Jason R. Thonhoff, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor of Neurology, Academic Institute
Houston Methodist


Description of Research

Dr. Thonhoff’s research focuses on the role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in ALS. The loss of Treg function is associated with acceleration of disease progression in ALS.  Dr. Thonhoff is exploring the mechanisms through which Treg function is lost in ALS and potential therapies aimed to enhance the neuroprotective function of Tregs. He is also investigating the use of autologous Treg infusions as a therapy for patients with ALS. In addition, he is involved in several clinical trials investigating novel treatments for patients with Myasthenia Gravis, Myotonic Dystrophy and CIDP.

Areas Of Expertise

Neurodegenerative diseases Neuromuscular disorders Myasthenia Gravis Neuroinflammation Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) Muscular Dystrophy Cellular and genetic therapies
Publications

A phase 1 proof-of-concept study evaluating safety, tolerability, and biological marker responses with combination therapy of CTLA4-Ig and interleukin-2 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Thonhoff, JR, Beers, DR, Zhao, W, Faridar, A, Thome, A, Wen, S, Zhang, A, Wang, J & Appel, SH 2024, , Frontiers in Neurology, vol. 15, 1415106, pp. 1415106. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2024.1415106

Safety and efficacy of rozanolixizumab in patients with generalised myasthenia gravis (MycarinG): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, adaptive phase 3 study
MG0003 study team 2023, , The Lancet Neurology, vol. 22, no. 5, pp. 383-394. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(23)00077-7

Design and Statistical Innovations in a Platform Trial for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
for the Healey ALS Platform Trial Study Group 2023, , Annals of Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.26714

Combined Regulatory T-Lymphocyte and IL-2 Treatment Is Safe, Tolerable, and Biologically Active for 1 Year in Persons With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Thonhoff, JR, Berry, JD, Macklin, EA, Beers, DR, Mendoza, PA, Zhao, W, Thome, AD, Triolo, F, Moon, JJ, Paganoni, S, Cudkowicz, M & Appel, SH 2022, , Neurology: Neuroimmunology and NeuroInflammation, vol. 9, no. 6, e200019. https://doi.org/10.1212/NXI.0000000000200019

Ex vivo expanded human regulatory T cells modify neuroinflammation in a preclinical model of Alzheimer’s disease
Faridar, A, Vasquez, M, Thome, AD, Yin, Z, Xuan, H, Wang, JH, Wen, S, Li, X, Thonhoff, JR, Zhao, W, Zhao, H, Beers, DR, Wong, STC, Masdeu, JC & Appel, SH 2022, , Acta Neuropathologica Communications, vol. 10, no. 1, 144. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40478-022-01447-z

Extracellular Vesicles Derived From Ex Vivo Expanded Regulatory T Cells Modulate In Vitro and In Vivo Inflammation
Thome, AD, Thonhoff, JR, Zhao, W, Faridar, A, Wang, J, Beers, DR & Appel, SH 2022, , Frontiers in immunology, vol. 13, 875825, pp. 875825. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.875825

Adaptive Platform Trials to Transform Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Therapy Development
for the Healey ALS Platform Trial Study Group, HEALEY ALS Platform Trial Study Group, Biostatisticians, Investigators, Clinical Operations Team & Medical Monitors 2022, , Annals of Neurology, vol. 91, no. 2, pp. 165-175. https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.26285

Tregs Attenuate Peripheral Oxidative Stress and Acute Phase Proteins in ALS
Beers, DR, Thonhoff, JR, Faridar, A, Thome, AD, Zhao, W, Wen, S & Appel, SH 2022, , Annals of Neurology, vol. 92, no. 2, pp. 195-200. https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.26375

Modulation of spontaneous motor unit potentials by a new motor cortical magnetic stimulation method in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Helekar, SA, Thonhoff, J, John, BS, Nguyen, L, Rosenfield, DB & Appel, SH 2022, , Journal of Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-022-11214-8

Ex vivo expansion of dysfunctional regulatory T lymphocytes restores suppressive function in Parkinson’s disease
Thome, AD, Atassi, F, Wang, J, Faridar, A, Zhao, W, Thonhoff, JR, Beers, DR, Lai, EC & Appel, SH 2021, , npj Parkinsons Disease, vol. 7, no. 1, 41, pp. 41. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-021-00188-5

Serum programmed cell death proteins in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Beers, DR, Zhao, W, Thonhoff, JR, Faridar, A, Thome, AD, Wen, S, Wang, J & Appel, SH 2021, , Brain, behavior, & immunity - health, vol. 12, 100209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbih.2021.100209, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbih.2021.100209

Serum programmed cell death proteins in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Beers, DR, Zhao, W, Thonhoff, JR, Faridar, A, Thome, AD, Wen, S, Wang, J & Appel, SH 2021, , Brain, Behavior, and Immunity - Health, vol. 12, 100209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbih.2021.100209

Multifocal Noninvasive Magnetic Stimulation of the Primary Motor Cortex in Type 1 Myotonic Dystrophy -A Proof of Concept Pilot Study
Greene, E, Thonhoff, J, John, BS, Rosenfield, DB & Helekar, SA 2021, , Journal of neuromuscular diseases, vol. 8, no. 6, pp. 963-972. https://doi.org/10.3233/JND-210690

Multifocal Noninvasive Magnetic Stimulation of the Primary Motor Cortex in Type 1 Myotonic Dystrophy -A Proof of Concept Pilot Study
Greene, E, Thonhoff, J, John, BS, Rosenfield, DB & Helekar, SA 2021, , Journal of neuromuscular diseases, vol. 8, no. 6, pp. 963-972. https://doi.org/10.3233/JND-210690

Elevated acute phase proteins reflect peripheral inflammation and disease severity in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Beers, DR, Zhao, W, Neal, DW, Thonhoff, JR, Thome, AD, Faridar, A, Wen, S, Wang, J & Appel, SH 2020, , Scientific Reports, vol. 10, no. 1, 15295, pp. 15295. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-72247-5

Elevated acute phase proteins reflect peripheral inflammation and disease severity in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Beers, D, Zhao, W, Neal, D, Thonhoff, JR, Thome, AD, Faridar, A & Appel, SH 2020, , Scientific Reports, vol. 10, no. 1, 32943739.

Immunosuppressive Functions of M2 Macrophages Derived from iPSCs of Patients with ALS and Healthy Controls
Zhao, W, Beers, DR, Thonhoff, JR, Thome, AD, Faridar, A, Wang, J, Wen, S, Ornelas, L, Sareen, D, Goodridge, HS, Svendsen, CN & Appel, SH 2020, , iScience, vol. 23, no. 6, pp. 101192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2020.101192

Immunosuppressive Functions of M2 Macrophages Derived from iPSCs of Patients with ALS and Healthy Controls
Zhao, W, Beers, DR, Thonhoff, JR, Thome, AD, Faridar, A, Wang, J, Wen, S, Ornelas, L, Sareen, D, Goodridge, HS, Svendsen, CN & Appel, SH 2020, , iScience, vol. 23, no. 6, 101192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2020.101192

Increased activation ability of monocytes from ALS patients
Du, Y, Zhao, W, Thonhoff, JR, Wang, J, Wen, S & Appel, SH 2020, , Experimental Neurology, vol. 328, 32105709. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expneurol.2020.113259

Restoring regulatory T-cell dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease through ex vivo expansion
Faridar, A, Thome, AD, Zhao, W, Thonhoff, JR, Beers, DR, Pascual, B, Masdeu, JC & Appel, SH 2020, , Brain communications, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. fcaa112. https://doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcaa112