Tony Wyss-Coray

Honors and Awards

• Zenith Award, Alzheimer's Association (2005)
• Distinguished Scholar Award, The John Douglas French Alzheimer’s Foundation (2005)
• Editor, Journal of Neuroinflammation (2004)
• Medical and Scientific Advisory Council, Alzheimer's Association of Northern California & Northern Nevada (2004)

Professional Education

• M.S., University of Bern, Switzerland Microbiology (1989)
• Ph.D., University of Bern, Switzerland Immunology (1992)

Postdoctoral Advisees

• Eva Czirr, Takeshi Fukuhara, Yingbo He, Kurt Lucin, Jian Luo

Graduate & Fellowship Program Affiliations

• Immunology
• Neurosciences

Web Site Links

• Lab Website

Industry Relationships

Stanford is committed to ethical and transparent interactions with our industry partners. It is our policy to disclose payments of $5,000 or more, equity valued at $5,000 or more in a publicly traded company, or any equity in a privately held company, to physicians and scientists employed by Stanford University from companies or other commercial entities with which they interact as part of their professional activities. 

• Consulting: Satoris Inc
• Equity: Satoris Inc
• Service on Board of Directors: Satoris Inc

Research Interests

Our laboratory studies the role of immune and injury responses in neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s disease. We seek to understand how immune responses and injury pathways may modulate neurodegeneration and age-related changes in the brain. We study these pathways in vivo and in cell culture using a number of genetic and proteomic tools. We have been particularly interested in the TGF-beta signaling pathway as a major regulator of biological processes and we are developing genetic and pharmacological agents to manipulate this pathway.

