Medicine, Nephrology, Medicine 2007
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute, Duke Cancer Institute, Institutes and Centers 2013

Contact Information

Duke Box 103015, Durham, NC 27710
MSRBII Second Floor, Rm 2018, 106 Research Drive, Durham, NC 27710
foste027@duke.edu (919) 684-9788

Background
Education, Training, & Certifications
- Fellow in Nephrology, Medicine, Tufts University 1985 - 1989
- Medical Resident, Medicine, University of Virginia 1982 - 1985
- M.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1982
Duke Appointment History
- Member of the Duke Cancer Institute, Duke Cancer Institute, Institutes and Centers 2000 - 2012
- Associate Professor of Medicine, Medicine, Nephrology, Medicine 2001 - 2007
- Instructor, Temporary in the Department of Medicine, Medicine, Nephrology, Medicine 2000
Research
Selected Grants
- Gene-Environment Collaboration in Autoimmune Disease awarded by National Institutes of Health 2017 - 2022
- Duke Training Grant in Nephrology awarded by National Institutes of Health 1995 - 2022
- Dual humanization to model gene-environment interactions in ANCA vasculitis awarded by Vasculitis Foundation 2017 - 2018
- Duke O'Brien Center for Kidney Research awarded by National Institutes of Health 2012 - 2018
- The role of dendritic cell-mediated T cell activation in hypertension awarded by National Institutes of Health 2017
- Training Program in Inflammatory and Immunological Diseases awarded by National Institutes of Health 1980 - 2017
- Mechanism of Silica-induced Autoimmunity awarded by National Institutes of Health 2014 - 2017
- Novel Receptor-Ligand Interactions in Glomerulonephritis awarded by National Institutes of Health 2011 - 2017
- Proximal Determinants of Nephritogenic Autoimmunity awarded by National Institutes of Health 1995 - 2012
- IPA - Ting Yu awarded by Veterans Administration Medical Center 2010
- IPA - Melissa Weston awarded by Veterans Administration Medical Center 2009
Publications & Artistic Works
Selected Publications
- Conference Papers
  - Brady, GF, Mixon, GT, Clark, AG, and Foster, MH. "Tracking immune tolerance in autoimmune susceptible mice." November 2003. Link to Item
  - Foster, MH, Brady, GF, Lobenhofer, EK, and Clark, AG. "Unique gene expression patterns in MRL and B6 tolerant B cells revealed by microarray." April 14, 2003. Link to Item
- Journal Articles
  - Clark, AG, Buckley, ES, and Foster, MH. "Altered toll-like receptor responsiveness underlies a dominant heritable defect in B cell tolerance in autoimmune New Zealand Black mice." European journal of immunology 48, no. 3 (March 2018): 492-497. Full Text
  - Clark, AG, Worni-Schudel, IM, Korte, FM, and Foster, MH. "A murine Ig light chain transgene reveals IGKV3 gene contributions to anti-collagen types IV and II specificities." Molecular Immunology 91 (November 2017): 49-56. Full Text
  - Foster, MH. "Basement membranes and autoimmune diseases." Matrix Biology : Journal of the International Society for Matrix Biology 57-58 (January 2017): 149-168. (Review) Full Text
  - Foster, MH. "Optimizing the translational value of animal models of glomerulonephritis: insights from recent murine prototypes." American Journal of Physiology Renal Physiology 311, no. 3 (September 2016): F487-F495. (Review) Full Text
  - Foster, MH, Buckley, ES, Chen, BJ, Hwang, K-K, and Clark, AG. "Uncommon structural motifs dominate the antigen binding site in human autoantibodies reactive with basement membrane collagen." Molecular immunology 76 (August 2016): 123-133. Full Text
