Associate Professor Kate Gartlan

Honorary Associate Professor

Royal Brisbane Clinical Unit
Faculty of Medicine

Overview

Dr Kate Gartlan is an immunologist with considerable expertise in cellular immunology, particularly using in vivo models of inflammation to investigate immune-modulation and T cell polarisation. Dr Gartlan began her research career at WEHI within Professor Ken Shortman’s laboratory developing strong skills in both molecular and cell biology, where she became interested in the early factors that influence adaptive immunity. She completed her PhD in 2009 at the Burnet Institute working with Associate Professor Mark Wright, where she studied functional redundancy between Tetraspanin proteins in the immune system. To advance her understanding of inflammatory mediators and adaptive immune polarisation, she moved to the University of Oxford and took up a postdoctoral position within the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology. Working with Professor Quentin Sattentau, she investigated novel ways to modulate T cell polarisation and influence B cell responses to HIV vaccines.

After returning to Australia, she has worked with Professor Geoff Hill at QIMR Berghofer investigating novel therapies to treat graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in allograft recipients. Dr Gartlan has held active teaching roles within both university and research institute environments, contributing to undergraduate science and medicine programs at both departmental and college levels.

Her main research interests at present surround the role of IL-17 & IL-22 in GVHD, potential therapeutics to modulate T cell polarisation after allogeneic bone marrow/stem cell transplant (BMT/SCT), as well as developing novel inhibitors of graft rejection to improve engraftment after BMT/SCT.

Publications

  • Gartlan, Kate H., Koyama, Motoko, Lineburg, Katie E., Chang, Karshing, Ensbey, Kathleen S., Kuns, Rachel D., Henden, Andrea S., Samson, Luke D., Clouston, Andrew D., Lopez, Angel F., MacDonald, Kelli P. A. and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2019). Donor T-cell–derived GM-CSF drives alloantigen presentation by dendritic cells in the gastrointestinal tract. Blood Advances, 3 (19), 2859-2865. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2019000053

  • Wilkinson, Andrew N., Chang, Karshing, Kuns, Rachel D., Henden, Andrea S., Minnie, Simone A., Ensbey, Kathleen S., Clouston, Andrew D., Zhang, Ping, Koyama, Motoko, Hidalgo, Juan, Rose-John, Stefan, Varelias, Antiopi, Vuckovic, Slavica, Gartlan, Kate H. and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2019). IL-6 dysregulation originates in dendritic cells and initiates graft-versus-host disease via classical signaling. Blood, 134 (23), 2092-2106. doi: 10.1182/blood.2019000396

  • Gartlan, Kate H., Bommiasamy, Hemamalini, Paz, Katelyn, Wilkinson, Andrew N., Owen, Mary, Reichenbach, Dawn K., Banovic, Tatjana, Wehner, Kimberly, Buchanan, Faith, Varelias, Antiopi, Kuns, Rachel D., Chang, Karshing, Fedoriw, Yuri, Shea, Thomas, Coghill, James, Zaiken, Michael, Plank, Maximilian W., Foster, Paul S., Clouston, Andrew D., Blazar, Bruce R., Serody, Jonathan S. and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2017). A critical role for donor-derived IL-22 in cutaneous chronic GVHD. American Journal of Transplantation , 18 (4), 810-820. doi: 10.1111/ajt.14513

  • Gartlan, Kate H., Markey, Kate A., Varelias, Antiopi, Bunting, Mark D., Koyama, Motoko, Kuns, Rachel D., Raffelt, Neil C., Olver, Stuart D., Lineburg, Katie E., Cheong, Melody, Teal, Bianca E., Lor, Mary, Comerford, Iain, Teng, Michele W. L., Smyth, Mark J., McCluskey, James, Rossjohn, Jamie, Stockinger, Brigitta, Boyle, Glen M., Lane, Steven W., Clouston, Andrew D., McColl, Shaun R., MacDonald, Kelli P. A. and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2015). Tc17 cells are a proinflammatory, plastic lineage of pathogenic CD8+ T cells that induce GVHD without antileukemic effects. Blood, 126 (13), 1609-1620. doi: 10.1182/blood-2015-01-622662

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Supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

  • (2019) Doctor Philosophy

  • (2019) Doctor Philosophy

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Available Projects

  • Background: Stem cell/bone marrow transplantation (SCT/BMT) is an important curative therapy for haematological malignancies and disorders; however graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and infection are two major complications of this procedure. Whilst it is well established that viral and bacterial infections influence GVHD pathogenesis, the impact of fungal infection after transplant is poorly understood. In non-transplant settings, adaptive immune responses to fungal infections are commonly associated with IL-17 production by T cells that enhance anti-fungal immunity. However our laboratory and others have demonstrated that the IL-17 differentiation pathway is pathogenic in the context of allotransplantation. We are offering a project designed to understand the relationship between fungal infection and GVHD outcomes.

    Aims: This project aims to 1) establish an in vivo infection model that can be used in conjunction with bone marrow transplant in pre-clinical experimental systems. 2) Explore the relationship between fungal infection, T cell polarisation and GVHD.

    Significance: Once established, this model will be the first of its kind and will be an important tool to examine the influence of infection on inflammatory diseases.

    Suitability: This project would suit a PhD student.