Publications

• The p75 neurotrophin receptor promotes amyloid-beta(1-42)-induced neuritic dystrophy in vitro and in vivo. Knowles JK,  Rajadas J, Nguyen TV, Yang T, LeMieux MC, Vander Griend L, Ishikawa C, Massa SM, Wyss-Coray T, Longo FM.  J Neurosci.  2009; 29 (34): 10627-37
• Bioluminescence analysis of Smad-dependent TGF-beta signaling in live mice. Luo J,  Wyss-Coray T.  Methods Mol Biol.  2009; 574 193-202
• Neuroprotective natural antibodies to assemblies of amyloidogenic peptides decrease with normal aging and advancing Alzheimer's disease. Britschgi M,  Olin CE, Johns HT, Takeda-Uchimura Y, LeMieux MC, Rufibach K, Rajadas J, Zhang H, Tomooka B, Robinson WH, Clark CM, Fagan AM, Galasko DR, Holtzman DM, Jutel M, Kaye JA, Lemere CA, Leszek J, Li G, Peskind ER, Quinn JF, Yesavage JA, Ghiso JA, Wyss-Coray T.  Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.  2009; 106 (29): 12145-50
• Bioactive TGF-beta can associate with lipoproteins and is enriched in those containing apolipoprotein E3. Tesseur I,  Zhang H, Brecht W, Corn J, Gong JS, Yanagisawa K, Michikawa M, Weisgraber K, Huang Y, Wyss-Coray T.  J Neurochem.  2009; 110 (4): 1254-62
• Blood protein signature for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer disease. Britschgi M,  Wyss-Coray T.  Arch Neurol.  2009; 66 (2): 161-5
• Immune activation in brain aging and neurodegeneration: too much or too little? Lucin KM,  Wyss-Coray T.  Neuron.  2009; 64 (1): 110-22
• Microglia--a wrench in the running wheel? Villeda S,  Wyss-Coray T.  Neuron.  2008; 59 (4): 527-9
• The autophagy-related protein beclin 1 shows reduced expression in early Alzheimer disease and regulates amyloid beta accumulation in mice. Pickford F,  Masliah E, Britschgi M, Lucin K, Narasimhan R, Jaeger PA, Small S, Spencer B, Rockenstein E, Levine B, Wyss-Coray T.  J Clin Invest.  2008; 118 (6): 2190-9
• Live imaging of Smad2/3 signaling in mouse skin wound healing. Chong AK,  Satterwhite T, Pham HM, Costa MA, Luo J, Longaker MT, Wyss-Coray T, Chang J.  Wound Repair Regen.  2007 Sep-Oct; 15 (5): 762-6
• Systemic and acquired immune responses in Alzheimer's disease. Britschgi M,  Wyss-Coray T.  Int Rev Neurobiol.  2007; 82 205-33
• Orally administered TGF-beta is biologically active in the intestinal mucosa and enhances oral tolerance. Ando T,  Hatsushika K, Wako M, Ohba T, Koyama K, Ohnuma Y, Katoh R, Ogawa H, Okumura K, Luo J, Wyss-Coray T, Nakao A.  J Allergy Clin Immunol.  2007; 120 (4): 916-23
• Selective expansion of foxp3-positive regulatory T cells and immunosuppression by suppressors of cytokine signaling 3-deficient dendritic cells. Matsumura Y,  Kobayashi T, Ichiyama K, Yoshida R, Hashimoto M, Takimoto T, Tanaka K, Chinen T, Shichita T, Wyss-Coray T, Sato K, Yoshimura A.  J Immunol.  2007; 179 (4): 2170-9
• Classification and prediction of clinical Alzheimer's diagnosis based on plasma signaling proteins. Ray S,  Britschgi M, Herbert C, Takeda-Uchimura Y, Boxer A, Blennow K, Friedman LF, Galasko DR, Jutel M, Karydas A, Kaye JA, Leszek J, Miller BL, Minthon L, Quinn JF, Rabinovici GD, Robinson WH, Sabbagh MN, So YT, Sparks DL, Tabaton M, Tinklenberg J, Yesavage JA, Tibshirani R, Wyss-Coray T.  Nat Med.  2007; 13 (11): 1359-62
• In vitro analysis of transforming growth factor-beta1 inhibition in novel transgenic SBE-luciferase mice. Satterwhite TS,  Chong AK, Luo J, Pham H, Costa M, Longaker MT, Wyss-Coray T, Chang J.  Ann Plast Surg.  2007; 59 (2): 207-13
• Immune cells may fend off Alzheimer disease. Britschgi M,  Wyss-Coray T.  Nat Med.  2007; 13 (4): 408-9
• Glia-dependent TGF-beta signaling, acting independently of the TH17 pathway, is critical for initiation of murine autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Luo J,  Ho PP, Buckwalter MS, Hsu T, Lee LY, Zhang H, Kim DK, Kim SJ, Gambhir SS, Steinman L, Wyss-Coray T.  J Clin Invest.  2007; 117 (11): 3306-15
• Neurodegeneration and neuroprotection in multiple sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases. Dhib-Jalbut S,  Arnold DL, Cleveland DW, Fisher M, Friedlander RM, Mouradian MM, Przedborski S, Trapp BD, Wyss-Coray T, Yong VW.  J Neuroimmunol.  2006; 176 (1-2): 198-215
