Research Overview —
The Wright Lab studies sensory nerves, with a particular focus on neuropathy—characterized by pain, tingling, or numbness. My research explores the interaction between the immune and nervous systems in modulating pain and sensory nerve function. Specifically, I investigate how activating or inhibiting immune receptors, such as toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), influences peripheral nerve degeneration and the progression of neuropathy.
Publications —
Thomas, S., Enders, J., Kaiser, A., Rovenstine, L., Heslop, L., Hauser, W., Chadwick, A., & Wright, D. (2023) Abnormal intraepidermal nerve fiber density in disease: A scoping review. Frontiers in Neurology; 14, 1161077.
Enders, J., Jack, J., Thomas, S., Lynch, P., Lasnier, S., Cao, X., Swanson, T., Ryals, J., Thyfault, J., Puchalska, P., Crawford, P., Wright, D. (2023) Ketolysis is required for the proper development and function of the somatosensory nervous system. Experimental Neurology; 365, 114428.
Enders, J.D., Thomas, S., Swanson, M.T. et al. (2022) A ketogenic diet prevents methylglyoxal-evoked nociception by scavenging methylglyoxal. Pain; 23, 5.
Ledreux A, Thomas S, Hamlett ED, Trautman C, Gilmore A, Rickman Hager E, Paredes DA, Margittai M, Fortea J, Granholm AC. (2021) Small Neuron-Derived Extracellular Vesicles from Individuals with Down Syndrome Propagate Tau Pathology in the Wildtype Mouse Brain. J Clin Med; 10,17.
Lemoine L, Ledreux A, Mufson EJ, Perez SE, Simic G, Doran E, Lott I, Carroll S, Bharani K, Thomas S, Gilmore A, Hamlett ED, Nordberg A, Granholm AC. (2020) Regional binding of tau and amyloid PET tracers in Down syndrome autopsy brain tissue. Mol Neurodegener; 15,68.
Presentations —
Crowards S, Ryals J, Wright D. Activation of the Innate Immune Receptor Toll-Like Receptor 4 Affects Epidermal Nerve Fibers and Macrophages in the DRG. US Association for the Study of Pain (USASP). Seattle, WA. April 2024.
Crowards S, Ryals J, Wright D. Agonizing TLR4 Drives Nerve Fiber Loss and DRG Macrophage Activation. Peripheral Nerve Society (PNS). Montréal, Canada. June 2024.
Thomas, Sarah; Intraepidermal Nerve Fiber Density in Disease: A Scoping Review. US Association for the Study of Pain. Durham NC, April 2023. Peripheral Nerve Society. Copenhagen, Denmark, June 2023