    Supervisors: Dr Kate Gartlan (Kate.Gartlan@qimrberghofer.edu.au) and Prof Geoff Hill (Geoff.Hill@qimrberghofer.edu.au)

  • Background: Stem cell transplantation (SCT) is an effective cancer treatment, however its application is limited by graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), which has a major impact on patient morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, GVHD severity and tumour clearance are positively correlated and therefore new therapies designed to reduce GVHD must be targeted, such that anti-tumour immunity is maintained. Donor T cell polarization is a critical factor influencing the severity and tissue distribution of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and the potency of graft-versus-leukaemia (GVL) effects after allo-SCT. We have identified a pathogenic donor T cell differentiation program that exacerbates GVHD without contributing to tumour clearance, which is characterised by a unique transcription factor expression profile.

    Aims: This study will 1) examine T cell transcription factor expression after allo-SCT in both murine and clinical samples, and 2) utilise a small molecule inhibitor that modulates transcription factor expression to assess its therapeutic potential in the context of GVHD.

    Significance: This therapeutic approach is highly novel and will provide the first essential proof-of-concept data to support small molecule modulation of T cell polarisation as a method for GVHD prevention and treatment.

    Suitability: This project would suit either Honours or PhD students.

    Supervisors: Dr Kate Gartlan (Kate.Gartlan@qimrberghofer.edu.au) and Prof Geoff Hill (Geoff.Hill@qimrberghofer.edu.au)

  • Background: Micro RNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules (~25 nucleotides) known to play an important role in regulating inflammation. Therefore miRNA may be a novel target to treat inflammatory diseases such as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). GVHD develops in >50% of leukaemia patients that receive a donor stem cell/bone marrow transplant (SCT/BMT). GVHD has a major impact on the mortality and quality-of-life for these cancer survivors, however treatment options are very limited and steroid refractory GVHD patients (~20%) have particularly high mortality rates. Unfortunately, GVHD severity and tumour clearance are positively correlated, which means a balance must be struck between providing anti-tumour immunity and reducing the risks associated with GVHD. Our laboratory is therefore investigating novel therapeutics such as miRNAs to modulate inflammatory responses after BMT/SCT.

    Aims: We are currently offering a project designed to 1) characterise miRNA expression profiles in patient serum after BMT/SCT and 2) to evaluate potential inflammatory biomarkers of GVHD.

    Significance: New therapies are urgently needed to minimise the effects of GVHD after donor SCT/BMT. This project will use molecular and cell biology techniques and clinical samples to identify potential new targets for GVHD immunotherapy.

    Suitability: This project would suit either Honours or PhD students.

    Supervisors: Dr Kate Gartlan (Kate.Gartlan@qimrberghofer.edu.au) and Prof Geoff Hill (Geoff.Hill@qimrberghofer.edu.au)

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Publications

Featured Publications

  • Gartlan, Kate H., Koyama, Motoko, Lineburg, Katie E., Chang, Karshing, Ensbey, Kathleen S., Kuns, Rachel D., Henden, Andrea S., Samson, Luke D., Clouston, Andrew D., Lopez, Angel F., MacDonald, Kelli P. A. and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2019). Donor T-cell–derived GM-CSF drives alloantigen presentation by dendritic cells in the gastrointestinal tract. Blood Advances, 3 (19), 2859-2865. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2019000053

  • Wilkinson, Andrew N., Chang, Karshing, Kuns, Rachel D., Henden, Andrea S., Minnie, Simone A., Ensbey, Kathleen S., Clouston, Andrew D., Zhang, Ping, Koyama, Motoko, Hidalgo, Juan, Rose-John, Stefan, Varelias, Antiopi, Vuckovic, Slavica, Gartlan, Kate H. and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2019). IL-6 dysregulation originates in dendritic cells and initiates graft-versus-host disease via classical signaling. Blood, 134 (23), 2092-2106. doi: 10.1182/blood.2019000396

  • Gartlan, Kate H., Bommiasamy, Hemamalini, Paz, Katelyn, Wilkinson, Andrew N., Owen, Mary, Reichenbach, Dawn K., Banovic, Tatjana, Wehner, Kimberly, Buchanan, Faith, Varelias, Antiopi, Kuns, Rachel D., Chang, Karshing, Fedoriw, Yuri, Shea, Thomas, Coghill, James, Zaiken, Michael, Plank, Maximilian W., Foster, Paul S., Clouston, Andrew D., Blazar, Bruce R., Serody, Jonathan S. and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2017). A critical role for donor-derived IL-22 in cutaneous chronic GVHD. American Journal of Transplantation , 18 (4), 810-820. doi: 10.1111/ajt.14513

  • Gartlan, Kate H., Markey, Kate A., Varelias, Antiopi, Bunting, Mark D., Koyama, Motoko, Kuns, Rachel D., Raffelt, Neil C., Olver, Stuart D., Lineburg, Katie E., Cheong, Melody, Teal, Bianca E., Lor, Mary, Comerford, Iain, Teng, Michele W. L., Smyth, Mark J., McCluskey, James, Rossjohn, Jamie, Stockinger, Brigitta, Boyle, Glen M., Lane, Steven W., Clouston, Andrew D., McColl, Shaun R., MacDonald, Kelli P. A. and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2015). Tc17 cells are a proinflammatory, plastic lineage of pathogenic CD8+ T cells that induce GVHD without antileukemic effects. Blood, 126 (13), 1609-1620. doi: 10.1182/blood-2015-01-622662

Journal Article

  • Zhang, ping, Gartlan, Kate H, Minnie, Simone A, Yeh, Albert, Takahashi, Shuichiro, Atilla, Erden, Nemychenkov, Nicole S, Boiko, Julie R, Schmidt, Christine R, Legg, Samuel RW, Sekiguchi, Tomoko, Ensbey, Kathleen S, Koyama, Motoko, Furlan, Scott N and Hill, Geoffrey R (2023). Type-1 regulatory T cells are critical for curative immunotherapy outcomes. The Journal of Immunology, 210 (1_Supplement), 173.11-173.11. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.210.supp.173.11