• Bioluminescence imaging of Smad signaling in living mice shows correlation with excitotoxic neurodegeneration. Luo J,  Lin AH, Masliah E, Wyss-Coray T.  Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.  2006; 103 (48): 18326-31
• Inflammation in Alzheimer disease: driving force, bystander or beneficial response? Wyss-Coray T,  Nat Med.  2006; 12 (9): 1005-15
• Highly sensitive and specific bioassay for measuring bioactive TGF-beta. Tesseur I,  Zou K, Berber E, Zhang H, Wyss-Coray T.  BMC Cell Biol.  2006; 7 15
• A role for TGF-beta signaling in neurodegeneration: evidence from genetically engineered models. Tesseur I,  Wyss-Coray T.  Curr Alzheimer Res.  2006; 3 (5): 505-13
• Chronically increased transforming growth factor-beta1 strongly inhibits hippocampal neurogenesis in aged mice. Buckwalter MS,  Yamane M, Coleman BS, Ormerod BK, Chin JT, Palmer T, Wyss-Coray T.  Am J Pathol.  2006; 169 (1): 154-64
• Tgf-Beta pathway as a potential target in neurodegeneration and Alzheimer's. Wyss-Coray T,  Curr Alzheimer Res.  2006; 3 (3): 191-5
• Deficiency in neuronal TGF-beta signaling promotes neurodegeneration and Alzheimer's pathology. Tesseur I,  Zou K, Esposito L, Bard F, Berber E, Can JV, Lin AH, Crews L, Tremblay P, Mathews P, Mucke L, Masliah E, Wyss-Coray T.  J Clin Invest.  2006; 116 (11): 3060-9
• Increased T cell recruitment to the CNS after amyloid beta 1-42 immunization in Alzheimer's mice overproducing transforming growth factor-beta 1. Buckwalter MS,  Coleman BS, Buttini M, Barbour R, Schenk D, Games D, Seubert P, Wyss-Coray T.  J Neurosci.  2006; 26 (44): 11437-41
• Reduced brain tissue perfusion in TGF-beta 1 transgenic mice showing Alzheimer's disease-like cerebrovascular abnormalities. Gaertner RF,  Wyss-Coray T, Von Euw D, Lesné S, Vivien D, Lacombe P.  Neurobiol Dis.  2005 Jun-Jul; 19 (1-2): 38-46
• Small molecule tgf-beta mimetics as potential neuroprotective factors. Zhang H,  Zou K, Tesseur I, Wyss-Coray T.  Curr Alzheimer Res.  2005; 2 (2): 183-6
• Global analysis of Smad2/3-dependent TGF-beta signaling in living mice reveals prominent tissue-specific responses to injury. Lin AH,  Luo J, Mondshein LH, ten Dijke P, Vivien D, Contag CH, Wyss-Coray T.  J Immunol.  2005; 175 (1): 547-54
• Killing pain, killing neurons? Wyss-Coray T,  Nat Med.  2005; 11 (5): 472-3
• Transforming growth factor-beta signaling pathway as a therapeutic target in neurodegeneration. Wyss-Coray T,  J Mol Neurosci.  2004; 24 (1): 149-53
• Modelling neuroinflammatory phenotypes in vivo. Buckwalter MS,  Wyss-Coray T.  J Neuroinflammation.  2004; 1 (1): 10
• Insights into the pathogenesis of hydrocephalus from transgenic and experimental animal models. Crews L,  Wyss-Coray T, Masliah E.  Brain Pathol.  2004; 14 (3): 312-6
• Neuron-specific apolipoprotein e4 proteolysis is associated with increased tau phosphorylation in brains of transgenic mice. Brecht WJ,  Harris FM, Chang S, Tesseur I, Yu GQ, Xu Q, Dee Fish J, Wyss-Coray T, Buttini M, Mucke L, Mahley RW, Huang Y.  J Neurosci.  2004; 24 (10): 2527-34
• Astroglial regulation of apolipoprotein E expression in neuronal cells. Implications for Alzheimer's disease. Harris FM,  Tesseur I, Brecht WJ, Xu Q, Mullendorff K, Chang S, Wyss-Coray T, Mahley RW, Huang Y.  J Biol Chem.  2004; 279 (5): 3862-8
• Loss of TGF-beta 1 leads to increased neuronal cell death and microgliosis in mouse brain. Brionne TC,  Tesseur I, Masliah E, Wyss-Coray T.  Neuron.  2003; 40 (6): 1133-45
• Adult mouse astrocytes degrade amyloid-beta in vitro and in situ. Wyss-Coray T,  Loike JD, Brionne TC, Lu E, Anankov R, Yan F, Silverstein SC, Husemann J.  Nat Med.  2003; 9 (4): 453-7
• Carboxyl-terminal-truncated apolipoprotein E4 causes Alzheimer's disease-like neurodegeneration and behavioral deficits in transgenic mice. Harris FM,  Brecht WJ, Xu Q, Tesseur I, Kekonius L, Wyss-Coray T, Fish JD, Masliah E, Hopkins PC, Scearce-Levie K, Weisgraber KH, Mucke L, Mahley RW, Huang Y.  Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.  2003; 100 (19): 10966-71
