Maureen Su
Maureen A. Su, MD is the Morrison Family Endowed Chair and tenured Professor in Microbiology Immunology Molecular Genetics (MIMG) and Pediatrics. Dr. Su graduated from Harvard Medical School/Massauchusetts Institute of Technology (Health Sciences and Technology program), and completed her Pediatrics Residency/Chief Residency and Fellowship training at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). As a fellow in the Pediatric Scientist Development Program (PDSP), she delineated mechanisms of dominantly-inherited forms of autoimmune disease. As a physician scientist, Dr. Su cares for pediatric patients with autoimmune endocrinopathies and leads an immunology research group focused on autoimmunity, anti-cancer immunity, and sex differences in immunity. Dr. Su is a standing member of an NIH study section and also serves as Associate Director of the UCLA/Caltech Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP).
Websites:
Research Interests:
Anti-Viral Immunity, Anti-Cancer Immunity, Sex Differences in Immunity, Epigenetic Regulation, Autoimmunity, Endocrinology, Pediatrics, Immunotherapy, Tumor Immunology, Immune Related Adverse Events (IRAEs),Publications:
Bustillos CG, Peluso EM, Cha SL, Lechner MG, Su MA. Sex Matters: Hormonal and Chromosomal Determinants of Autoimmunity and Anti-Cancer Immunity Across the Lifespan. Immunol Rev. 2026 Mar; 338(1):e70096. view on PubMed
Chen HC, Bang MF, Wang HH, Shpargel KB, Kohn LA, Sailer D, Zhang S, McCarthy EC, Seyedsadr M, Stevens S, Pham CL, Zhou Z, Yin X, Wilkinson NM, Peluso EM, Bustillos C, Ortega JG, Yang L, Buzzelli AA, Capati RC, Chia DJ, Mittelman SD, Reh CM, Whitmire JK, Lechner MG, Hugo W, Su MA. UTX coordinates TCF1 and STAT3 to control progenitor CD8+ T cell fate in autoimmune diabetes. J Clin Invest. 2026 Feb 16; 136(4). view on PubMed
Chou WC, Guo Z, Guo H, Chen L, Zhang G, Liang K, Xie L, Tan X, Gibson SA, Rampanelli E, Wang Y, Montgomery SA, Brickey WJ, Deng M, Freeman L, Zhang S, Su MA, Chen X, Wan YY, Ting JP. Author Correction: AIM2 in regulatory T cells restrains autoimmune diseases. Nature. 2025 Dec; 648(8092):E4. view on PubMed
Huang NL, Ortega JG, Kimbrell K, Lee J, Scott LN, Peluso EM, Wang SJ, Kao EY, Kim K, Olay J, Nguyen JN, Quandt Z, Angell TE, Su MA, Lechner MG. Polyfunctional T follicular helper cells drive checkpoint-inhibitor diabetes and are targeted by JAK inhibitor therapy. JCI Insight. 2025 Jul 08; 10(13). view on PubMed
Olwal CO, Rathore U, Makanani S, Kaushal P, Ashley IA, Ummadi MR, Appiah V, Zune ALD, Blanc S, Winters D, Delgado Y, Muthoka K, Fabius JM, Eckhardt M, Kaake RM, Su M, Fregoso OI, Hultquist JF, Orang'o EO, Swaney DL, Kyei GB, Krogan NJ, Quashie PK, Bediako Y, Bouhaddou M. Paracrine Signals from HIV-1 Infected Immune Cells Reprogram Cervical Cancer Pathways. bioRxiv. 2025 Jun 07. view on PubMed
Chen HC, Wang HH, Shpargel KB, Kohn LA, Sailer D, Zhang S, McCarthy EC, Seyedsadr M, Zhou Z, Yin X, Wilkinson NM, Peluso E, Bustillos C, Ortega J, Yang L, Buzzelli AA, Whitmire JK, Lechner MG, Hugo W, Su MA. UTX Coordinates TCF1 and STAT3 to Control Progenitor CD8+ T cell Fate in Autoimmune Diabetes. bioRxiv. 2025 May 19. view on PubMed
Huang N, Ortega J, Kimbrell K, Lee J, Scott LN, Peluso EM, Wang SJ, Kao E, Kim K, Olay J, Quandt Z, Angell TE, Su MA, Lechner MG. Polyfunctional IL-21+ IFNG+ T follicular helper cells contribute to checkpoint inhibitor diabetes mellitus and can be targeted by JAK inhibitor therapy. bioRxiv. 2024 Dec 03. view on PubMed
