Nicholas Pullen

Contact Information

Education

Postdoctoral: Molecular Immunology, Department of Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Ph.D.:  Anatomy & Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA
B.S.: Biology, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA

Professional/Academic Experience

2020-Present; Associate Professor, University of Northern Colorado
2017-Present; Graduate Faculty, UNC
2016-2020; Assistant Professor, UNC
2013-2016; Clark Cox Professor in Science, William Woods University, Fulton, MO
2012-2016; Assistant Professor of Biology, WWU
2010-2012; NIH-IRACDA Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University and the Department of Chemistry, Geology, and Physics, Elizabeth City State University, NC

Go to this page for a list of courses I teach, including latest syllabi.

Professional Affiliations:
American Association of Immunologists
Society for Leukocyte Biology
American Association for Anatomy
American Association for the Advancement of Science

Other Experience

2021-present; Editor-in-Chief, Data in Brief  (Elsevier)
2020-2023; Education Committee (Chair 2021-2023), AAI
2019-present; Editorial Board Member, Scientific Reports
2019-present; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, SLB
2018-present; Section Editor, Biochemistry and Immunology, Data in Brief
2014-present; Textbook reviewer for Macmillan, Sinauer Associates, Garland Science, and Morton Publishing Company
2014-2017; Reviewer for the Improving Teacher Quality Grants Program, Missouri Department of Higher Education
2014-2016; Biological Sciences Section Chair, Missouri Academy of Science
2013-2016; Content expert consultant for the Biology Missouri Educator Gateway Assessment, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
2009-2018; Reader and judge for the Virginia Academy of Science

Research/Areas of Interest

                          ResearchGate         Google Scholar

Chronic inflammation underlies pathologies as seemingly diverse as cancer, allergy, and a festering wound.  My research focuses on discovering the dysfunctional molecular signals and circuitry causing cells to become bad actors, and why some people are more prone to these problems than others.  In the lab we do this by examining signal transduction in cells differentiated from adult stem cells, particularly mast cells, macrophages, immature myeloid cells, and different populations of mesenchymal stem cells. We also use in vivo modeling to observe the consequences of targeting certain pathways in inflammatory diseases.  The lab's broad areas include (1) Mast Cell Biology; (2) Inflammatory Modulation; and (3) Immune Cell Dynamics in Cancer.  Our ultimate goals are to better understand the diversity of innate and adaptive immune responses, and contribute knowledge to more individually tailored approaches for treatment.  

Current projects include:

• Signaling networks (esp. TGF-β1) and differential expression of myeloid cells during inflammation and in response to immunosuppression
• Off-label drug uses and novel compounds, such as plant alkaloids and cannabinoids, for healthful resolution of inflammatory responses
• Cellular & molecular mechanisms underlying complementary and integrative health practices such as exercise.
• Trained immunity (a.k.a. "innate memory") of mast cells in cancer and autoimmunity
• Targeting mast cell specific receptors during inflammation

Publications/Creative Works

• Amiel E, Pullen NA, Carr W (2021). Interactive Instructor's Guide. The Immune System, 5th Edition. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company. link.
   
• Smoak P, Harman N, Flores V, Kisiolek J, Pullen NA, Lisano J, Hayward R, Stewart LK. Kefir is a viable exercise recovery beverage for cancer survivors enrolled in a structured exercise program. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise in press 2021. link.
  
  
• Haas G, Dunn A, Madsen J, Genovese P, Chauvin H, Au J, Ziemkiewicz N, Johnson D, Paoli A, Lin A, Pullen N, Garg K. Biomimetic sponges improve muscle structure and function following volumetric muscle loss. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A. in press 2021. link.
  
  
• Vita AA, Aljobaily H, Lyons DO, Pullen NA. Berberine delays onset of collagen-induced arthritis through T cell suppression. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2021; 22(7): 3522. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22073522 
  
  
• Ziemkiewicz N, Hilliard G, Pullen NA, Garg K. The role of innate and adaptive immune cells in skeletal muscle regeneration. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2021; 22(6): 3265. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22063265 
  
  
• Garritson J, Krynski L, Haverbeck L, Haughian JM, Pullen NA, Hayward R. Physical activity delays accumulation of immunosuppressive myeloid-derived suppressor cells. PLoS ONE 2020; 15(6): e0234548. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0234548 
  
  
• Lopatto D, Rosenwald A, DiAngelo JR... Elgin SCR. Facilitating Growth through Frustration: Using Genomics Research in a Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience. Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education 2020; 21(1).
  https://doi.org/10.1128/jmbe.v21i1.2005
  
  
• Pullen NA. Using Concept Maps to Encourage the Meaningful Interpretation of Immunology Facts and Processes. AAI Newsletter (2020) July: 28-29.
  
  
• Lyons DO and Pullen NA. Beyond IgE: Alternative Mast Cell Activation Across Different Disease States. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2020; 21(4): 1498.
  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21041498
• Vita AA, Aljobaily H, Lyons DO, Pullen NA. Berberine delays onset of collagen induced arthritis through T cell suppression. bioRxiv  2019; 736264 [Preprint].

