Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station

MAES Researchers Make New Discoveries on What Does and Doesn't Affect Immune System

Pamela Fraker

Scientists know that a number of factors can affect the body's immune system: poor diet, certain steroids, chronic stress. Now researchers at Michigan State University have discovered that an appetite-controlling hormone also affects the immune system and natural versions of certain steroids do not.

Both studies were reported in the Feb. 4 online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"These two studies, though not directly related, show that the neuroendocrine system plays a big role in both the immune system and obesity," said Pamela Fraker, MAES biochemistry and molecular biology researcher and lead scientist for both projects. "MSU is one of the few places studying the relationship between metabolism, the immune system and the neuroendocrine system."

A new role for leptin

One research team discovered that leptin, a hormone produced by fat cells, supports white blood cell production in the body, enhancing immune function. This is the first time leptin's effect on the immune system has been demonstrated.

Scientists have long known that leptin helps control how much a person eats as well as how quickly the body burns energy.

"Many investigators have been trying to unlock the key to obesity for years," Fraker said. "The more fat a person has, the more leptin there is in the bloodstream. In obese people, it seems that the body becomes leptin-resistant -- the signals get jammed. So giving obese people leptin doesn't help them lose weight."

The MSU scientists were examining ob/ob mice (genetically programmed to have non-functional leptin) and db/db mice (genetically programmed to have non-functional leptin receptors), giving them supplemental leptin to study its effects. Leptin caused the mice to eat less, but the big surprise was leptin's effect on the immune system. The mice that were given leptin had double the number of B cells, a type of white blood cell produced in bone marrow that fights infection by making antibodies.

"This is a brand new role for leptin," Fraker said. "It appears that most obese people may be somewhat immunosuppressed. This finding shows us that the body's resistance to leptin plays a role in that, too."

To further study leptin's effect on the immune system, Fraker and her colleagues are planning a study on morbidly obese people who will be having gastric bypass surgery. The outcome of the surgery is highly successful for most people, but mortality rates can range from 2 to 10 percent.

"Infection from poor wound healing, which is the result of reduced immune function, is one reason people die from the surgery," Fraker said. "We're going to measure people's immune function before and after surgery to see how much it improves, as well as how fast it improves."

Other members of this research team are Kate Claycombe, MAES food science and human nutrition researcher, and Louis King, research assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biology.

Naturally produced steroids don't inhibit immune system

Corticosteroids such as prednisone reduce inflammation, but they also inhibit the body's immune system -- a person taking prescription steroids has increased susceptibility to infection. Another MSU research team found that corticosteroids produced naturally in the body don't have this same immunosuppressive effect.

The human body secretes corticosteroids when it's under stress, both psychological and physical. These steroids are responsible for the "fight-or-flight” response in humans and other animals. Cortisol (also called hydrocortisone) is the most abundant corticosteroid in the body. These steroids' anti-inflammatory effects are well-known, and pharmaceutical companies have been making versions of them for about 20 years. But people taking steroids are warned that cuts and bruises may be slow to heal because of steroids' effects on the immune system.

Fraker and her team's discovery that the naturally produced versions of the steroids don't affect the immune system as the pharmacological versions do is the first time this has been observed.

"With the pharmacological versions of steroids, you lose some immune function," Fraker explained. "With the natural versions, you retain neutrophil [a type of white blood cell] function. It may be worthwhile for pharmaceutical companies to investigate synthesizing natural versions of the steroids."

In addition to Fraker and King, other members of this research team are Mark Trottier, MSU research assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, and Matthew Newsted, undergraduate research assistant.

Both of these research projects are supported by the National Institutes of Health. The work of Fraker and Claycombe is also supported by the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station.

Two MAES Scientists Honored by French Government

Two MAES scientists have received prestigious awards from the French government for their contributions to advancing the cause of French agriculture, culture and education.

Steven Pueppke, assistant vice president for research and graduate studies and director of the MAES and the MSU Office of Biobased Technologies, and James Bingen, professor of community, agriculture, recreation and resource studies, were presented with medals of honor by representatives of the French government at a Feb. 1 ceremony at the MSU University Club.

Steve Pueppke and Jim Bingen display their medals.

Steve Pueppke and Jim Bingen display their French medals of honor. From left: Lila Laborde-Casterot, attaché scientifique adjointe, Consulat Général de France; Jim Bingen; Steve Pueppke; and Jean-Pierre Toutant, attaché scientifique, Consulat Général de France.

"The presentation of these awards is a symbolic gesture that rewards these two individuals and is also a mark of the excellent relations that exist between MSU and France," said Jean-Pierre Toutant, French government representative."The scientific service of the French Consulate in Chicago wishes to deepen these ties in agriculture as well as in other scientific fields."

