Our current research focuses on the effect of peripheral inflammation on brain function and behavior. In particular, we aim to elucidate the underlying mechanisms by which immune responses to allergen exposures elicit behavioral and mood disorders in susceptible individuals. Currently, we investigate molecular and cellular pathology in the intestines and brain as well as gut microbiota changes that are associated with behavioral abnormality using a mouse model of milk allergy.

Publications

Manocha GD, Floden AM, Miller NM, Smith AJ, Nagamoto-Combs K, Saito T, Saido TC, Combs CK. (2019) Temporal progression of Alzheimer's disease in brains and intestines of transgenic mice. Neurobiol Aging. 81:166-176.

Smith NA, Germundson DL, Combs CK, Vendsel LP, Nagamoto-Combs K. (2019) Astrogliosis Associated With Behavioral Abnormality in a Non-anaphylactic Mouse Model of Cow's Milk Allergy. Front Cell Neurosci. 13:320.

Kulas JA, Franklin W, Smith NA, Manocha GD, Puig KL, Nagamoto-Combs K, Hendrix RD, Taglialatela G, Barger SW, Combs CK. (2018) Ablation of amyloid precursor protein increases insulin degrading enzyme levels and activity in brain and peripheral tissues. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00279.2018.

Schommer J, Marwarha G, Nagamoto-Combs K, Ghribi O. (2018) Palmitic acid-enriched diet increases α-synuclein and tyrosine hydroxylase expression levels in the mouse brain. Front Neurosci. 12:552.

Germundson DL, Smith NA, Vendsel LP, Kelsch AV, Combs CK, Nagamoto-Combs K. (2018) Oral sensitization of whey proteins induces age- and sex-dependent behavioral abnormality and neuroinflammatory responses in a mouse model of food allergy: a potential role of mast cells. J. Neuroinflammation, 15(1):120.

Manocha GD, Floden AM, Puig KL, Nagamoto-Combs K, Scherzer CR, Combs CK. (2017) Defining the contribution of neuroinflammation to Parkinson’s disease in humanized immune system mice. Mol. Neurodegener. 12 (1), 17.

Nagamoto-Combs K, Manocha GD, Puig KL, Combs CK. (2016) An improved approach to align and embed multiple brain samples in a gelatin-based matrix for simultaneous histological processing, J. Neurosci Methods 261, 155-160.

Nagamoto-Combs K, J Kulas, CK Combs (2014) A novel cell line from spontaneously immortalized murine microglia, J Neurosci Methods 233, 187-198.

Nagamoto-Combs K, CK Combs (2014) Proinflammatory Chemical Signaling: Cytokines in Inflammation in Parkinson's Disease, Springer International Publishing 145-173.

Nagamoto-Combs K, CK Combs (2010) Microglial phenotype is regulated by activity of the transcription factor, NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T cells). J. Neurosci. 30 (28), 9641-9646.

Nagamoto-Combs K, Morecraft RJ, Darling WG, CK Combs CK. (2010) Long-term gliosis and molecular changes in the cervical spinal cord of the rhesus monkey after traumatic brain injury. J. Neurotrauma 27 (3), 565-585.

Nagamoto-Combs K, McNeal DW, Morecraft RJ, Combs CK (2007) Prolonged microgliosis in the rhesus monkey central nervous system after traumatic brain injury. J. Neurotrauma 24 (11), 1719-1742.

Postdoctral Research Associate, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH

PhD in Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY

BS in Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR