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Gregory DeKrey

Gregory K. DeKrey

Associate Professor

  • Postdoctoral training: Molecular Toxicology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO (2000-2001)
  • Postdoctoral training: Immunology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO (1995-2000)
  • Postdoctoral training: Cell Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR (1994-1995)
  • Ph.D.: Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR (1994)
  • B.A.: Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA (1987)

Contact information

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Courses taught

  • BIO 110 (Principles of Biology)
  • BIO 210 (Cell Biology)
  • BIO 211 (Applications of Cell Biology)
  • BIO 350 (Human Physiology)
  • BIO 381 (Principles of Immunology)
  • BIO 476/576 (Pharmacology)
  • BIO 547 (Immunology and Disease)

Course web site: http://asstudents.unco.edu/faculty/gdekrey

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Research interests

     My research interests are to understand the effects of naturally occurring and man-made chemicals on immunity, development, and homeostasis. Specific chemicals of interest are halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (like dioxin), pesticides, ethanol, and botanical dietary supplements. These compounds are thought to impact health and development through direct mechanisms, such as altered gene expression, or indirectly through alteration of hormone levels and other pathways. The focus of my laboratory is to investigate mechanisms of toxicity at the organismal, cellular, and molecular levels with the ultimate aim to improve human and animal health.

Laboratory web site: http://asstudents.unco.edu/students/dekreylab

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Grants, awards and professional honors

External grant awards

  • 2007 -- National Science Foundation, STEP-Type I grant, "Strategies to Enhance Recruitment and Retention of Biology Majors at the University of Northern Colorado" ($749,670) -- co-PI.
  • 2006 -- U.S. Department of Education, Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need grant, "GAANN -- Improving doctoral education in biology at UNC" ($380,016) -- co-PI.
  • 2001 -- Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award, National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, "Ethanol and gene expression" ($106,000) -- award declined.

Internal grant awards

  • 2008 -- University of Northern Colorado, Research Enhancement Award grant, "Purchase of a flow cytometer" ($22,700).
  • 2005 -- University of Northern Colorado, Faculty Research and Publications Board grant, "Exploring ethanol-modulated gene expression in embryos -- a genomics approach" ($2500).
  • 2005 -- University of Northern Colorado, Summer Faculty Research Fellowship.
  • 2005 -- University of Northern Colorado, Summer Graduate Research Assistantship.
  • 2004 -- University of Northern Colorado, Faculty Research Publications Board grant, "Is the West Nile virus killing Colorado's bats?" ($2500).
  • 2004 -- University of Northern Colorado, Summer Faculty Research Fellowship.
  • 2003 -- University of Northern Colorado, Faculty Publications Research Board grant, "Mechanisms of Herb-Drug Interactions" ($2500).
  • 2003 -- University of Northern Colorado, Summer Graduate Research Assistantship.
  • 2003 -- University of Northern Colorado, Summer Faculty Research Fellowship.
  • 2002 -- University of Northern Colorado, Faculty Publications and Research Board grant, "Chemical Intervention to Reduce the Severity to Leishmanial Disease" ($3500).
  • 1999 -- Colorado State University, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, College Research Council grant, "Effects of TCDD on antigen-presenting cell function" ($10,000).

Honors

  • 2008 -- Faculty Research Mentor of the Year, Undergraduate Level, NHS, UNC
  • 2006 -- Outstanding Professor Award, Delta Zeta Sorority, University of Northern Colorado
  • 2004 -- Graduate Faculty Status, Doctoral Endorsement, University of Northern Colorado
  • 2000 -- Postdoctoral Training Fellowship National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
  • 1990 -- Graduate Student Presentation Award, Society of Toxicology
  • 1988 -- Graduate Training Fellowship, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
  • 1986 -- Delfasus Award for Undergraduate Research University of California, Santa Cruz

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Peer-reviewed research publications

Green = undergraduate student; Red = graduate student.