"Steve Pueppke and Jim Bingen are outstanding scientists," said Ian Gray, MSU vice president for research and graduate studies. "Their work to foster and strengthen ties between MSU and French scholarship is furthering the university's world-grant mission around the globe."

Pueppke received the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques (Knight in the Order of Academic Palms). The Palmes Académiques is a decoration given to those who have advanced the cause of French culture, education and the arts throughout the world. It was established by Napoleon in 1808 to honor eminent members of the University of Paris and is one of the oldest and most prestigious decorations a scholar can receive from the French government.

Pueppke was recognized for his efforts over the past decade to build institutional relationships between U.S. and French university and research facilities.

"I am humbled by the award and honored to have helped enhance and increase the global reach of the collaborative research efforts between these two countries," Pueppke said. "What a pleasure to have met and become friends with so many French colleagues who share common interests and goals."

Pueppke is the seventh MSU faculty member to be awarded the Palmes Académiques. Previous winners were Ehsan Ahmed, Deidre Dawson, Michael Koppisch, Jean Nicholas, Anna Norris and Georges Joyaux.

Bingen received the Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite agricole (Knight in the Agricultural Order of Merit), a lifetime appointment given by the French government. It was established in 1883 by Jules Méline, minister of agriculture, to recognize those making significant contributions to the development and progress of agriculture.

Bingen was acknowledged for his contributions to helping young Americans understand French farming practices and policy that are grounded in the history and values of place.

"I am deeply honored to receive such a prestigious award," Bingen said. "It's extremely fulfilling to have the opportunity to help a new generation discover and appreciate French farming practices that enhance the viability of small family farmers, both here and globally."

Five MAES Scientists Honored at Awards Convocation

Though the focus of their work ranges from cellulosic biofuels to wildlife response to ecological restoration, the five MAES researchers honored at the 2008 Academic Awards Convocation have one thing in common: excellence.

Bruce Dale, MAES chemical engineering and materials science researcher; Dean DellaPenna, MAES biochemistry and molecular biology researcher; and Jim Hancock, MAES horticulture researcher, received Distinguished Faculty Awards. Kami Silk, MAES communication researcher, received a Teacher-Scholar Award. MAES fisheries and wildlife scientist Kelly Millenbah received a Quality Teaching Award.

Distinguished Faculty Awards are presented in recognition of a comprehensive and sustained record of scholarly excellence in research and/or creative activities, instruction and outreach. Teacher-Scholar Awards are presented to faculty members who early in their careers have earned the respect of students and colleagues for their devotion to and skill in teaching and who have shown scholarly promise. The Alumni Club of Mid-Michigan Quality in Undergraduate Teaching Awards honor outstanding undergraduate teaching.

Bruce Dale is recognized as a world leader in the application of biotechnology principles to produce fuels, chemicals and other products from renewable plant resources. Because the current use of corn kernels for ethanol production is neither efficient nor sustainable, Dale’s research is timely and important to the goals of the nation and to the world. His national and international reputation stems from his pioneering research on the ammonia freeze-explosion process. A major ethanol producer is commercializing his breakthrough ammonia pretreatment technology.

Dale co-chaired a National Research Council panel and has testified before Congress on the findings. He advises President George W. Bush and Gov. Jennifer Granholm on the practical use of biofuels.

Dale is devoted to teaching and research aimed at developing sustainable energy for modern society.

Dean DellaPenna is regarded as one of the world’s foremost experts on the biosynthesis of nutritionally important micronutrients in plants. His pioneering research on vitamin A and essential fatty acid biosynthesis in plants employs the tools of biochemistry, genetics and genomics in creative ways to uncover the enzymes that plants use to make these key molecules. His research also reveals the complex ways in which these vitamins contribute to the growth and stress tolerance of plants.

DellaPenna has been instrumental in pushing the international community to take on the challenge of using genomics and biochemistry to tackle the biofortification of foods important to people in developing countries. This led to collaborative projects funded by international agencies and the Gates Foundation to improve the nutritional quality of rice, cassava and other foods for undernourished people in Africa and other countries.

Jim Hancock James Hancock is a global authority on the evolution and ecology of strawberries and blueberries and is the author of a highly respected textbook for crop evolution. His work on blueberry chromosomal and genomic divergence has contributed significantly to the understanding of the adaptive and dynamic nature of autopolyploids. He also is a gifted plant breeder who has developed some of the highest quality and most quickly adopted blueberry cultivars worldwide.

Hancock’s publications in gene flow and crop evolution have led to invitations to participate in activities related to biotechnology biosafety issues by the Pew Initiative and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. He is engaged in biosafety training internationally.