  - Worni-Schudel, IM, Clark, AG, Chien, T, Hwang, K-K, Chen, BJ, and Foster, MH. "Recovery of a human natural antibody against the noncollagenous-1 domain of type IV collagen using humanized models." Journal of translational medicine 13 (June 6, 2015): 185-. Full Text
  - Clark, AG, Weston, ML, and Foster, MH. "Lack of galectin-1 or galectin-3 alters B cell deletion and anergy in an autoantibody transgene model." Glycobiology 23, no. 7 (July 2013): 893-903. Full Text Link to Item
  - Clark, AG, Fan, Q, Brady, GF, Mackin, KM, Coffman, ED, Weston, ML, and Foster, MH. "Regulation of basement membrane-reactive B cells in BXSB, (NZBxNZW)F1, NZB, and MRL/lpr lupus mice." Autoimmunity 46, no. 3 (May 2013): 188-204. Full Text
  - Clark, AG, Mackin, KM, and Foster, MH. "Genetic elimination of α3(IV) collagen fails to rescue anti-collagen B cells." Immunol Lett 141, no. 1 (December 30, 2011): 134-139. Full Text Link to Item
  - Crowley, SD, Vasievich, MP, Ruiz, P, Gould, SK, Parsons, KK, Pazmino, AK, Facemire, C, Chen, BJ, Kim, H-S, Tran, TT, Pisetsky, DS, Barisoni, L, Prieto-Carrasquero, MC, Jeansson, M, Foster, MH, and Coffman, TM. "Glomerular type 1 angiotensin receptors augment kidney injury and inflammation in murine autoimmune nephritis." The Journal of Clinical Investigation 119, no. 4 (April 2009): 943-953. Full Text
  - Zhang, Y, Su, SC, Hecox, DB, Brady, GF, Mackin, KM, Clark, AG, and Foster, MH. "Central tolerance regulates B cells reactive with Goodpasture antigen alpha3(IV)NC1 collagen." J Immunol 181, no. 9 (November 1, 2008): 6092-6100. Link to Item
  - Foster, MH. "Novel targets for immunotherapy in glomerulonephritis." Biologics 2, no. 3 (September 2008): 531-545. Link to Item
  - Clark, AG, Mackin, KM, and Foster, MH. "Tracking Differential Gene Expression in MRL/MpJ Versus C57BL/6 Anergic B Cells: Molecular Markers of Autoimmunity. (Published online)" Biomark Insights 3 (June 10, 2008): 335-350. Link to Item
  - Kelley, VR, Morel, L, and Foster, MH. "Systemic lupus erythematosus and the kidney." Molecular and Genetic Basis of Renal Disease (2008): 509-530. Full Text
  - Clark, AG, Chen, S, Zhang, H, Brady, GF, Ungewitter, EK, Bradley, JK, Sackey, FN, and Foster, MH. "Multifunctional regulators of cell growth are differentially expressed in anergic murine B cells." Molecular Immunology 44, no. 6 (February 2007): 1274-1285. Full Text
  - Foster, MH. "T cells and B cells in lupus nephritis." Semin Nephrol 27, no. 1 (January 2007): 47-58. (Review) Full Text Link to Item
  - Foster, MH, Zhang, Y, and Clark, AG. "Deconstructing B cell tolerance to basement membranes." Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz) 54, no. 4 (July 2006): 227-237. (Review) Full Text Link to Item
  - Amital, H, Heilweil, M, Ulmansky, R, Szafer, F, Bar-Tana, R, Morel, L, Foster, MH, Mostoslavsky, G, Eilat, D, Pizov, G, and Naparstek, Y. "Treatment with a laminin-derived peptide suppresses lupus nephritis." Journal of Immunology 175, no. 8 (2005): 5516-5523.
  - Brady, GF, Congdon, KL, Clark, AG, Sackey, FNA, Rudolph, EH, Radic, MZ, and Foster, MH. "Kappa editing rescues autoreactive B cells destined for deletion in mice transgenic for a dual specific anti-laminin Ig." Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950) 172, no. 9 (May 2004): 5313-5321. Full Text
  - Brady, GF, Congdon, KL, Clark, AG, Sackey, FNA, Rudolph, EH, Radic, MZ, and Foster, MH. "κ Editing Rescues Autoreactive B Cells Destined for Deletion in Mice Transgenic for a Dual Specific Anti-Laminin Ig." Journal of Immunology 172, no. 9 (May 1, 2004): 5313-5321.
  - Foster, MH. "Taking HAART in HIVAN: Will protease inhibitor sparing regimens alter renal outcome?." Kidney International 65, no. 3 (2004): 1105-1106. Full Text
