Kumi Nagamoto-Combs

Our laboratory’s current research aims to elucidate the effects of peripheral immune responses on brain function and behavior. Inflammatory events in the gut and lungs have been linked to mood changes and cognitive decline. We have shown that allergen exposure can cause neuroinflammation even in subclinically sensitized, allergen-tolerant mice. We are currently investigating the mechanism of gut-brain communication as well as treatment strategies to minimize allergen-induced neuroinflammation.

Publications

Germundson-Hermanson DL, Klug MG, Nagamoto-Combs K. (2025). Histamine H3 Receptor Antagonist, Thioperamide, Improves Behavioral and Neuropathological Changes Associated with Subclinical Hypersensitivity to a Cow’s Milk Allergen. J. Neuroimmune Pharm. 2025. In press.

Ambigapathy G, Mukundan S, Nagamoto-Combs K, Combs CK, Nookala S. (2023) HLA-II-Dependent Neuroimmune Changes in Group A Streptococcal Necrotizing Fasciitis. Pathogens. 2023 Jul 31;12(8):1000. doi: 10.3390/pathogens12081000.

Brishti A, Germundson-Hermanson DL, Smith NA, Kearney AE, Warda Y, Nagamoto-Combs K. (2022) Asymptomatic sensitization to a cow's milk protein induces sustained neuroinflammation and behavioral changes with chronic allergen exposure. Front Allergy. Sep 7;3:870628. doi: 10.3389/falgy.2022.870628.

Germundson DL, Nookala S, Smith NA, Warda Y, Nagamoto-Combs K (2022) HLA-II Alleles Influence Physical and Behavioral Responses to a Whey Allergen in a Transgenic Mouse Model of Cow's Milk Allergy. Front Allergy. Apr 14;3:870513. doi: 10.3389/falgy.2022.870513.

Germundson DL, Nagamoto-Combs K. (2022) Potential Role of Intracranial Mast Cells in Neuroinflammation and Neuropathology Associated with Food Allergy. Cells. 2022 Feb 20;11(4):738. doi: 10.3390/cells11040738.

Smith NA, Germundson DL, Gao P, Hur J, Floden AM, Nagamoto-Combs K. (2021) Anxiety-like behavior and intestinal microbiota changes as strain-and sex-dependent sequelae of mild food allergy in mouse models of cow's milk allergy. Brain Behav Immun. 2021 Jul;95:122-141. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2021.03.002.

Germundson DL, Nagamoto-Combs K. (2021) Isotype-Specific Detection of Serum Immunoglobulins Against Allergens. Methods Mol Biol. (Ed. Nagamoto-Combs) 2021;2223:159-167. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1001-5_12.

Smith NA, Nagamoto-Combs K. (2021) Induction of Hypersensitivity with Purified Beta-Lactoglobulin as a Mouse Model of Cow's Milk Allergy. Methods Mol Biol. (Ed. Nagamoto-Combs) 2021;2223:67-78. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1001-5_5.

Germundson DL, Vendsel LP, Nagamoto-Combs K. (2020) Region-specific regulation of central histaminergic H3 receptor expression in a mouse model of cow's milk allergy. Brain Res. 2020 Dec 15;1749:147148. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2020.147148.

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. 2019 Jul 16;13:320. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00320.

Germundson DL, Smith NA, Vendsel LP, Kelsch AV, Combs CK, Nagamoto-Combs K. (2018) Oral sensitization to 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. 2018 Apr 23;15(1):120. doi: 10.1186/s12974-018-1146-0.

Kaur H, Nagamoto-Combs K, Golovko S, Golovko MY, Klug MG, Combs CK. (2020) Probiotics ameliorate intestinal pathophysiology in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Aging. 92:114-134.

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 ?-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, Department of Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH

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

BS in Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR

Director, Behavioral Research Core Facility

Director, Histology Core