Kami Silk He served as director of the graduate program in plant breeding and genetics and has taken a leading role in bringing national and international attention to the need for plant breeding in the 21st century.

Kami Silk conducts research in health, risk and organizational communication. Kelly Millenbah

Her research focuses on how to influence individuals to engage in healthy behavior and prevention practices. She currently is working in the area of breast cancer prevention, with a focus on early prevention among adolescent females.

Kelly Millenbah's research focuses on restoration ecology -- the conservation and management of disturbed and damaged ecosystems with implications for threatened and endangered species.

New Bioeconomy Not without Ethical Quandaries

Until the Industrial Revolution, wind, water, animals and biomass – such as wood for fuel – met humans’ primary energy needs. The emerging bioeconomy, led initially by the biofuels industry, will put increased demands on agriculture to produce both food and fuel.

Using land for biofuels creates pressure that has to be thought through ethically on two fronts – displacing land used for agrifood production and displacing land used for nature, according to Paul Thompson, MAES philosophy researcher, who holds the W.K. Kellogg chair in agricultural, food and community ethics.

Thompson and five other scientists reviewed various technical, political and ethical aspects of the emerging bioeconomy at a symposium titled “Energy, Agriculture and People: Global Implications for Science and Policy” at the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting on Feb. 15.

Thompson conducted an extensive scientific literature search and several workshops to garner input on the ethical implications of biofuel production.

"In the case of agrifood production, there are some important ways that such issues are framed and debated," Thompson said. "One is a 'God's-eye' perspective that looks at society and counts numbers -- it focuses on the aggregate, not individuals. The other approach stresses individual rights and sees anything that deprives one person of food as ethically problematic.

"In the case of nature, the boundaries are very ambiguous," he continued. "Some people see farms as a part of nature -- they connect to nature through farms. Others see nature as being about national parks and wildlife areas. Although this view doesn’t encompass crop-based biofuels, it does include issues -- such as creating cellulosic biofuels from timber in forestlands – that can prove ethically controversial."

Thompson contends that, though there are no easy answers, inclusive, deliberative dialogue is critical to the success of biobased technologies and practices.

"It's not something that, as a philosopher, I can sit in my office and sort out," Thompson said. "Philosophers can help frame the issue, but that's the limit of what we can do."

Thompson's research is funded by the National Science Foundation.

How Do We Learn to Make Sustainable Choices?

How does society cope with climate change when the change appears to be happening so quickly? How do we respond to emerging diseases when little is known about them? How can sound environmental policies be created when so much remains to be learned?

Tom Dietz Understanding how societies learn about ecosystems and sustainability and how that learning can be used to create public policy was the focus of a symposium organized and moderated by Thomas Dietz, Michigan State University assistant vice president of environmental research and director of the Environmental Science and Policy Program. Adam Henry, of the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, also organized the symposium, held Feb. 17 at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Boston.

"How Can Social Learning Move Us toward Sustainability?" explored how social learning can be applied to all types of public policy and how three theories are used primarily to shape environmental policy.

Social learning theory is used to explain how learning is transmitted through society, building on what each individual learns.

"In social learning, individuals learn from the experience of others," Dietz explained. "So networks and communication are important. Our goal is to use social learning theory to create good public policy and sustainably manage ecosystems. Given how quickly the environment is changing and how much we need to know, it’s the only strategy that can ensure good policy."

Dietz's research is funded by the National Science Foundation and the MSU Environmental Research Initiative.

MSU Helps Sponsor Great Lakes Environmental Issues Web Site

Thanks to several groups at Michigan State University and WJR radio, people looking for information on environmental issues or ways to protect the environment in the Great Lakes region now have an online resource to visit.

The new Web site, Greening of the Great Lakes, provides information and insight into the organizations committed to making the Great Lakes region a leader in environmental practices.

"'Greening of the Great Lakes' is an exciting extension of MSU’s partnership with WJR," said MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon. "The stewardship of the environment in which we live is vitally important to all of us, especially when it concerns our treasured Great Lakes. We want 'Greening of the Great Lakes' to become the online resource for all the important information people need to incorporate sound environmental practices into their daily lives."

"The MSU Office of Biobased Technologies is pleased to be one of the sponsors of this Web site that will offer environmental information and resources to the Great Lakes region," said Steve Pueppke, director of the MSU Office of Biobased Technologies (OBT) and the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station. "Part of the OBT's role is to connect people with research and information on products made from renewable resources. This benefits both the environment and Michigan's economy."

"The outstanding partnership between WJR and MSU to create www.greeningofthegreatlakes.com has created not only a place where listeners can go to find extensive resources for those dedicated to living an environmentally friendly lifestyle but a site that will stay on the cutting edge of environmental-related news and information," said Mike Fezzey, WJR president and general manager.

