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Michael P. O’Connell

Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital

ORCID: 0000-0002-8615-7660

Publishes on Melanoma and MAPK Pathways, Immunotherapy and Immune Responses, Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research. 220 papers and 7.9k citations.

220Publications
7.9kTotal Citations

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Top publicationsby citations

Early-onset lymphoproliferation and autoimmunity caused by germline STAT3 gain-of-function mutations
Cited by 553Open Access

Germline loss-of-function mutations in the transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) cause immunodeficiency, whereas somatic gain-of-function mutations in STAT3 are associated with large granular lymphocytic leukemic, myelodysplastic syndrome, and aplastic anemia. Recently, germline mutations in STAT3 have also been associated with autoimmune disease. Here, we report on 13 individuals from 10 families with lymphoproliferation and early-onset solid-organ autoimmunity associated with 9 different germline heterozygous mutations in STAT3. Patients exhibited a variety of clinical features, with most having lymphadenopathy, autoimmune cytopenias, multiorgan autoimmunity (lung, gastrointestinal, hepatic, and/or endocrine dysfunction), infections, and short stature. Functional analyses demonstrate that these mutations confer a gain-of-function in STAT3 leading to secondary defects in STAT5 and STAT1 phosphorylation and the regulatory T-cell compartment. Treatment targeting a cytokine pathway that signals through STAT3 led to clinical improvement in 1 patient, suggesting a potential therapeutic option for such patients. These results suggest that there is a broad range of autoimmunity caused by germline STAT3 gain-of-function mutations, and that hematologic autoimmunity is a major component of this newly described disorder. Some patients for this study were enrolled in a trial registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00001350.

The effects of cryopreservation on sperm morphology, motility and mitochondrial function
Cited by 481Open Access

BACKGROUND: The effects of cryoinjury were determined simultaneously on the mitochondrial function, motility, morphology and viability of ejaculated human sperm. METHOD: Rhodamine 123 (R123) uptake (% of sperm) and stain intensity were used to determine sperm mitochondrial activity before and after cryopreservation from the semen of 50 men attending for infertility investigation. Morphology was assessed using Tygerberg's strict criteria and viability was assessed by eosin Y. Sperm motility was measured using computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA). RESULTS: Freeze-thawing caused a 37% (P = 0.001) reduction in normal morphological forms of sperm. All CASA sperm motility parameters except amplitude of lateral head displacement were similarly reduced. R123 uptake and intensity within sperm mitochondria decreased by 36 and 47% respectively (both P = 0.001). In addition, there was a similar significant decrease (31%, P = 0.001) in the viability of the sperm. CONCLUSIONS: Sperm morphology, motility, mitochondrial activities and viability are equally susceptible to cryopreservation-induced damage. R123 intensity is a novel and robust indicator of mitochondrial function before and after such trauma.