  - Clark, AG, Brady, GF, Sackey, FN, and Foster, MH. "Defining immune tolerance through gene expression profiling." JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEPHROLOGY 13 (September 2002): 348A-348A. Link to Item
  - Congdon, KC, Brady, GF, and Foster, MH. "Complex tolerance phenotypes induced by lupus autoantigens." JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEPHROLOGY 13 (September 2002): 171A-171A. Link to Item
  - Sackey, FN, and Foster, MH. "Dissecting the biochemical basis of tolerance: Role for differential activation of MAPKs, NF-kB and NFAT." JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEPHROLOGY 13 (September 2002): 346A-346A. Link to Item
  - Rudolph, EH, Congdon, KL, Sackey, FNA, Fitzsimons, MM, and Foster, MH. "Humoral autoimmunity to basement membrane antigens is regulated in C57BL/6 and MRL/MpJ mice transgenic for anti-laminin Ig receptors." Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950) 168, no. 11 (June 2002): 5943-5953. Full Text
  - Cooperstone, BG, Rahman, MM, Rudolph, EH, and Foster, MH. "In vitro and in vivo expression of a nephritogenic Ig heavy chain determinant: Pathogenic autoreactivity requires permissive light chains." Immunology and Cell Biology 79, no. 3 (2001): 222-230. Full Text
  - Cohen, DL, Post, J, Ferroggiaro, AA, Perrone, J, and Foster, MH. "Chronic salicylism resulting in noncardiogenic pulmonary edema requiring hemodialysis." American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation 36, no. 3 (2000): E20-.
  - Fitzsimons, MM, Chen, H, and Foster, MH. "Diverse endogenous light chains contribute to basement membrane reactivity in nonautoimmune mice transgenic for an anti-laminin Ig heavy chain." Immunogenetics 51, no. 1 (2000): 20-29.
  - Foster, MH, and Kelley, VR. "Lupus nephritis: update on pathogenesis and disease mechanisms." Semin Nephrol 19, no. 2 (March 1999): 173-181. (Review) Link to Item
  - Foster, MH. "Relevance of systemic lupus erythematosus nephritis animal models to human disease." Seminars in Nephrology 19, no. 1 (1999): 12-24.
  - Kieber-Emmons, T, Lin, C, Foster, MH, and Kleyman, TR. "Antiidiotypic antibody recognizes an amiloride binding domain within the α subunit of the epithelial Na⁺ channel." Journal of Biological Chemistry 274, no. 14 (1999): 9648-9655. Full Text
  - Rosas, SE, Tomaszewski, JE, Feldman, HI, and Foster, MH. "Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type I, mixed cryoglobulinemia and lymphoma in the absence of hepatitis C infection." American Journal of Nephrology 19, no. 5 (1999): 599-604.
  - Foster, MH, Cooperstone, BG, and Chen, H. "Anti-idiotypic monoclonal Ig specific for an anti-laminin Ig heavy chain transgene variable region." Hybridoma 17, no. 4 (1998): 323-329.
  - Foster, MH, and Fitzsimons, MM. "Lupus-like nephrotropic autoantibodies in non-autoimmune mice harboring an anti-basement membrane/anti-DNA Ig heavy chain transgene." Molecular Immunology 35, no. 2 (1998): 83-94. Full Text
  - Fitzsimons, MM, and Foster, MH. "The nephritogenic immune response." Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens 6, no. 3 (May 1997): 267-275. (Review) Link to Item
  - Foster, MH, Liu, Q, Chen, H, Nemazee, D, and Cooperstone, BG. "Anti-laminin reactivity and glomerular immune deposition by in vitro recombinant antibodies." Autoimmunity 26, no. 4 (1997): 231-243.
  - Madaio, MP, Yanase, K, Foster, MH, Smith, RM, Emmons, TK, Fabbi, M, Puccetti, A, and Jarett, L. "Nuclear localization of autoantibodies. Novel insights into protein translocation and cellular function." Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 815 (1997): 263-266. Full Text