  • Browne, Daniel J., Liang, Fang, Gartlan, Kate H., Harris, Patrick N. A., Hill, Geoffrey R., Corrie, Simon R. and Markey, Kate A. (2022). Multiplex microsphere PCR (mmPCR) allows simultaneous gram typing, detection of fungal DNA, and antibiotic resistance genes. Laboratory Medicine, 53 (5), 459-464. doi: 10.1093/labmed/lmac023

  • Gartlan, Kate H., Jaiswal, Jagdish K., Bull, Matthew R., Akhlaghi, Hedieh, Sutton, Vivien R., Alexander, Kylie A., Chang, Karshing, Hill, Geoffrey R., Miller, Christian K., O'Connor, Patrick D., Jose, Jiney, Trapani, Joseph A., Charman, Susan A., Spicer, Julie A. and Jamieson, Stephen M. F. (2022). Preclinical activity and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relationship for a series of novel benzenesulfonamide perforin inhibitors. ACS Pharmacology and Translational Science, 5 (6), 429-439. doi: 10.1021/acsptsci.2c00009

  • Henden, Andrea S., Koyama, Motoko, Robb, Renee J., Forero, Adriana, Kuns, Rachel D., Chang, Karshing, Ensbey, Kathleen S., Varelias, Antiopi, Kazakoff, Stephen H., Waddell, Nicole, Clouston, Andrew D., Giri, Rabina, Begun, Jakob, Blazar, Bruce R., Degli-Esposti, Mariapia A., Kotenko, Sergei V., Lane, Steven W., Bowerman, Kate L., Savan, Ram, Hugenholtz, Philip, Gartlan, Kate H. and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2021). IFN-λ therapy prevents severe gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease. Blood, 138 (8), 722-737. doi: 10.1182/blood.2020006375

  • Mithraprabhu, Sridurga, Kalff, Anna, Gartlan, Kate H., Savvidou, Ioanna, Khong, Tiffany, Ramachandran, Malarmathy, Cooke, Rachel E., Bowen, Kathryn, Hill, Geoffrey R., Reynolds, John and Spencer, Andrew (2021). Phase II trial of single-agent panobinostat consolidation improves responses after sub-optimal transplant outcomes in multiple myeloma. British Journal of Haematology, 193 (1), 160-170. doi: 10.1111/bjh.17080

  • Kennedy, Glen, Tey, Siok-Keen, Buizen, Luke, Varelias, Antiopi, Gartlan, Kate H., Curley, Cameron, Olver, Stuart, Chang, Karshing, Butler, Jason, Misra, Ashish, Subramoniapillai, Elango, Morton, Anthony, Durrant, Simon, Henden, Andrea S, Moore, John, Ritchie, David S, Gottlieb, David, Cooney, Julian P, Paul, Sanjoy K and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2021). A phase 3 double-blind study of the addition of tocilizumab versus placebo to cyclosporin/methotrexate GvHD prophylaxis. Blood, 137 (14), 1970-1979. doi: 10.1182/blood.2020009050

  • Cheong, Melody, Gartlan, Kate H., Lee, Jason S., Tey, Siok-Keen, Zhang, Ping, Kuns, Rachel D., Andoniou, Christopher E., Martins, Jose Paulo, Chang, Karshing, Sutton, Vivien R., Kelly, Greg, Varelias, Antiopi, Vuckovic, Slavica, Markey, Kate A., Boyle, Glen M., Smyth, Mark J., Engwerda, Christian R., MacDonald, Kelli P.A., Trapani, Joseph A., Degli-Esposti, Mariapia A., Koyama, Motoko and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2020). ASC modulates CTL cytotoxicity and transplant outcome independent of the inflammasome. Cancer Immunology Research, 8 (8), 1085-1098. doi: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-19-0653

  • Gartlan, Kate H, Wilkinson, Andrew, Chang, Karshing, Kuns, Rachel D, Henden, Andrea, Minnie, Simone A, Ensbey, Kathleen S, Clouston, Andrew, Zhang, Ping, Koyama, Motoko, Hidalgo, Juan, Rose-John, Stefan, Varelias, Antiopi, Vuckovic, Slavica and Hill, Geoffrey R (2020). Diverse IL-6 signalling modalities drive pathogenic T cell differentiation and graft-versus-host-disease after allotransplantation. The Journal of Immunology, 204 (1_Supplement), 87.33-87.33. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.204.supp.87.33

  • Minnie, Simone A, Kuns, Rachel D, Ensbey, Kathleen S, Samson, Luke D, Chesi, Marta, Gartlan, Kate H, Smyth, Mark J, Vuckovic, Slavica and Hill, Geoffrey R (2020). Posttransplant cyclophosphamide as a platform for immunotherapy after allogeneic stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma. The Journal of Immunology, 204 (1_Supplement), 87.30-87.30. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.204.supp.87.30

  • Minnie, S. A., Kuns, R. D. and Gartlan, K. H. (2019). Erratum: Myeloma escape after stem cell transplantation is a consequence of T-cell exhaustion and is prevented by TIGIT blockade(Blood (2018) 132:16 (1675-1688) DOI: 10.1182/blood-2018-01-825240). Blood, 134 (21), 1878-1878. doi: 10.1182/blood.2019003727

  • Gartlan, Kate H., Koyama, Motoko, Lineburg, Katie E., Chang, Karshing, Ensbey, Kathleen S., Kuns, Rachel D., Henden, Andrea S., Samson, Luke D., Clouston, Andrew D., Lopez, Angel F., MacDonald, Kelli P. A. and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2019). Donor T-cell–derived GM-CSF drives alloantigen presentation by dendritic cells in the gastrointestinal tract. Blood Advances, 3 (19), 2859-2865. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2019000053