• Vita AA, Royse EA, Pullen NA. Nanoparticles and danger signals: oral delivery vehicles as potential disruptors of intestinal barrier homeostasis.  Journal of Leukocyte Biology 2019; 106(1):95-103.
  https://doi.org/10.1002/JLB.3MIR1118-414RR
  
  
• Lyons DO, Plewes MR, Pullen NA. Soluble transforming growth factor beta-1 enhances murine mast cell release of Interleukin 6 in IgE-independent and Interleukin 13 in IgE-dependent settings in vitro. PLoS ONE 2018; 13(11): e0207704. Publication of this article was funded in part by the University of Northern Colorado Fund for Faculty Publication. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0207704

• Pullen NA, Pickford AR, Perry MM, Jaworski DM, Loveson KF, Arthur DJ, Holliday J, Van Meter TE, Peckham R, Younas W, Briggs S, MacDonald S, Butterfield T, Constantinou M, Fillmore HL. Current insights into matrix metalloproteinases and glioma progression: transcending the degradation boundary. Metalloproteinases In Medicine 2018; 5: 13-30.
  https://doi.org/10.2147/MNM.S105123 

• Elgin, SC, Hauser, C, Holzen, TM, Jones, C, Kleinschmidt, A, Leatherman, J, Genomics Education Partnership*. The GEP: Crowd-Sourcing Big Data Analysis with Undergraduates. Trends in Genetics 2017; 33(2), 81-85. *among the GEP contributing authors.

• Faber TW, Pullen NA, Fernando J, Kolawole EM, McLeod JJA, Taruselli M, Williams K, Rivera K, Barnstein BO, Conrad DH and Ryan JJ. ADAM10 is Required for SCF-induced Mast Cell Migration. Cellular Immunology 2014; 290(1): 80-8.

• Morales JK, Saleem SJ, Martin RK, Saunders BL, Barnstein BO, Faber TW, Pullen NA, Kolawole EM, Brooks KB, Norton SK, Sturgill J, Graham L, Bear HD, Urban JF, Lantz CS, Conrad DH and Ryan JJ. Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells Enhance Mast Cell Responses In Vitro and In Vivo. Journal of Leukocyte Biology 2014; 95(4): 643-50.

• Fernando J, Faber T, Pullen NA, Falanga YT, Kolawole M, Oskeritzian C, Barnstein B, Bandara G, Li G, Schwartz LB, Gurish M, Spiegel S, Strauss D, Conrad D, Bunting K and Ryan JJ. Genotype-dependent Effects of TGFβ1 on Mast Cell Function: Targeting the Stat5 Pathway. The Journal of Immunology 2013; 191(9):4505-13.

•  Garg K, Pullen NA, Oskeritzian CA, Ryan JJ and Bowlin GL. Macrophage functional polarization (M1/M2) in response to varying fiber and pore dimensions of electrospun scaffolds. Biomaterials 2013; 34(18):4439-51.

•  Pullen NA, Barnstein BO, Falanga YT, Wang Z, Suzuki R, Lama Tamang TD, Khurana MC, Harry EA, Rivera J, Draber P, Bunting KD, Mizuno K, Wilson BS and Ryan JJ. Novel mechanism for FcεRI-mediated STAT5 tyrosine phosphorylation and the selective influence of STAT5B over mast cell cytokine production. The Journal of Biological Chemistry 2012; 287(3) 2045-54.

• Pullen NA, Falanga YT, Morales JK, and Ryan JJ. The Fyn-STAT5 pathway: a new frontier in IgE and IgG-mediated mast cell signaling (peer-reviewed review). Frontiers in Immunology 2012; 3: 117.

•  Falanga YT, Chaimowitz NS, Charles N, Finkelman FD, Pullen NA, Barbour S, Dholaria K, Faber T, Kolawole M, Huang B, Odom S, Rivera J, Carlyon J, Conrad DH, Spiegel S, Oskeritzian CA, and Ryan JJ. Lyn but not Fyn kinase controls IgG-Mediated Systemic Anaphylaxis. The Journal of Immunology 2012; 188(9):4360-8.

•  Pullen NA, Anand M, Cooper PS and Fillmore HL. Matrix metalloproteinase-1 expression enhances tumorigenicity as well as tumor-related angiogenesis and is inversely associated with TIMP-4 expression in a model of glioblastoma. Journal of Neuro-Oncology 2012; 106(3) 461-71.

•  Kabolizadeh P, Engelmann BJ, Pullen NA, Ryan JJ, Stewart J, and Farrell NP. Platinum anti-cancer agents and antidepressants. Desipramine enhances platinum-based cytotoxicity in human colon cancer cells. Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry 2012; 17(1) 123-32.

• Pullen NA and Fillmore HL. Induction of matrix metalloproteinase-1 and glioma cell motility by nitric oxide. Journal of Neuro-Oncology 2010; 96(2):201-9.

•  Rife T, Rasoul B, Pullen N, Mitchell D, Grathwol K and Kurth J. The Effect of a Promoter Polymorphism on the Transcription of Nitric Oxide Synthase I and Its Relevance to Parkinson’s Disease. Journal of Neuroscience Research 2009; 87(10):2319-25.

•  Golding SE, Pullen NA, Lama Tamang T, Hubbard N, and Barbour S. Undergraduate research training blossoms at VCU: pollinated by students, nurtured by faculty. Featured vignette, CUR Quarterly 2012; 33(1): 31.

Honors and Awards

2019; College of Natural and Health Sciences Excellence in Teaching Award
2018-2020; UNC Sponsored Research Fellow
2018; Early Career Faculty Grant, American Association of Immunologists
2016; Undergraduate Faculty Travel Grant (Seattle, WA), American Association of Immunologists
2015; Louis D. Beaumont Dad’s Association Distinguished Professor Award for Excellence in Teaching, WWU
2015; AAI Undergraduate Science Faculty Program (Long Beach, CA), American Association of Immunologists
2014; Undergraduate Faculty Travel Grant (Pittsburgh, PA), American Association of Immunologists
2013; Clark Cox Distinguished Professor of Science, chair endowed by the Kresge Foundation, WWU
2010; IRACDA Postdoctoral Fellowship, NIGMS, VCU
2008; Jack Denning Burke Award for Excellence in Cell Biology Research, VCU
2007; A.D. Williams Fellowship, VCU