  1. Bowers, OJ, KB Sommersted, RT Sowell, GE Boling, WH Hanneman, RG Titus, GK DeKrey. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) reduces Leishmania major burdens in C57Bl/6 Mice. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (2006), 75: 749-752.
  2. Hausburg, MA, GK DeKrey, JJ Salmen, MR Palic, CS Gardiner. Effects of paraquat on development of preimplantation embryos in vivo and in vitro. Reproductive Toxicology (2005), 20: 239-246.
  3. DeKrey, GK, J Jones, ML Mbow, CI Brodskyn, RG Titus. B cells are required for delayed type hypersensitivity-like pathology after secondary infection with Leishmania major in resistant C57B1/6 mice. Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (2003), 69: 481-483.
  4. Mbow, ML, GK DeKrey, RG Titus. Leishmania major induces differential expression of costimulatory molecules on mouse epidermal cells. European Journal of Immunology (2001), 31(5): 1400-9.
  5. Titus, RG, GK DeKrey, M Suares, R Morris. Interleukin-6-deficiency influences cytokine expression in susceptible BALB mice infected with Leishmania major but does not alter the outcome of disease. Infection and Immunity (2001), 69: 5189-5192.
  6. Brodskyn, CI, GK DeKrey, RG Titus, Influence of costimulatory molecules on the immune response to Leishmania major by human cells in vitro. Infection and Immunity (2001), 69(2): 665-72.
  7. DeKrey, GK, RG Titus. A method for isolation and analysis of leucocytic cells from leishmanial ear lesions in mice. Journal of Immunological Methods (1999), 228(1-2): 1-11.
  8. Lima, HC, GK DeKrey, RG Titus. Leishmania braziliensis: Resolution of infection with this parasite confers complete protection to a subsequent challenge with L. major in BALB/c mice. Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (1999), 94(1): 71-76.
  9. DeKrey, GK, Lima, HC, RG Titus. Analysis of the immune response of mice to infection with Leishmania braziliensis. Infection and Immunity (1998), 66(2): 827-929.
  10. Kerkvliet, NI, L Baecher-Steppan, DM Shepherd, JA Oughton, BA Vorderstrasse, GK DeKrey. Inhibition of TC-1 cytokine production, effector cytotoxic T lymphocyte development and alloantibody production by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. Journal of Immunology (1996), 157(6): 2310-2319.
  11. Oughton, JA, CB Pereira, GK DeKrey, JM Collier, AA Frank, NI Kerkvliet. Phenotypic analysis of spleen, thymus, and peripheral blood cells in aged C57Bl/6 mice following long-term exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. Fundamental and Applied Toxicology (1995), 25(1): 60-69.
  12. De Krey, GK, NI Kerkvliet. Suppression of cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin occurs in vivo, but not in vitro, and is independent of corticosterone elevation. Toxicology (1995), 97(1-3): 105-112.
  13. DeKrey, GK, NI Kerkvliet. Effects of exogenous corticosterone treatment on alloantigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity in mice. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (1995), 273(2): 823-829.
  14. De Krey, GK, NC Hollingshead, NI Kerkvliet, BB Smith. Suppression of prolactin and cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity in PCB-treated mice. International Journal of Immunopharmacology (1994), 16(3): 251-257.
  15. De Krey, GK, LB Baecher-Steppan, JR Fowles, NI Kerkvliet. Polychlorinated biphenyl-induced suppression of cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity: role of prostaglandin-E2. Toxicology Letters (1994), 74(3): 211-220.
  16. De Krey, GK, L Baecher-Steppan, JA Deyo, BB Smith, NI Kerkvliet. PCB-induced immune suppression: castration, but not adrenalectomy or RU 38486 treatment, partially restores the cytotoxic T lymphocyte response to alloantigen. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (1993), 267(1): 308-315.
  17. Feldkamp, SD, DP Costa, GK DeKrey. Energetics and behavioral effects of net entanglement on juvenile northern fur seals, Callorhinus ursinus. Fishery Bulletin (1988), 87: 85-94.