  • Wilkinson, Andrew N., Chang, Karshing, Kuns, Rachel D., Henden, Andrea S., Minnie, Simone A., Ensbey, Kathleen S., Clouston, Andrew D., Zhang, Ping, Koyama, Motoko, Hidalgo, Juan, Rose-John, Stefan, Varelias, Antiopi, Vuckovic, Slavica, Gartlan, Kate H. and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2019). IL-6 dysregulation originates in dendritic cells and initiates graft-versus-host disease via classical signaling. Blood, 134 (23), 2092-2106. doi: 10.1182/blood.2019000396

  • Spicer, Julie A., Miller, Christian K., O'Connor, Patrick D., Jose, Jiney, Giddens, Anna C., Jaiswal, Jagdish K., Jamieson, Stephen M. F., Bull, Matthew R., Denny, William A., Akhlaghi, Hedieh, Trapani, Joseph A., Hill, Geoff R., Chang, Karshing and Gartlan, Kate H. (2019). Inhibition of the cytolytic protein perforin prevents rejection of transplanted bone marrow stem cells in vivo. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 63 (5) acs.jmedchem.9b00881, 2229-2239. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b00881

  • Markey, Kate A. and Gartlan, Kate H. (2019). Imaging flow cytometry to assess antigen-presenting-cell function. Current Protocols in Immunology, 125 (1) e72. doi: 10.1002/cpim.72

  • Varelias, Antiopi, Gartlan, Kate H., Wilkinson, Andrew N., Olver, Stuart D., Samson, Luke D., Tey, Siok-Keen, MacDonald, Kelli P. A. and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2019). Expansion of IL-17A-secreting CD8 + mucosa-associated invariant T cells in peripheral blood following stem cell mobilization. Blood Advances, 3 (5), 718-723. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2018025601

  • Zhang, Ping, Raju, Jyothy, Ullah, Md Ashik, Au, Raymond, Varelias, Antiopi, Gartlan, Kate H, Olver, Stuart D., Samson, Luke D., Sturgeon, Elise, Zomerdijk, Nienke, Avery, Judy, Gargett, Tessa, Brown, Michael P., Coin, Lachlan J., Ganesamoorthy, Devika, Hutchins, Cheryl, Pratt, Gary R, Kennedy, Glen A., Morton, A. James, Curley, Cameron I., Hill, Geoffrey R. and Tey, Siok-Keen (2019). Phase I trial of inducible caspase 9 T cells in adult stem cell transplant demonstrates massive clonotypic proliferative potential and long-term persistence of transgenic T cells. Clinical Cancer Research, 25 (6), 1749-1755. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-18-3069

  • Welz, M., Eickhoff, S., Abdullah, Z., Trebicka, J., Gartlan, K. H., Spicer, J. A., Demetris, A. J., Akhlaghi, H., Anton, M., Manske, K., Zehn, D., Nieswandt, B., Kurts, C., Trapani, J. A., Knolle, P., Wohlleber, D. and Kastenmüller, W. (2018). Perforin inhibition protects from lethal endothelial damage during fulminant viral hepatitis. Nature Communications, 9 (1) 4805, 4805. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-07213-x

  • Minnie, Simone A., Kuns, Rachel D., Gartlan, Kate H., Zhang, Ping, Wilkinson, Andrew N., Samson, Luke, Guillerey, Camille, Engwerda, Christian, MacDonald, Kelli P. A., Smyth, Mark J., Markey, Kate A., Vuckovic, Slavica and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2018). Myeloma escape after stem cell transplantation is a consequence of t-cell exhaustion and is prevented by tigit blockade. Blood, 132 (16), 1675-1688. doi: 10.1182/blood-2018-01-825240

  • Vuckovic, Slavica, Minnie, Simone A., Smith, David, Gartlan, Kate H., Watkins, Thomas S., Markey, Kate A., Mukhopadhyay, Pamela, Guillerey, Camille, Kuns, Rachel D., Locke, Kelly R., Pritchard, Antonia L., Johansson, Peter A., Varelias, Antiopi, Zhang, Ping, Huntington, Nicholas D., Waddell, Nicola, Chesi, Marta, Miles, John J., Smyth, Mark J. and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2018). Bone marrow transplantation generates T cell–dependent control of myeloma in mice. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 129 (1) CI98888, 106-121. doi: 10.1172/jci98888

  • Wilkinson, Andrew N., Kuns, Rachel D., Varelias, Antiopi, Vuckovic, Slavica, Rose-John, Stefan, Gartlan, Kate H. and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2018). DISTINCT IL-6 SIGNALING PATHWAYS DRIVE ALTERNATE PATHOGENIC T CELL DIFFERENTIATION AND GVHD AFTER TRANSPLANT IN VIVO. The Journal of Immunology, 200 (1_Supplement), 55.2-55.2. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.200.supp.55.2

  • Varelias, Antiopi, Bunting, Mark, Ormerod, Kate, Koyama, Motoko, Olver, Stuart, Straube, Jasmin, Kuns, Rachel, Robb, Renee, Henden, Andrea, Cooper, Leanne, Lachner, Nancy, Gartlan, Kate, Lantz, Olivier J., Kjer-Nielsen, Lars, Mak, Jeffrey, Fairlie, David, Clouston, Andrew, McCluskey, James, Rossjohn, Jamie, Lane, Steven, Hugenholtz, Phil and Hill, Geoff (2018). Recipient mucosal-associated invariant T cells control graft-versus-host-disease within the colon. The Journal of Immunology, 200 (1_Supplement), 55.15-55.15. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.200.supp.55.15