• Inflammation in neurodegenerative disease--a double-edged sword. Wyss-Coray T,  Mucke L.  Neuron.  2002; 35 (3): 419-32
• Prominent neurodegeneration and increased plaque formation in complement-inhibited Alzheimer's mice. Wyss-Coray T,  Yan F, Lin AH, Lambris JD, Alexander JJ, Quigg RJ, Masliah E.  Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.  2002; 99 (16): 10837-42
• Molecular and functional dissection of TGF-beta1-induced cerebrovascular abnormalities in transgenic mice. Buckwalter M,  Pepper JP, Gaertner RF, Von Euw D, Lacombe P, Wyss-Coray T.  Ann N Y Acad Sci.  2002; 977 87-95
• Functional role of TGF beta in Alzheimer's disease microvascular injury: lessons from transgenic mice. Masliah E,  Ho G, Wyss-Coray T.  Neurochem Int.  2001 Nov-Dec; 39 (5-6): 393-400
• Key signaling pathways regulate the biological activities and accumulation of amyloid-beta. Wyss-Coray T,  McConlogue L, Kindy M, Schmidt AM, Du Yan S, Stern DM.  Neurobiol Aging.  2001 Nov-Dec; 22 (6): 967-73
• Apolipoprotein E fragments present in Alzheimer's disease brains induce neurofibrillary tangle-like intracellular inclusions in neurons. Huang Y,  Liu XQ, Wyss-Coray T, Brecht WJ, Sanan DA, Mahley RW.  Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.  2001; 98 (15): 8838-43
• TGF-beta1 promotes microglial amyloid-beta clearance and reduces plaque burden in transgenic mice. Wyss-Coray T,  Lin C, Yan F, Yu GQ, Rohde M, McConlogue L, Masliah E, Mucke L.  Nat Med.  2001; 7 (5): 612-8
• Inflammation and Alzheimer's disease. Akiyama H,  Barger S, Barnum S, Bradt B, Bauer J, Cole GM, Cooper NR, Eikelenboom P, Emmerling M, Fiebich BL, Finch CE, Frautschy S, Griffin WS, Hampel H, Hull M, Landreth G, Lue L, Mrak R, Mackenzie IR, McGeer PL, O'Banion MK, Pachter J, Pasinetti G, Plata-Salaman C, Rogers J, Rydel R, Shen Y, Streit W, Strohmeyer R, Tooyoma I, Van Muiswinkel FL, Veerhuis R, Walker D, Webster S, Wegrzyniak B, Wenk G, Wyss-Coray T.  Neurobiol Aging.  2000 May-Jun; 21 (3): 383-421
• Dominant negative effects of apolipoprotein E4 revealed in transgenic models of neurodegenerative disease. Buttini M,  Akeefe H, Lin C, Mahley RW, Pitas RE, Wyss-Coray T, Mucke L.  Neuroscience.  2000; 97 (2): 207-10
• Chronic overproduction of transforming growth factor-beta1 by astrocytes promotes Alzheimer's disease-like microvascular degeneration in transgenic mice. Wyss-Coray T,  Lin C, Sanan DA, Mucke L, Masliah E.  Am J Pathol.  2000; 156 (1): 139-50
• Ibuprofen, inflammation and Alzheimer disease. Wyss-Coray T,  Mucke L.  Nat Med.  2000; 6 (9): 973-4
• Alzheimer's disease-like cerebrovascular pathology in transforming growth factor-beta 1 transgenic mice and functional metabolic correlates. Wyss-Coray T,  Lin C, von Euw D, Masliah E, Mucke L, Lacombe P.  Ann N Y Acad Sci.  2000; 903 317-23
• Expression of human apolipoprotein E3 or E4 in the brains of Apoe-/- mice: isoform-specific effects on neurodegeneration. Buttini M,  Orth M, Bellosta S, Akeefe H, Pitas RE, Wyss-Coray T, Mucke L, Mahley RW.  J Neurosci.  1999; 19 (12): 4867-80
• Wild-type but not Alzheimer-mutant amyloid precursor protein confers resistance against p53-mediated apoptosis. Xu X,  Yang D, Wyss-Coray T, Yan J, Gan L, Sun Y, Mucke L.  Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.  1999; 96 (13): 7547-52
• Elimination of the class A scavenger receptor does not affect amyloid plaque formation or neurodegeneration in transgenic mice expressing human amyloid protein precursors. Huang F,  Buttini M, Wyss-Coray T, McConlogue L, Kodama T, Pitas RE, Mucke L.  Am J Pathol.  1999; 155 (5): 1741-7
• Novel role of human CD4 molecule identified in neurodegeneration. Buttini M,  Westland CE, Masliah E, Yafeh AM, Wyss-Coray T, Mucke L.  Nat Med.  1998; 4 (4): 441-6
• Induction of matrix metalloproteinase-2 in human immunodeficiency virus-1 glycoprotein 120 transgenic mouse brains. Marshall DC,  Wyss-Coray T, Abraham CR.  Neurosci Lett.  1998; 254 (2): 97-100
