Research Program: Transplant Biology and Therapy
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology-Oncology and Blood and Marrow Transplantation

hippe002@umn.edu
612-625-1430 — office
Preferred method of contact: Phone

Dr. Hippen is an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology-Oncology and Blood and Marrow Transplantation. He is a member of the Masonic Cancer Center and the supervisor for the Human Immunotherapy Lab. Dr. Hippen was a faculty member here at the University of Minnesota in the Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology from 2001 until joining the Department of Pediatrics in August 2006.

Dr. Hippen received his Ph.D. degree from Iowa State University in 1993, followed by post-doctoral positions at the National Jewish Medical and Research Center (1993-1996) and the University of Minnesota (1996-1999). He remained at the University of Minnesota, becoming a research assistant (1999-2001) and joining the faculty as noted above in 2001. Dr. Hippen has had papers published in journals such as Science, Immunity, and the Journal of Experimental Medicine.

Research Interests

Dr. Hippen's research is focused on inhibiting Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD), which is a frequent and severe complicating factor in bone marrow transplants. GVHD is a T cell mediated disease, that arises in autoimmune fashion due to graft-derived immune cells recognizing recipient cells as non-self. Activation of autorective T cells (and those that induce GVHD) is normally prevented by a subset of T cells termed regulatory T cells (Treg). Transplant of donor Treg has been shown to ameliorate disease in mouse models of both GVHD and autoimmunity. Dr. Hippen's specific interest is defining the mechanisms that control human regulatory T cell proliferation and function with the goal of generating large numbers of very active cells that can be co-transferred at the time of bone marrow transplantation and reduce or completely abolish GVHD. In collaboration with Dr. Jakub Tolar, he is also exploring gene transfer studies to create more effective Treg cells based on antigen specificity and/or longevity.

Selected Publications

Hippen, K.L., Harker-Murray, P., Porter, SB., Merkel, S.C., Londer, A.R., Taylor, D.K., Bina, M., Panoskaltsis-Mortari, A., Rubinstein, P., Van Rooijen, N., Golovina, T.N., Suhoski, M.M., Miller, J.S., Wagner, J.E., June, C.H., Riley, J.L., Blazar, B.R. Umbilical cord blood regulatory T cell (Treg) expansion and functional effects of tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) family members OX40 and 4-1BB expressed on artificial antigen-presenting Cells (aAPCs). Blood. 2008 Jul 21. [Epub ahead of print]

Will, W.M., Aaker, J.D., Burchill, M.A., Harmon, I.R., O'Neil, J.J., Goetz, C.A., Hippen, K.L., Farrar, M.A. (2006) Attenuation of IL-7 receptor signaling is not required for allelic exclusion. J Immunol. 176:3350-3355.

Liu, J., Karypis, G., Hippen, K.L., Vegoe, A.L., Ruiz, P., Gilkeson, G.S., & Behrens, T.W. (2006). Genomic view of systemic autoimmunity in MRLlpr mice. Genes and Immunity 7, 156–168.

Hippen, K.L., Schram, B.R., Pape, K.A., Jenkins, M.K., & Behrens, T.W. (2004). Efficient Light Chain Receptor Editing of Self-Reactive B Cells in Response to Membrane antigens. Accepted pending minor revisions, J. Immunol., 2005

Tze, L.E., Schram, B.S., Hogquist, K.A., Hippen, K.L., Liu, J., Shinton, S.A., Rodine, P.R., Vegoe, A.L., Hardy, R.R., Schlissel, M., Rajewsky, K. & Behrens, T.W. (2005) Basal Immunoglobulin Signaling Actively Maintains Light Chain Allelic Exclusion and Developmental Stage in Immature B Cells. PLoS Biol. 3(3):e82.

Swanson, P.J., Kuslak, S.L., Fang, W., Tze, L., Gaffney, P., Selby, S., Hippen, K.L., Nunez, G., Sidman, C.L., & Behrens, T.W. (2004). Fatal Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Mice Transgenic for B Cell-Restricted bcl-x_L and c-myc. J. Immunol. 172: 6684-6691.

Tze, L.T., Hippen, K.L., & Behrens, T.W. (2003). Late Immature B Cells (IgM^highIgD^neg) Undergo a Light Chain Receptor Editing Response to Soluble Self-Antigen. J. Immunol. 171: 678-682.

Pape, K.A., Kouskoff, V., Nemazee, D., Tang, H.L., Cyster, J.G., Tze, L.E., Hippen, K.L., Behrens, T.W., & Jenkins, M.K. (2003). Visualization of the Genesis and Fate of Isotype-switched B Cells during a Primary Immune Response. J. Exp. Med 197: 1677-1687.

Tze, L.T., Baness, E.A., Hippen, K.L., & Behrens, T.W. (2000). Immunoglobulin Light Chain Receptor Editing in Anergic B Cells. J. Immunol. 165: 6796-6802.

Hippen, K.L., Tze, L., & Behrens, T.W. (2000). CD5 Maintains Tolerance in Anergic B Cells. J. Exp. Med 191: 883-890.

Hippen, K.L., Buhl, A.M., D'Ambrosio, D., Nakamura, K., Persin, C., & Cambier, J.C. (1996). FcγRIIB1 Inhibition of BCR-Mediated Phosphoinositide Hydrolysis and Ca²⁺ Mobilization Is Integrated by CD19 Dephosphorylation. Immunity 7: 49-58.

D'Ambrosio, D.*, Hippen, K.L., Minskoff, S.A., Mellman, I., Pani, G., Siminovitch, K.A., & Cambier, J.C. (1995). Recruitment and Activation of PTP-1C in Negative Regulation of Antigen Receptor Signaling by FcγRIIB1. Science 268: 293-297.