  • Minnie, Simone, Vuckovic, Slavica, Smith, David, Gartlan, Kate H., Watkins, Thomas S., Kuns, Rachel D., Guillerey, Camille, Chesi, Marta, Markey, Kate A., Miles, John J., Smyth, Mark J. and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2018). Syngeneic stem cell transplantation generates antigen-specific T cells that maintain myeloma-immune equilibrium. The Journal of Immunology, 200 (1_Supplement), 55.19-55.19. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.200.supp.55.19

  • Varelias, Antiopi, Bunting, Mark D., Ormerod, Kate L., Koyama, Motoko, Olver, Stuart D., Straube, Jasmin, Kuns, Rachel D., Robb, Renee J., Henden, Andrea S., Cooper, Leanne, Lachner, Nancy, Gartlan, Kate H., Lantz, Olivier, Kjer-Nielsen, Lars, Mak, Jeffrey Y. W., Fairlie, David P., Clouston, Andrew D., McCluskey, James, Rossjohn, Jamie, Lane, Steven W., Hugenholtz, Philip and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2018). Recipient mucosal-associated invariant T cells control GVHD within the colon. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 128 (5), 1919-1936. doi: 10.1172/JCI91646

  • Wilkinson, Andrew N., Gartlan, Kate H., Kelly, Greg, Samson, Luke D., Olver, Stuart D., Avery, Judy, Zomerdijk, Nienke, Tey, Siok-Keen, Lee, Jason S., Vuckovic, Slavica and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2018). Granulocytes are unresponsive to IL-6 due to an absence of gp130. Journal of Immunology, 200 (9), 3547-3555. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1701191

  • Markey, Kate A., Gartlan, Kate H., Kuns, Rachel D., Lane, Steven W. and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2018). Conventional dendritic cells are required for the cross-presentation of leukemia-specific antigen in a model of AML relapse post-BMT. Bone Marrow Transplantation, 53 (6), 800-803. doi: 10.1038/s41409-018-0148-y

  • Markey, Kate A., Kuns, Rachel D., Browne, Daniel J., Gartlan, Kate H., Robb, Renee J., Martins, J. Paulo, Henden, Andrea S., Minnie, Simone A., Cheong, Melody, Koyama, Motoko, Smyth, Mark J., Steptoe, Raymond J., Belz, Gabrielle, Brocker, Thomas, Degli-Esposti, Mariapia A., Lane, Steven W. and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2018). Flt-3L expansion of recipient CD8α+ dendritic cells deletes alloreactive donor T cells and represents an alternative to post-transplant cyclophosphamide for the prevention of GVHD. Clinical Cancer Research, 24 (7), 1604-1616. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-17-2148

  • Liang, Fang, Browne, Daniel J., Gray, Megan J., Gartlan, Kate H., Smith, David D., Barnard, Ross T., Hill, Geoffrey R., Corrie, Simon R. and Markey, Kate A. (2018). Development of a Multiplexed Microsphere PCR for Culture-Free Detection and Gram-Typing of Bacteria in Human Blood Samples. ACS Infectious Diseases, 4 (5), 837-844. doi: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.7b00277

  • Khoury, David S., Cromer, Deborah, Elliott, Trish, Soon, Megan S. F., Thomas, Bryce S., James, Kylie R., Best, Shannon E., Aogo, Rosemary A., Engel, Jessica A., Gartlan, Kate H., Akter, Jasmin, Sebina, Ismail, Haque, Ashraful and Davenport, Miles P. (2017). Characterising the effect of antimalarial drugs on the maturation and clearance of murine blood-stage Plasmodium parasites in vivo. International Journal for Parasitology, 47 (14), 913-922. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2017.05.009

  • Gartlan, Kate H., Bommiasamy, Hemamalini, Paz, Katelyn, Wilkinson, Andrew N., Owen, Mary, Reichenbach, Dawn K., Banovic, Tatjana, Wehner, Kimberly, Buchanan, Faith, Varelias, Antiopi, Kuns, Rachel D., Chang, Karshing, Fedoriw, Yuri, Shea, Thomas, Coghill, James, Zaiken, Michael, Plank, Maximilian W., Foster, Paul S., Clouston, Andrew D., Blazar, Bruce R., Serody, Jonathan S. and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2017). A critical role for donor-derived IL-22 in cutaneous chronic GVHD. American Journal of Transplantation , 18 (4), 810-820. doi: 10.1111/ajt.14513

  • Forcade, Edouard, Paz, Katelyn, Flynn, Ryan, Griesenauer, Brad, Amet, Tohti, Li, Wei, Liu, Liangyi, Bakoyannis, Giorgos, Jiang, Di, Chu, Hong Wei, Lobera, Mercedes, Yang, Jianfei, Wilkes, David S., Du, Jing, Gartlan, Kate, Hill, Geoffrey R., MacDonald, Kelli P. A., Espada, Eduardo L., Blanco, Patrick, Serody, Jonathan S., Koreth, John, Cutler, Corey S., Antin, Joseph H., Soiffer, Robert J., Ritz, Jerome, Paczesny, Sophie and Blazar, Bruce R. (2017). An activated Th17-prone T cell subset involved in chronic graft-versus-host disease sensitive to pharmacological inhibition. JCI Insight, 2 (12) e92111. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.92111