Seyedsadr M, Bang MF, McCarthy EC, Zhang S, Chen HC, Mohebbi M, Hugo W, Whitmire JK, Lechner MG, Su MA. A pathologically expanded, clonal lineage of IL-21-producing CD4+ T cells drives inflammatory neuropathy. J Clin Invest. 2024 Jun 11; 134(15). view on PubMed
Su MA. JAK Inhibition Immunotherapy for APS-1. N Engl J Med. 2024 05 30; 390(20):1918-1921. view on PubMed
Cheng MI, Hong L, Bustillos C, Chen B, Chin S, Luthers CR, Vo A, Sheikh SZ, Su MA. Cutting Edge: Hypoxia Sensing by the Histone Demethylase UTX (KDM6A) Limits Colitogenic CD4+ T Cells in Mucosal Inflammation. J Immunol. 2024 Apr 01; 212(7):1069-1074. view on PubMed
Seyedsadr M, Bang M, McCarthy E, Zhang S, Chen HC, Mohebbi M, Hugo W, Whitmire JK, Lechner MG, Su MA. A pathologically expanded, clonal lineage of IL-21 producing CD4+ T cells drives Inflammatory neuropathy. bioRxiv. 2024 Jan 08. view on PubMed
Cheng MI, Hong L, Chen B, Chin S, Luthers CR, Bustillos C, Sheikh SZ, Su MA. Hypoxia-sensing by the Histone Demethylase UTX ( KDM6A ) Controls Colitogenic CD4 + T cell Fate and Mucosal Inflammation. bioRxiv. 2023 Jul 29. view on PubMed
Ding L, Sun L, Bu MT, Zhang Y, Scott LN, Prins RM, Su MA, Lechner MG, Hugo W. Antigen presentation by clonally diverse CXCR5+ B cells to CD4 and CD8 T cells is associated with durable response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Front Immunol. 2023; 14:1176994. view on PubMed
Seyedsadr M, Wang Y, Elzoheiry M, Shree Gopal S, Jang S, Duran G, Chervoneva I, Kasimoglou E, Wrobel JA, Hwang D, Garifallou J, Zhang X, Khan TH, Lorenz U, Su M, Ting JP, Broux B, Rostami A, Miskin D, Markovic-Plese S. IL-11 induces NLRP3 inflammasome activation in monocytes and inflammatory cell migration to the central nervous system. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2023 06 27; 120(26):e2221007120. view on PubMed
Lechner MG, Zhou Z, Hoang AT, Huang N, Ortega J, Scott LN, Chen HC, Patel AY, Yakhshi-Tafti R, Kim K, Hugo W, Famini P, Drakaki A, Ribas A, Angell TE, Su MA. Clonally expanded, thyrotoxic effector CD8+ T cells driven by IL-21 contribute to checkpoint inhibitor thyroiditis. Sci Transl Med. 2023 05 17; 15(696):eadg0675. view on PubMed
Cheng MI, Li JH, Riggan L, Chen B, Tafti RY, Chin S, Ma F, Pellegrini M, Hrncir H, Arnold AP, O'Sullivan TE, Su MA. The X-linked epigenetic regulator UTX controls NK cell-intrinsic sex differences. Nat Immunol. 2023 05; 24(5):780-791. view on PubMed
Valenzise M, Foti Randazzese S, Toscano F, Lombardo F, Salzano G, Pajno C, Wasniewska M, Cascio A, Su MA. Mild COVID-19 in an APECED Patient with Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) and High Titer of Type 1 IFN-Abs: A Case Report. Pathogens. 2023 Mar 02; 12(3). view on PubMed
Lizhong Ding, Lu Sun, Melissa T. Bu, Yanjun Zhang, Lauren N. Scott, Robert M. Prins, Maureen A. Su, Melissa G. Lechner, Willy Hugo . Antigen presentation by clonally diverse CXCR5+ B cells to CD4 and CD8 T cells is associated with durable response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. bioRxiv. 2023; ( 2022.12.0). view on PubMed
Melissa G. Lechner, Zikang Zhou, Aline T. Hoang, Nicole Huang, Jessica Ortega, Lauren N. Scott, Ho-Chung Chen, Anushi Y. Patel, Rana Yakhshi-Tafti, Kristy Kim, Willy Hugo, Pouyan Famini, Alexandra Drakaki, Antoni Ribas, Trevor E. Angell, Maureen A. Su. Clonally-Expanded, Thyrotoxic Autoimmune Mediator CD8+ T cells Driven by IL21 Contribute to Checkpoint Inhibitor Thyroiditis. (2022): 2022.12.18.517398. Web. 06 Feb. 2023. bioRxiv. 2023; (2022.12.18). view on PubMed