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Peer-Reviewed Review Articles

  1. Rogers, K, GK DeKrey, ML Mbow, RD Gillespie, CI Brodskyn, RG Titus. Type 1 and type 2 responses to Leishmania major. FEMS Microbiology Letters (2002), 10360: 1-7.

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Papers and posters presented

Green = undergraduate student; Red = graduate student.

  1. Gardiner, CS, RA Adams, GK DeKrey, R Reinsvold (2008) Establishment of the BIOTA program for Enhancing Recruitment and Retention of Biology Majors at the University of Northern Colorado. Presented at the STEP awardees meeting, National Science Foundation, Washington, DC.
  2. EA Lively, NL Schmidt, RCT Casabar, AD Wallace, CS Gardiner, GK DeKrey (2007) Endosulfan-a induces CYP2B6 and CYP3A4 by activating the pregnane X receptor. FASEB J, 21:886.16. Presented at the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology annual meeting.
  3. RCT Casabar, PC Das, GK DeKrey, CS Gardiner, E Hodgson, RL Rose, AD Wallace (2007) Endosulfan-alpha induces CYP2B6 and CYP3A4 by activation the pregnane X receptor. The Toxicologist, 96, Number S-1. Presented at the Society of Toxicology annual meeting.
  4. Gardiner, CS, RA Adams, GK DeKrey, R Reinsvold (2007) Increasing student graduation in the biological sciences. Presented at the STEP awardees meeting, National Science Foundation, Washington, DC.
  5. KB Sommersted, GK DeKrey (2006) Reduced parasite burdens are not correlated with TNF levels in Leishmania major-infected TCDD-treated mice. The Toxicologist, 90(1): 53, Poster #259. Society of Toxicology annual meeting.
  6. SE Lacher, LM Oko, AC Protain, HJ Protain, CS Gardiner, GK DeKrey (2006) St. John's wort reduces tribromoethanol-induced sleep times in human SXR-transgenic mice. The Toxicologist, 9(1): 375,, Poster #1828. Society of Toxicology annual meeting.
  7. DeKrey, GK, RA Adams (2005) West Nile virus infection in wild bats of Colorado. American Association of Immunologists, Annual Meeting.
  8. Boling, GE, KB Sommersted, OJ Bowers, RT Sowell, SM Reis, RG Titus, GK DeKrey (2005) TCDD-enhanced resistance to Leishmania major infection correlates with increased expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in C57B1/6 mice. American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Annual Meeting.
  9. DeKrey, GK (2005) Leishmaniasis in TCDD-Treated Mice. Eastern Oregon University, Department of Biology.
  10. DeKrey, GK (2005) Leishmaniasis in TCDD-Treated Mice. California Polytechnic University, San Louis Obispo, Department of Biological Sciences.
  11. DeKrey, GK, OJ Bowers, RT Sowell, GE Boling, RG Titus (2004) TCDD reduces Leishmania major burdens in mice when given before or after infection. American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Annual Meeting.
  12. DeKrey, GK (2004) Experimental Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in TCDD-Treated Mice. University of Montana, Division of Biological Sciences.
  13. Protain AC, Protain HJ, Palic MR, DeKrey GK, Gardiner CS (2003) St. John's Wort Reduces Tribromoethanol-Induced Sleep Times in Mice. Society of Toxicology, Annual Meeting.
  14. DeKrey GK, Bridges J, Notyce D, Hanneman WH, Titus RG (2002) IL-13 Expression is Increased by TCDD in Leishmania-infected Mice. American Association of Immunologists, Annual Meeting.
  15. DeKrey GK, Titus RG, Hanneman WH (2001) TCDD Delays the Progression of Leishmaniasis in Both Wild Type and SCID BALB/c Mice. Society of Toxicology, Annual Meeting.
  16. DeKrey GK, ML Mbow, CI Brodskyn, RG Titus (2000) C57Bl/6 B cell deficient mice resist secondary infection with Leishmania major but with greatly reduced inflammation. American Association of Immunologists Annual Meeting. Journal of Immunology (8 part 2): 122A.