  • Varelias, Antiopi, Ormerod, Kate L, Bunting, Mark D, Koyama, Motoko, Gartlan, Kate H, Kuns, Rachel D, Lachner, Nancy, Locke, Kelly R, Lim, Chun Y, Henden, Andrea S, Zhang, Ping, Clouston, Andrew D, Hasnain, Sumaira Z, McGuckin, Michael A, Blazar, Bruce R, MacDonald, Kelli PA, Hugenholtz, Philip and Hill, Geoff R (2017). Acute graft-versus-host disease is regulated by an IL-17-sensitive microbiome. The Journal of Immunology, 198 (1_Supplement), 82.8-82.8. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.198.supp.82.8

  • Zhang, Ping, Lee, Jason S., Gartlan, Kate H., Schuster, Iona S., Comerford, Iain, Varelias, Antiopi, Ullah, Md Ashik, Vuckovic, Slavica, Koyama, Motoko, Kuns, Rachel D., Locke, Kelly R., Beckett, Kirrilee J., Olver, Stuart D., Samson, Luke D., Montes de Oca, Marcela, de Labastida Rivera, Fabian, Clouston, Andrew D., Belz, Gabrielle T., Blazar, Bruce R., MacDonald, Kelli P., McColl, Shaun R., Thomas, Ranjeny, Engwerda, Christian R., Degli-Esposti, Mariapia A., Kallies, Axel, Tey, Siok-Keen and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2017). Eomesodermin promotes the development of Type-1 Regulatory T (TR1) cells. Science Immunology, 2 (10) eaah7152. doi: 10.1126/sciimmunol.aah7152

  • Gartlan, Kate H., Varelias, Antiopi, Koyama, Motoko, Robb, Renee J., Markey, Kate A., Chang, Karshing, Wilkinson, Andrew N., Smith, David, Ullah, Md Ashik, Kuns, Rachel D., Raffelt, Neil C., Olver, Stuart D., Lineburg, Katie E., Teal, Bianca E., Cheong, Melody, Teng, Michele W. L., Smyth, Mark J., Tey, Siok-Keen, MacDonald, Kelli P. A. and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2017). Th17 plasticity and transition toward a pathogenic cytokine signature are regulated by cyclosporine after allogeneic SCT. Blood Advances, 1 (6), 341-351. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2016002980

  • Varelias, Antiopi, Ormerod, Kate L., Bunting, Mark D., Koyama, Motoko, Gartlan, Kate H., Kuns, Rachel D., Lachner, Nancy, Locke, Kelly R., Lim, Chun Y., Henden, Andrea S., Zhang, Ping, Clouston, Andrew D., Hasnain, Sumaira Z., McGuckin, Michael A., Blazar, Bruce R., MacDonald, Kelli P. A ., Hugenholtz, Philip and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2017). Acute graft-versus-host disease is regulated by an IL-17-sensitive microbiome. Blood, 129 (15), 2172-2185. doi: 10.1182/blood-2016-08-732628

  • Gartlan, Kate H., Krashias, George, Wegmann, Frank, Hillson, William R., Scherer, Erin M., Greenberg, Philip D., Eisenbarth, Stephanie C., Moghaddam, Amin E. and Sattentau, Quentin J. (2016). Sterile inflammation induced by Carbopol elicits robust adaptive immune responses in the absence of pathogen-associated molecular patterns. Vaccine, 34 (19), 2188-2196. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.03.025

  • Gartlan, Kate H., Markey, Kate A., Varelias, Antiopi, Bunting, Mark D., Koyama, Motoko, Kuns, Rachel D., Raffelt, Neil C., Olver, Stuart D., Lineburg, Katie E., Cheong, Melody, Teal, Bianca E., Lor, Mary, Comerford, Iain, Teng, Michele W. L., Smyth, Mark J., McCluskey, James, Rossjohn, Jamie, Stockinger, Brigitta, Boyle, Glen M., Lane, Steven W., Clouston, Andrew D., McColl, Shaun R., MacDonald, Kelli P. A. and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2015). Tc17 cells are a proinflammatory, plastic lineage of pathogenic CD8+ T cells that induce GVHD without antileukemic effects. Blood, 126 (13), 1609-1620. doi: 10.1182/blood-2015-01-622662

  • Wegmann, Frank, Moghaddam, Amin E., Schiffner, Torben, Gartlan, Kate H., Powell, Timothy J., Russell, Rebecca A., Baart, Matthijs, Carrow, Emily W. and Sattentau, Quentin J. (2015). The carbomer-lecithin adjuvant Adjuplex has potent immunoactivating properties and elicits protective adaptive immunity against influenza virus challenge in mice. Clinical and Vaccine Immunology, 22 (9), 1004-1012. doi: 10.1128/CVI.00736-14

  • Markey, Kate A., Gartlan, Kate H., Kuns, Rachel D., MacDonald, Kelli P. A. and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2015). Imaging the immunological synapse between dendritic cells and T cells. Journal of Immunological Methods, 423, 40-44. doi: 10.1016/j.jim.2015.04.029

  • Koyama, Motoko, Cheong, Melody, Markey, Kate A., Gartlan, Kate H., Kuns, Rachel D., Locke, Kelly R., Lineburg, Katie E., Teal, Bianca E., Leveque-El Mouttie, Lucie, Bunting, Mark D., Vuckovic, Slavica, Zhang, Ping, Teng, Michele W. L., Varelias, Antiopi, Tey, Siok-Keen, Wockner, Leesa F., Engwerda, Christian R., Smyth, Mark J., Belz, Gabrielle T., McColl, Shaun R., MacDonald, Kelli P. A. and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2015). Donor colonic CD103(+) dendritic cells determine the severity of acute graft-versus-host disease. Journal of Experimental Medicine, 212 (8), 1303-1321. doi: 10.1084/jem.20150329