Quandt Z, Kim S, Villanueva-Meyer J, Coupe C, Young A, Kang JH, Yazdany J, Schmajuk G, Rush S, Ziv E, Perdigoto AL, Herold K, Lechner MG, Su MA, Tyrrell JB, Bluestone J, Anderson M, Masharani U. Spectrum of Clinical Presentations, Imaging Findings, and HLA Types in Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Induced Hypophysitis. J Endocr Soc. 2023 Feb 09; 7(4):bvad012. view on PubMed
Lechner MG, Cheng MI, Patel AY, Hoang AT, Yakobian N, Astourian M, Pioso MS, Rodriguez ED, McCarthy EC, Hugo W, Angell TE, Drakaki A, Ribas A, Su MA. Inhibition of IL-17A Protects against Thyroid Immune-Related Adverse Events while Preserving Checkpoint Inhibitor Antitumor Efficacy. J Immunol. 2022 08 15; 209(4):696-709. view on PubMed
Dasgupta A, Tsay E, Federman N, Lechner MG, Su MA. Polyendocrine Autoimmunity and Diabetic Ketoacidosis Following Anti-PD-1 and Interferon α. Pediatrics. 2022 04 01; 149(4). view on PubMed
Wang Y, Guo L, Yin X, McCarthy EC, Cheng MI, Hoang AT, Chen HC, Patel AY, Allard Trout D, Xu E, Yakobian N, Hugo W, Howard JF, Sheu KM, Hoffmann A, Lechner MG, Su MA. Pathogenic TNF-α drives peripheral nerve inflammation in an Aire-deficient model of autoimmunity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2022 01 25; 119(4). view on PubMed
Wilkinson NM, Chen HC, Lechner MG, Su MA. Sex Differences in Immunity. Annu Rev Immunol. 2022 04 26; 40:75-94. view on PubMed
Chou WC, Guo Z, Guo H, Chen L, Zhang G, Liang K, Xie L, Tan X, Gibson SA, Rampanelli E, Wang Y, Montgomery SA, Brickey WJ, Deng M, Freeman L, Zhang S, Su MA, Chen X, Wan YY, Ting JP. AIM2 in regulatory T cells restrains autoimmune diseases. Nature. 2021 03; 591(7849):300-305. view on PubMed
Kathuria-Prakash N, Mosaferi T, Xie M, Antrim L, Angell TE, In GK, Su MA, Lechner MG. COVID-19 Outcomes of Patients With Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: A Multicenter Los Angeles Cohort Study. Endocr Pract. 2021 Feb; 27(2):90-94. view on PubMed
Wolbert J, Cheng MI, Meyer zu Horste G, Su MA. Deciphering immune mechanisms in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathies. JCI Insight. 2020 02 13; 5(3). view on PubMed
Hwang BJ, Zhang Y, Brozowski JM, Liu Z, Burette S, Lough K, Smith CC, Shan Y, Chen J, Li N, Williams S, Su M, Googe P, Thomas NE, Liu Z. The dysfunction of BP180/collagen XVII in keratinocytes promotes melanoma progression. Oncogene. 2019 12; 38(50):7491-7503. view on PubMed
Su MA, Anderson MS. Pulling RANK on Cancer: Blocking Aire-Mediated Central Tolerance to Enhance Immunotherapy. Cancer Immunol Res. 2019 06; 7(6):854-859. view on PubMed
Brown MA, Su MA. An Inconvenient Variable: Sex Hormones and Their Impact on T Cell Responses. J Immunol. 2019 04 01; 202(7):1927-1933. view on PubMed
Liu C, He H, Li X, Su MA, Cao Y. Correction: Dynamic metrics-based biomarkers to predict responders to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. Br J Cancer. 2019 Apr; 120(7):772. view on PubMed
Liu C, He H, Li X, Su MA, Cao Y. Dynamic metrics-based biomarkers to predict responders to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. Br J Cancer. 2019 02; 120(3):346-355. view on PubMed