Almost all of the information and resources on the site are provided by MSU and Web site sponsors.

The Web site is divided into several sections, including agriculture, biobased technologies, eco- and agritourism, energy, green building, public policy, recycling, and water and land.

The site also features a news feed produced by the MSU Knight Center for Environmental Journalism through a news service called Michigan's Echo.

"Each day we summarize the top environmental stories reported by more than 35 Michigan daily and weekly newspapers," said Dave Poulson, associate director of the Knight Center. "These summaries are posted in a news digest that links to the full versions of the stories. Organizations can take different versions of the feed and post it on their Web sites."

For more information, visit the Greening of the Great Lakes Web site.

MSU, University of Iowa Become Partners in Chicago Climate Exchange Program

Michigan State University and the University of Iowa (UI) have agreed to a partnership involving the transaction of carbon credits through the Chicago Climate Exchange program.

"Because MSU is in the initial stages of the CCX program, we need to purchase additional credits until we can ramp up to reduce energy consumption and implementation of the use of alternative fuels at the T.B. Simon Power Plant," said Lynda Boomer, energy and environmental engineer at MSU. "A partnership with another Big Ten university that is also a member of the CCX is a win-win for both of us."

CCX , a voluntary program, is the world’s first legally binding and market-based greenhouse gas registry, reduction and carbon credit trading system that operates to reduce major greenhouse gas emissions.

The transaction of 5,000 tons of carbon dioxide credits between MSU and UI is one of the first active steps of MSU’s involvement with CCX. The CCX gives an allotment of credits each year based on a market-based cap and trade.

"Our commitment for 2007 was around 25,000 tons," Boomer said. "We need 25,000 tons reduction. And we have not met that because our campus is growing, and we are using more electricity. We will purchase credits from the University of Iowa, which has successfully reduced its emissions by burning oat hulls (a byproduct of Quaker Oats) at its power plant."

Boomer said the program has resulted in MSU looking at alternative fuels for the power plant.

"We're burning a small amount of biomass consisting of material made from corn starch, and we’re looking at ways to increase the use of biomaterial," she said.

MSU joined the CCX in 2006, agreeing to reduce its greenhouse gas and carbon dioxide emissions by 6 percent by 2010. The first compliance year for MSU was 2007.

CCX members reduce emissions by creating and maintaining ways to offset carbon dioxide emissions, such as conserving energy. Scientists theorize that greenhouse gas emissions and reabsorption of those gases must be in balance to combat global warming.

"It's a really good first step for us to be working with the University of Iowa," said Bob Ellerhorst, director of utilities at MSU. "We want to thank them for this opportunity to help MSU's involvement with the CCX."

UI joined CCX in 2003 and pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 1 percent in 2003, 2 percent in 2004, 3 percent in 2005 and 4 percent in 2006, said Ferman Milster, associate director of utility and energy management at UI.

In 2003, UI partnered with the Iowa Farm Bureau to purchase credits needed to make UI's required reduction target. Since 2004, UI has reduced its carbon emissions in excess of the CCX target and accumulated excess credits in the CCX registry.

"It's incredibly exciting to see two higher education institutions supporting each other to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," Milster said. "This is sending a strong message to our students, faculty and staff, and the general public that our campuses are willing to assume leadership roles in reducing carbon emissions."

Sheep Teaching and Research Center Receives Spartan Innovator Award

Alan Culham, manager of the Sheep Teaching and Research Center, grew tired of lifting sheep into the back of a truck to transport them from the center's South Campus Farms location to classes. So he and his students transformed and old high-low trailer into a trailer that could be pulled with the farm truck. Their ingenuity earned the Sheep Farm the 2007 Spartan Innovator Award, presented at the 2008 Farm Managers' Seminar in February.

Alan Culham (right), manager of the Sheep Teaching and Research Center, accepts the 2007 Spartan Innovator Award from Ben Darling, assistant director of Land Management Office, at the 27th Annual Farm Managers' Seminar.

A portable, battery-operated hydraulic pumping system was mounted to the front of the trailer and allows for operation and use without a tractor. The pumping system is portable and can be removed and remounted on other high-low trailers, allowing multiple farms to use the trailer. The trailer has become an indispensable tool at the Sheep Farm; it's used to transport animals around campus, haul feed and serves as a wash rack when sheep are prepared for exhibition.

The Spartan Innovator Award recognizes the outstanding efforts, positive contributions and achievements in the field by MSU farm, station and property staff members to meet the challenges of regulations, safety, technology, research and funding.

"We have many conscientious, creative and talented people in the MSU/MAES farm, station and property family," said Ben Darling, assistant director of the Land Management Office. "This award is one small way to let them know that we notice and appreciate what they are doing and that it truly does make a difference."