  • Varelias, Antiopi, Gartlan, Kate H., Kreijveld, Ellen, Olver, Stuart D., Lor, Mary, Kuns, Rachel D., Lineburg, Katie E., Teal, Bianca E., Raffelt, Neil C., Cheong, Melody, Alexander, Kylie A., Koyama, Motoko, Markey, Kate A., Sturgeon, Elise, Leach, Justine, Reddy, Pavan, Kennedy, Glen A., Yanik, Gregory A., Blazar, Bruce R., Tey, Siok-Keen, Clouston, Andrew D., MacDonald, Kelli P. A., Cooke, Kenneth R. and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2015). Lung parenchyma-derived IL-6 promotes IL-17A-dependent acute lung injury after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Blood, 125 (15), 2435-2444. doi: 10.1182/blood-2014-07-590232

  • Kennedy, Glen A., Varelias, Antiopi, Vuckovic, Slavica, Le Texier, Laetitia, Gartlan, Kate H., Zhang, Ping, Thomas, Gethin, Anderson, Lisa, Boyle, Glen, Cloonan, Nicole, Leach, Justine, Sturgeon, Elise, Avery, Judy, Olver, Stuart D., Lor, Mary, Misra, Ashish K., Hutchins, Cheryl, Morton, A. James, Durrant, Simon T. S., Subramoniapillai, Elango, Butler, Jason P., Curley, Cameron I., MacDonald, Kelli P. A., Tey, Siok-Keen and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2014). Addition of interleukin-6 inhibition with tocilizumab to standard graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis after allogeneic stem-cell transplantation: a phase 1/2 trial. The Lancet Oncology, 15 (13), 1451-1459. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(14)71017-4

  • Moghaddam, Amin E., Hillson, William R., Noti, Mario, Gartlan, Kate H., Johnson, Steven, Thomas, Benjamin, Artis, David and Sattentau, Quentin J. (2014). Dry roasting enhances peanut-induced allergic sensitization across mucosal and cutaneous routes in mice. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 134 (6), 1453-1456. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2014.07.032

  • Sheppard, Neil C., Brinckmann, Sarah A., Gartlan, Kate H., Puthia, Manoj, Svanborg, Catharina, Krashias, George, Eisenbarth, Stephanie C., Flavell, Richard A., Sattentau, Quentin J. and Wegmann, Frank (2014). Polyethyleneimine is a potent systemic adjuvant for glycoprotein antigens. International Immunology, 26 (10), 531-538. doi: 10.1093/intimm/dxu055

  • Markey, Kate A., Koyama, Motoko, Gartlan, Kate H., Leveque, Lucie, Kuns, Rachel D., Lineburg, Katie E., Teal, Bianca E., MacDonald, Kelli P. A. and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2014). Cross-dressing by donor dendritic cells after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation contributes to formation of the immunological synapse and maximizes responses to indirectly presented antigen. Journal of Immunology, 192 (11), 5426-5433. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1302490

  • Gartlan, Kate H., Wee, Janet L., Demaria, Maria C., Nastovska, Roza, Chang, Tsz Man, Jones, Eleanor L., Apostolopoulos, Vasso, Pietersz, Geoffrey A., Hickey, Michael J., van Spriel, Annemiek B. and Wright, Mark D. (2013). Tetraspanin CD37 contributes to the initiation of cellular immunity by promoting dendritic cell migration. European Journal of Immunology, 43 (5), 1208-1219. doi: 10.1002/eji.201242730

  • van Spriel, Annemiek B., de Keijzer, Sandra, van der Schaaf, Alie, Gartlan, Kate H., Sofi, Mariam, Light, Amanda, Linssen, Peter C., Boezeman, Jan B., Zuidscherwoude, Malou, Reinieren-Beeren, Inge, Cambi, Alessandra, Mackay, Fabienne, Tarlinton, David M., Figdor, Carl G. and Wright, Mark D. (2012). The tetraspanin CD37 orchestrates the alpha(4)beta(1) integrin-Akt signaling axis and supports long-lived plasma cell survival. Science Signaling, 5 (250) ra82, ra82-ra82. doi: 10.1126/scisignal.2003113

  • Wegmann, Frank, Gartlan, Kate H., Harandi, Ali M., Brinckmann, Sarah A., Coccia, Margherita, Hillson, William R., Kok, Wai Ling, Cole, Suzanne, Ho, Ling-Pei, Lambe, Teresa, Puthia, Manoj, Svanborg, Catharina, Scherer, Erin M., Krashias, George, Williams, Adam, Blattman, Joseph N., Greenberg, Philip D., Flavell, Richard A., Moghaddam, Amin E., Sheppard, Neil C. and Sattentau, Quentin J. (2012). Polyethyleneimine is a potent mucosal adjuvant for viral glycoprotein antigens. Nature Biotechnology, 30 (9), 883-888. doi: 10.1038/nbt.2344

  • Moghaddam, Amin E., Gartlan, Kate H., Kong, Leopold and Sattentau, Quentin J. (2011). Reactive Carbonyls Are a Major Th2-Inducing Damage-Associated Molecular Pattern Generated by Oxidative Stress. Journal of Immunology, 187 (4), 1626-1633. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1003906

  • Gartlan, Kate H., Belz, Gabrielle T., Tarrant, Jacqueline M., Minigo, Gabriela, Katsara, Maria, Sheng, Kuo-Ching, Sofi, Mariam, van Spriel, Annemiek B., Apostolopoulos, Vasso, Plebanski, Magdalena, Robb, Lorraine and Wright, Mark D. (2010). A complementary role for the tetraspanins CD37 and Tssc6 in cellular immunity. Journal of Immunology, 185 (6), 3158-3166. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.0902867