Allard DE, Wang Y, Li JJ, Conley B, Xu EW, Sailer D, Kimpston C, Notini R, Smith CJ, Koseoglu E, Starmer J, Zeng XL, Howard JF, Hoke A, Scherer SS, Su MA. Schwann cell-derived periostin promotes autoimmune peripheral polyneuropathy via macrophage recruitment. J Clin Invest. 2018 10 01; 128(10):4727-4741. view on PubMed
Zhang Y, Hwang BJ, Liu Z, Li N, Lough K, Williams SE, Chen J, Burette SW, Diaz LA, Su MA, Xiao S, Liu Z. BP180 dysfunction triggers spontaneous skin inflammation in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018 06 19; 115(25):6434-6439. view on PubMed
Smith CJ, Allard DE, Wang Y, Howard JF, Montgomery SA, Su MA. IL-10 Paradoxically Promotes Autoimmune Neuropathy through S1PR1-Dependent CD4+ T Cell Migration. J Immunol. 2018 03 01; 200(5):1580-1592. view on PubMed
Bakhru P, Zhu ML, Wang HH, Hong LK, Khan I, Mouchess M, Gulati AS, Starmer J, Hou Y, Sailer D, Lee S, Zhao F, Kirkwood JM, Moschos S, Fong L, Anderson MS, Su MA. Combination central tolerance and peripheral checkpoint blockade unleashes antimelanoma immunity. JCI Insight. 2017 09 21; 2(18). view on PubMed
Valenzise M, Aversa T, Salzano G, Zirilli G, De Luca F, Su M. Novel insight into Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polineuropathy in APECED syndrome: molecular mechanisms and clinical implications in children. Ital J Pediatr. 2017 Jan 19; 43(1):11. view on PubMed
Thrasher BJ, Hong LK, Whitmire JK, Su MA. Epigenetic Dysfunction in Turner Syndrome Immune Cells. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2016 May; 16(5):36. view on PubMed
Zhu ML, Bakhru P, Conley B, Nelson JS, Free M, Martin A, Starmer J, Wilson EM, Su MA. Sex bias in CNS autoimmune disease mediated by androgen control of autoimmune regulator. Nat Commun. 2016 Apr 13; 7:11350. view on PubMed
Bakhru P, Su MA. Estrogen turns down "the AIRE". J Clin Invest. 2016 Apr 01; 126(4):1239-41. view on PubMed
Anderson MS, Su MA. AIRE expands: new roles in immune tolerance and beyond. Nat Rev Immunol. 2016 Apr; 16(4):247-58. view on PubMed
Cook KD, Shpargel KB, Starmer J, Whitfield-Larry F, Conley B, Allard DE, Rager JE, Fry RC, Davenport ML, Magnuson T, Whitmire JK, Su MA. T Follicular Helper Cell-Dependent Clearance of a Persistent Virus Infection Requires T Cell Expression of the Histone Demethylase UTX. Immunity. 2015 Oct 20; 43(4):703-14. view on PubMed
Su MA, Anderson MS. Breaking through the central tolerance ceiling to unleash anticancer immune responses. Oncoimmunology. 2014; 3(8):e950169. view on PubMed
Khan IS, Mouchess ML, Zhu ML, Conley B, Fasano KJ, Hou Y, Fong L, Su MA, Anderson MS. Enhancement of an anti-tumor immune response by transient blockade of central T cell tolerance. J Exp Med. 2014 May 05; 211(5):761-8. view on PubMed
Whitfield-Larry F, Felton J, Buse J, Su MA. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells are increased in frequency but not maximally suppressive in peripheral blood of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus patients. Clin Immunol. 2014 Jul; 153(1):156-64. view on PubMed
Waterfield M, Khan IS, Cortez JT, Fan U, Metzger T, Greer A, Fasano K, Martinez-Llordella M, Pollack JL, Erle DJ, Su M, Anderson MS. The transcriptional regulator Aire coopts the repressive ATF7ip-MBD1 complex for the induction of immunotolerance. Nat Immunol. 2014 Mar; 15(3):258-65. view on PubMed
Free ME, Su MA. Reply: To PMID 23553415. Arthritis Rheum. 2013 Dec; 65(12):3316-8. view on PubMed
Sarantopoulos S, Su MA. BAFF-ling autoantibodies. J Clin Invest. 2013 Dec; 123(12):5006-8. view on PubMed