  17. DeKrey, GK, ML Mbow, CI Brodskyn, RG Titus (1999) C57Bl/6 B cell knockout mice resist infection with Leishmania major. American Association of Immunologists Annual Meeting. Journal of Immunology 162 (8 part 2): 235A.
  18. DeKrey, GK, RG Titus (1999) 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) alters the anti-Leishmania major immune response in both resistant (C57Bl/6) and susceptible (BALB/c) mice. Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting. The Toxicologist 58(1) 200.
  19. Mbow, ML, KC Garreis, GK DeKrey, RG Titus (1997) Infection of epidermal cells with Leishmania major influences B7-1 and B7-2 expression in vitro. American Association of Immunologists Annual Meeting. Journal of Immunology 158 (8 part 2): 440A.
  20. Steppan, LB, GK DeKrey, JR Fowles, NI Kerkvliet (1993) Polychlorinated biphenyl-induced alterations in the cytokine profile in the peritoneal cavity of mice during the course of P815 tumor rejection. American Association of Immunologists Annual Meeting. Journal of Immunology 150 (8 part 2): 134A.
  21. Oughton, JA, GK DeKrey, NI Kerkvliet (1993) Long-term exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin fails to alter lymphocyte phenotypes in spleen, thymus, and peripheral blood of C57Bl/6 mice. American Association of Immunologists Annual Meeting. Journal of Immunology 150 (8 part 2): 22A.
  22. Oughton, JA, GK DeKrey, NI Kerkvliet (1993) Benefits and methodologies of 3-color flow cytometry using a single laser. Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting. The Toxicologist 13:322.
  23. DeKrey, GK, LB Steppan, NI Kerkvliet (1993) Corticosterone elevation is not responsible for immune suppression following exposure to 3,3',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl. Pacific Northwest Association of Toxicologists.
  24. DeKrey, GK, LB Steppan, JR Fowles, NI Kerkvliet (1993) 3,3',4,4',5,5'- Hexachlorobiphenyl-induced immune suppression: altered cytokine production by spleen cells during the course of allograft rejection. American Association of Immunologists Annual Meeting. Journal of Immunology 150 (8 part 2): 22A.
  25. DeKrey, GK, NC Hollingshead, BB Smith, NI Kerkvliet (1993) Prolactin dysregulation in alloantigen-challenged 3,3',4,4',5,5'-hexachloro- biphenyl-treated mice. Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting. The Toxicologist 13:148.
  26. Steppan, LB, GK DeKrey, NI Kerkvliet (1992) Development of a standard operating procedure for measurement of cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity following in vivo all-sensitization with P815 tumor cells. Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting. The Toxicologist 12:299.
  27. DeKrey, GK, JA Deyo, NI Kerkvliet (1992) Castration partially alleviates the suppression of cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity by 3,3',4,4',5,5'-hexa- chlorobiphenyl. Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting. The Toxicologist 12:132.
  28. DeKrey, GK, CM Neumann, NI Kerkvliet (1991) Effects of 3,4,5,3',4',5'-hexachlorobiphenyl on production of interleukin-2 and interleukin-4 in alloimmunized mice. Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting. The Toxicologist 11:37.
  29. DeKrey, GK, LB Steppan, JA Deyo, NI Kerkvliet (1990) Coincident endocrine and immune modulation by an Ah receptor binding polychlorinated biphenyl. Pacific Northwest Association of Toxicologists Annual Meeting.
  30. DeKrey, GK, LB Steppan, JA Deyo, NI Kerkvliet (1990) Adrenalectomy and 3,4,5,3',4',5'-hexachlorobiphenyl suppression of the cytotoxic T lymphocyte response to P815 allogeneic tumor in C57Bl/6 mice. Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting. The Toxicologist 10:290.