  • van Spriel, Annemiek B., Sofi, Mariam, Gartlan, Kate H., van der Schaaf, Alie, Verschueren, Ineke, Torensma, Ruurd, Raymakers, Reinier A. P., Loveland, Bruce E., Netea, Mihai G., Adema, Gosse J., Wright, Mark D. and Figdor, Carl G. (2009). The Tetraspanin Protein CD37 Regulates IgA Responses and Anti-Fungal Immunity. Plos Pathogens, 5 (3), e1000338. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1000338

  • Sheng, Kuo-Ching, van Spriel, Annemiek B., Gartlan, Kate H., Sofi, Mariam, Apostolopoulos, Vasso, Ashman, Leonie and Wright, Mark D. (2009). Tetraspanins CD37 and CD151 differentially regulate Ag presentation and T-cell co-stimulation by DC. European Journal of Immunology, 39 (1), 50-55. doi: 10.1002/eji.200838798

  • Lahoud, Mireille H., Proietto, Anna I., Gartlan, Kate H., Kitsoulis, Susie, Curtis, Joan, Wettenhall, James, Sofi, Mariam, Daunt, Carmel, O'Keeffe, Meredith, Caminschi, Irina, Satterley, Keith, Rizzitelli, Alexandra, Schnorrer, Petra, Hinohara, Atsushi, Yamaguchi, Yasunori, Wu, Li, Smyth, Gordon, Handman, Emanuela, Shortman, Ken and Wright, Mark D. (2006). Signal regulatory protein molecules are differentially expressed by CD8(-) dendritic cells. Journal of Immunology, 177 (1), 372-382. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.177.1.372

PhD and MPhil Supervision

Current Supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

Completed Supervision

  • (2019) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • (2019) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor

Possible Research Projects

Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.

  • Background: Stem cell/bone marrow transplantation (SCT/BMT) is an important curative therapy for haematological malignancies and disorders; however graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and infection are two major complications of this procedure. Whilst it is well established that viral and bacterial infections influence GVHD pathogenesis, the impact of fungal infection after transplant is poorly understood. In non-transplant settings, adaptive immune responses to fungal infections are commonly associated with IL-17 production by T cells that enhance anti-fungal immunity. However our laboratory and others have demonstrated that the IL-17 differentiation pathway is pathogenic in the context of allotransplantation. We are offering a project designed to understand the relationship between fungal infection and GVHD outcomes.

    Aims: This project aims to 1) establish an in vivo infection model that can be used in conjunction with bone marrow transplant in pre-clinical experimental systems. 2) Explore the relationship between fungal infection, T cell polarisation and GVHD.

    Significance: Once established, this model will be the first of its kind and will be an important tool to examine the influence of infection on inflammatory diseases.

    Suitability: This project would suit a PhD student.

    Supervisors: Dr Kate Gartlan (Kate.Gartlan@qimrberghofer.edu.au) and Prof Geoff Hill (Geoff.Hill@qimrberghofer.edu.au)

  • Background: Stem cell transplantation (SCT) is an effective cancer treatment, however its application is limited by graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), which has a major impact on patient morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, GVHD severity and tumour clearance are positively correlated and therefore new therapies designed to reduce GVHD must be targeted, such that anti-tumour immunity is maintained. Donor T cell polarization is a critical factor influencing the severity and tissue distribution of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and the potency of graft-versus-leukaemia (GVL) effects after allo-SCT. We have identified a pathogenic donor T cell differentiation program that exacerbates GVHD without contributing to tumour clearance, which is characterised by a unique transcription factor expression profile.

    Aims: This study will 1) examine T cell transcription factor expression after allo-SCT in both murine and clinical samples, and 2) utilise a small molecule inhibitor that modulates transcription factor expression to assess its therapeutic potential in the context of GVHD.

    Significance: This therapeutic approach is highly novel and will provide the first essential proof-of-concept data to support small molecule modulation of T cell polarisation as a method for GVHD prevention and treatment.

    Suitability: This project would suit either Honours or PhD students.

    Supervisors: Dr Kate Gartlan (Kate.Gartlan@qimrberghofer.edu.au) and Prof Geoff Hill (Geoff.Hill@qimrberghofer.edu.au)

  • Background: Micro RNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules (~25 nucleotides) known to play an important role in regulating inflammation. Therefore miRNA may be a novel target to treat inflammatory diseases such as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). GVHD develops in >50% of leukaemia patients that receive a donor stem cell/bone marrow transplant (SCT/BMT). GVHD has a major impact on the mortality and quality-of-life for these cancer survivors, however treatment options are very limited and steroid refractory GVHD patients (~20%) have particularly high mortality rates. Unfortunately, GVHD severity and tumour clearance are positively correlated, which means a balance must be struck between providing anti-tumour immunity and reducing the risks associated with GVHD. Our laboratory is therefore investigating novel therapeutics such as miRNAs to modulate inflammatory responses after BMT/SCT.

    Aims: We are currently offering a project designed to 1) characterise miRNA expression profiles in patient serum after BMT/SCT and 2) to evaluate potential inflammatory biomarkers of GVHD.

    Significance: New therapies are urgently needed to minimise the effects of GVHD after donor SCT/BMT. This project will use molecular and cell biology techniques and clinical samples to identify potential new targets for GVHD immunotherapy.

    Suitability: This project would suit either Honours or PhD students.

    Supervisors: Dr Kate Gartlan (Kate.Gartlan@qimrberghofer.edu.au) and Prof Geoff Hill (Geoff.Hill@qimrberghofer.edu.au)