• Amyloidogenic role of cytokine TGF-beta1 in transgenic mice and in Alzheimer's disease. Wyss-Coray T,  Masliah E, Mallory M, McConlogue L, Johnson-Wood K, Lin C, Mucke L.  Nature.  1997; 389 (6651): 603-6
• Astroglial overproduction of TGF-beta 1 enhances inflammatory central nervous system disease in transgenic mice . Wyss-Coray T,  Borrow P, Brooker MJ, Mucke L.  J Neuroimmunol.  1997; 77 (1): 45-50
• Cellular signaling roles of TGF beta, TNF alpha and beta APP in brain injury responses and Alzheimer's disease. Mattson MP,  Barger SW, Furukawa K, Bruce AJ, Wyss-Coray T, Mark RJ, Mucke L.  Brain Res Brain Res Rev.  1997; 23 (1-2): 47-61
• Dysregulation of signal transduction pathways as a potential mechanism of nervous system alterations in HIV-1 gp120 transgenic mice and humans with HIV-1 encephalitis. Wyss-Coray T,  Masliah E, Toggas SM, Rockenstein EM, Brooker MJ, Lee HS, Mucke L.  J Clin Invest.  1996; 97 (3): 789-98
• Antigen-presenting T cells induce the development of cytotoxic CD4+ T cells. I. Involvement of the CD80-CD28 adhesion molecules. Mauri D,  Wyss-Coray T, Gallati H, Pichler WJ.  J Immunol.  1995; 155 (1): 118-27
• Increased central nervous system production of extracellular matrix components and development of hydrocephalus in transgenic mice overexpressing transforming growth factor-beta 1. Wyss-Coray T,  Feng L, Masliah E, Ruppe MD, Lee HS, Toggas SM, Rockenstein EM, Mucke L.  Am J Pathol.  1995; 147 (1): 53-67
• Selective restimulation of antigen or allergen preactivated T cells using OKT3 F(ab)2 results in the secretion of TH-1 or TH-2-like cytokine patterns. Jutel M,  Wyss-Coray T, Carballido JM, Blaser K, Müller UR, Pichler WJ.  Clin Exp Allergy.  1995; 25 (11): 1108-17
• Noncytotoxic human CD4+ T-cell clones presenting and simultaneously responding to an antigen die of apoptosis. Bettens F,  Frei E, Frutig K, Mauri D, Pichler WJ, Wyss-Coray T.  Cell Immunol.  1995; 161 (1): 72-8
• Improved sensitization of antigen-presenting cells with transferrin-bound peptides: advantages in competition for antigen presentation. Mauri D,  Wyss-Coray T, Brander C, Pichler WJ.  Cell Immunol.  1994; 158 (1): 59-70
• Comparative analysis of surface antigens in cultured human outer root sheath cells and epidermal keratinocytes: persistence of low expression of class I MHC antigens in outer root sheath cells in vitro. Limat A,  Wyss-Coray T, Hunziker T, Braathen LR.  Br J Dermatol.  1994; 131 (2): 184-90
• T cells as antigen-presenting cells. Pichler WJ,  Wyss-Coray T.  Immunol Today.  1994; 15 (7): 312-5
• A cell surface ELISA for the screening of monoclonal antibodies to antigens on viable cells in suspension. Grunow R,  D'Apuzzo M, Wyss-Coray T, Frutig K, Pichler WJ.  J Immunol Methods.  1994; 171 (1): 93-102
• Peptide-induced T cell clones: specificity, MHC restriction, proliferation and cytokine pattern as a function of different stimulations. Pichler WJ,  Brander C, Mauri D, Frutig K, Wyss-Coray T.  Arb Paul Ehrlich Inst Bundesamt Sera Impfstoffe Frankf A M.  1994; (87): 141-53; discussion 153-4
• Carrier-mediated uptake and presentation of a major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted peptide. Brander C,  Wyss-Coray T, Mauri D, Bettens F, Pichler WJ.  Eur J Immunol.  1993; 23 (12): 3217-23
• Antigen-presenting human T cells and antigen-presenting B cells induce a similar cytokine profile in specific T cell clones. Wyss-Coray T,  Gallati H, Pracht I, Limat A, Mauri D, Frutig K, Pichler WJ.  Eur J Immunol.  1993; 23 (12): 3350-7
• The B7 adhesion molecule is expressed on activated human T cells: functional involvement in T-T cell interactions. Wyss-Coray T,  Mauri-Hellweg D, Baumann K, Bettens F, Grunow R, Pichler WJ.  Eur J Immunol.  1993; 23 (9): 2175-80
• Discrimination of human CD4 T cell clones based on their reactivity with antigen-presenting T cells. Wyss-Coray T,  Brander C, Frutig K, Pichler WJ.  Eur J Immunol.  1992; 22 (9): 2295-302
• Use of antibody/peptide constructs of direct antigenic peptides to T cells: evidence for T cell processing and presentation. Wyss-Coray T,  Brander C, Bettens F, Mijic D, Pichler WJ.  Cell Immunol.  1992; 139 (1): 268-73