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Alexander Boyden, PhD

Assistant Professor of Pathology

Introduction

Our main interest is in the immunology of multiple sclerosis (MS), an immune-mediated neurological disease featuring demyelination in the brain, optic nerves, and spinal cord.

We design experiments and develop models to understand the immune cells, factors, and interactions (the mechanisms) impacting pathology and regulation of neuroinflammation, demyelination, and paralysis outcomes.

Current projects include:

  • The role of B cells in demyelinating disease

  • Viral infection impact on demyelinating disease pathogenesis

  • Potential cytotoxic T cell:B cell interactions in demyelinating disease

Education

  • B.A. Degree in Biology, Augustana College, IL
  • PhD in Immunology, Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Immunology, University of Iowa
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Pathology, University of Iowa

Graduate Program Affiliations

Center, Program and Institute Affiliations

Selected Publications

  • Upadhye M., Wilhelm C.R., Rogers K.J., Vemulawada C., Borcherding N., Boyden A.W., Legge K.L., Karandikar N.J. (2025). Myelin-reactive CD8+ T cells influence conventional dendritic cell subsets towards a mature and regulatory phenotype in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. J Neuroinflammation. Feb 28;22(1):54. doi:10.1186/s12974-025-03377-8. PMID: 40022134; PMCID: PMC11869544.
  • Wilhelm C.R., Upadhye M.U., Eschbacher K.L., Karandikar N.J., & Boyden A.W. (2023). Proteolipid protein-induced mouse model of multiple sclerosis requires B cell-mediated antigen presentation. J Immunol. Sep 15; 211(6):944-953. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.2200721. PMID: 37548478. PMCID: PMC10528642.
  • Snyder, J. M., Radaelli, E., Goeken, A., Businga, T., Boyden, A. W., Karandikar, N. J. & Gibson-Corley, K. N. (2022). Perfusion with 10% neutral-buffered formalin is equivalent to 4% paraformaldehyde for histopathology and immunohistochemistry in a mouse model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Vet Pathol 3009858221075588. DOI: 10.1177/03009858221075588. PMID: 35130806.
  • Brate, A. A., Boyden, A. W., Jensen, I. J., Badovinac, V. P. & Karandikar, N. J. (2021). ​​​​A functionally distinct CXCR3+/IFN-gamma+/IL-10+ subset defines disease-suppressive CNS-specific CD8 T cells. Journal of immunology. Accepted January 7, 2021. In Press
    .     DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2001143. PMID: 33558376.
  • Boyden, A. W., Brate, A. A., Stephens, L. M. & Karandikar, N. J. (2020). Immune Autoregulatory CD8 T Cells Require IFN-gamma Responsiveness to Optimally Suppress Central Nervous System Autoimmunity. Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950) 205 (2) 359-368. DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2000211. PMID: 32532836. PMCID: PMC7343581.
  • Boyden, A. W., Brate, A. A. & Karandikar, N. J. (2020). Novel B cell-dependent multiple sclerosis model using extracellular domains of myelin proteolipid protein. Scientific reports 10 (1) 5011. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-61928-w. PMID: 32193439. PMCID: PMC7081236.
  • Brate, A. A., Boyden, A. W., Itani, F. R., Pewe, L. L., Harty, J. T. & Karandikar, N. J. (2019). Therapeutic intervention in relapsing autoimmune demyelinating disease through induction of myelin-specific regulatory CD8 T cell responses. Journal of translational autoimmunity 2. DOI: 10.1016/j.jtauto.2019.100010. PMID: 32161909. PMCID: PMC7065686.
  • Boyden, A. W., Brate, A. A. & Karandikar, N. J. (2018). Early IFNgamma-Mediated and Late Perforin-Mediated Suppression of Pathogenic CD4 T Cell Responses Are Both Required for Inhibition of Demyelinating Disease by CNS-Specific Autoregulatory CD8 T Cells. Frontiers in immunology 9 2336. DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02336. PMID: 30356717. PMCID: PMC6189364.
  • Gibson-Corley, K. N., Boyden, A. W., Leidinger, M. R., Lambertz, A. M., Ofori-Amanfo, G., Naumann, P. W., Goeken, J. A. & Karandikar, N. J. (2016). A method for histopathological study of the multifocal nature of spinal cord lesions in murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. PeerJ 4 e1600. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1600. PMID: 26855861. PMCID: PMC4741089.
  • Sinha, S., Boyden, A. W., Itani, F. R., Crawford, M. P. & Karandikar, N. J. (2015). CD8(+) T-Cells as Immune Regulators of Multiple Sclerosis. Frontiers in immunology 6 619. DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2015.00619. PMID: 26697014. PMCID: PMC4674574.