Misumi I, Alirezaei M, Eam B, Su MA, Whitton JL, Whitmire JK. Differential T cell responses to residual viral antigen prolong CD4+ T cell contraction following the resolution of infection. J Immunol. 2013 Dec 01; 191(11):5655-68. view on PubMed
Free ME, Bunch DO, McGregor JA, Jones BE, Berg EA, Hogan SL, Hu Y, Preston GA, Jennette JC, Falk RJ, Su MA. Patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis have defective Treg cell function exacerbated by the presence of a suppression-resistant effector cell population. Arthritis Rheum. 2013 Jul; 65(7):1922-33. view on PubMed
Zeng XL, Nagavalli A, Smith CJ, Howard JF, Su MA. Divergent effects of T cell costimulation and inflammatory cytokine production on autoimmune peripheral neuropathy provoked by Aire deficiency. J Immunol. 2013 Apr 15; 190(8):3895-904. view on PubMed
Zhu ML, Nagavalli A, Su MA. Aire deficiency promotes TRP-1-specific immune rejection of melanoma. Cancer Res. 2013 Apr 01; 73(7):2104-16. view on PubMed
Su MA, Davini D, Cheng P, Giang K, Fan U, DeVoss JJ, Johannes KP, Taylor L, Shum AK, Valenzise M, Meloni A, Bour-Jordan H, Anderson MS. Defective autoimmune regulator-dependent central tolerance to myelin protein zero is linked to autoimmune peripheral neuropathy. J Immunol. 2012 May 15; 188(10):4906-12. view on PubMed
Wang Y, Su MA, Wan YY. An essential role of the transcription factor GATA-3 for the function of regulatory T cells. Immunity. 2011 Sep 23; 35(3):337-48. view on PubMed
Anderson MS, Su MA. Aire and T cell development. Curr Opin Immunol. 2011 Apr; 23(2):198-206. view on PubMed
Su MA, Anderson MS. Monogenic autoimmune diseases: insights into self-tolerance. Pediatr Res. 2009 May; 65(5 Pt 2):20R-25R. view on PubMed
Louvet C, Kabre BG, Davini DW, Martinier N, Su MA, DeVoss JJ, Rosenthal WL, Anderson MS, Bour-Jordan H, Bluestone JA. A novel myelin P0-specific T cell receptor transgenic mouse develops a fulminant autoimmune peripheral neuropathy. J Exp Med. 2009 Mar 16; 206(3):507-14. view on PubMed
Su MA, Stenerson M, Liu W, Putnam A, Conte F, Bluestone JA, Anderson MS. The role of X-linked FOXP3 in the autoimmune susceptibility of Turner Syndrome patients. Clin Immunol. 2009 Apr; 131(1):139-44. view on PubMed
Gardner JM, Devoss JJ, Friedman RS, Wong DJ, Tan YX, Zhou X, Johannes KP, Su MA, Chang HY, Krummel MF, Anderson MS. Deletional tolerance mediated by extrathymic Aire-expressing cells. Science. 2008 Aug 08; 321(5890):843-7. view on PubMed
Su MA, Giang K, Zumer K, Jiang H, Oven I, Rinn JL, Devoss JJ, Johannes KP, Lu W, Gardner J, Chang A, Bubulya P, Chang HY, Peterlin BM, Anderson MS. Mechanisms of an autoimmunity syndrome in mice caused by a dominant mutation in Aire. J Clin Invest. 2008 May; 118(5):1712-26. view on PubMed
Zhang L, Barker JM, Babu S, Su M, Stenerson M, Cheng M, Shum A, Zamir E, Badolato R, Law A, Eisenbarth GS, Anderson MS. A robust immunoassay for anti-interferon autoantibodies that is highly specific for patients with autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1. Clin Immunol. 2007 Nov; 125(2):131-7. view on PubMed
Sipe WE, Su M, Posselt A, Kim GE, Quiros JA, Rosenthal P. Propylthiouracil-associated liver failure presenting as probable autoimmune hepatitis in a child with Graves' disease. Pediatr Transplant. 2006 Jun; 10(4):525-8. view on PubMed
Su MA, Anderson MS. Aire: an update. Curr Opin Immunol. 2004 Dec; 16(6):746-52. view on PubMed