  - Vargas, MT, Gustilo, K, D'Andrea, DM, Kalluri, R, Foster, MH, and Madaio, MP. "Structural features of nephritogenic lupus autoantibodies." Methods: A Companion to Methods in Enzymology 11, no. 1 (1997): 62-69. Full Text
  - D'Andrea, DM, Coupaye-Gerard, B, Kleyman, TR, Foster, MH, and Madaio, MP. "Lupus autoantibodies interact directly with distinct glomerular and vascular cell surface antigens." Kidney International 49, no. 5 (1996): 1214-1221.
  - Foster, MH, Kieber-Emmons, T, Ohliger, M, and Madaio, MP. "Molecular and structural analysis of nuclear localizing anti-DNA lupus antibodies." Immunologic Research 13, no. 2-3 (January 1994): 186-206. Full Text
  - Kieber-Emmons, T, Foster, MH, Williams, WV, and Madaio, MP. "Structural properties of a subset of nephritogenic anti-DNA antibodies." Immunologic Research 13, no. 2-3 (1994): 172-185. Full Text
  - Lin, C, Kieber-Emmons, T, Villalobos, AP, Foster, MH, Wahlgren, C, and Kleyman, TR. "Topology of an amiloride-binding protein." Journal of Biological Chemistry 269, no. 4 (1994): 2805-2813.
  - Yanase, K, Smith, RM, Cizman, B, Foster, MH, Peachey, LD, Jarett, L, and Madaio, MP. "A subgroup of murine monoclonal anti-deoxyribonucleic acid antibodies traverse the cytoplasm and enter the nucleus in a time- and temperature- dependent manner." Laboratory Investigation 71, no. 1 (1994): 52-60.
  - Foster, MH, Sabbaga, J, Line, SR, Thompson, KS, Barrett, KJ, and Madaio, MP. "Molecular analysis of spontaneous nephrotropic anti-laminin antibodies in an autoimmune MRL-lpr/lpr mouse." J Immunol 151, no. 2 (July 15, 1993): 814-824. Link to Item
  - Katz, MS, Foster, MH, and Madaio, MP. "Independently derived murine glomerular immune deposit-forming anti-DNA antibodies are encoded by near-identical VH gene sequences." J Clin Invest 91, no. 2 (February 1993): 402-408. Full Text Link to Item
  - Foster, MH, Cizman, B, and Madaio, MP. "Nephritogenic autoantibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus: Immunochemical properties, mechanisms of immune deposition, and genetic origins." Laboratory Investigation 69, no. 5 (1993): 494-507.
  - Vlahakos, DV, Foster, MH, Adams, S, Katz, M, Ucci, AA, Barrett, KJ, Datta, SK, and Madaio, MP. "Anti-DNA antibodies form immune deposits at distinct glomerular and vascular sites." Kidney Int 41, no. 6 (June 1992): 1690-1700. Link to Item
  - Vlahakos, D, Foster, MH, Ucci, AA, Barrett, KJ, Datta, SK, and Madaio, MP. "Murine monoclonal anti-DNA antibodies penetrate cells, bind to nuclei, and induce glomerular proliferation and proteinuria in vivo." J Am Soc Nephrol 2, no. 8 (February 1992): 1345-1354. Link to Item
  - Foster, MH, Madaio, MP, and Barrett, KJ. "Variable region sequence analysis of anti-DNA antibodies: Evidence for a family of closely related germ-line V(H) genes encoding lupus autoantibodies." DNA and Cell Biology 11, no. 3 (1992): 175-182.
  - Foster, MH, MacDonald, M, Barrett, KJ, and Madaio, MP. "VH gene analysis of spontaneously activated B cells in adult MRL-lpr/lpr mice. J558 bias is not limited to classic lupus autoantibodies." J Immunol 147, no. 5 (September 1, 1991): 1504-1511. Link to Item
  - Foster, MH, Sant, GR, Donohoe, JF, and Harrington, JT. "Prolonged survival with a remnant kidney." American Journal of Kidney Diseases 17, no. 3 (1991): 261-265.

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Education, Training, & Certifications

Duke Appointment History

Selected Grants

Selected Publications

Conference Papers

Journal Articles