Saint Louis University

Education

Ph.D., 1974, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry

Research Interests

Age-related bone loss is a major health problem in both men and women. The main focus of our research has been to determine how calcium homeostasis changes with age and how this contributes to age-related bone loss. We have used the F344 rat as an animal model in which to study changes in calcium homeostasis with age. The F344 rat shows changes in calcium homeostasis which are similar to those seen in humans.

Education

M.D., 1984, Saint Louis University School of Medicine

Research Interests

Board certified in pediatrics and neonatal-perinatal medicine with a clinical specialty in iron homeostasis.

Recent Publications

Education

Ph.D., 1990, Lomonosov Moscow State University

Research Interests

We are interested in the universal mechanism of transmembrane signal transduction mediated by heterotrimeric G-proteins, which are responsible for the transmission of information about extracellular messengers such as hormones, neurotransmitters and sensory stimuli, including visual signals.

Our laboratory is working on questions of the molecular organization of the receptor-G-protein complex, the high-resolution picture of the receptor-G-protein interface, the mechanism of signal transfer from the receptor, and the roles of individual G-protein subunits, especially the G-protein beta-gamma subunit complex, in this dynamic process.

The phototransduction cascade in highly specialized sensory neurons, retinal photoreceptor cells, is the prototypical G-protein-mediated system. As alterations of function of this system due to mutations, age-related processes or drug interactions may lead to severe visual disorders, one of our goals is the dissection of the phototransduction mechanism for clinical and therapeutic applications.

Recent Publications

Education

Ph.D., 2001, Gifu University School of Medicine

Research Interests

We are working on developing a registry and growth charts for patients with MPS IVA and are in pre-clinical trials for enzyme replacement therapy for patients affected by MPS IVA. We are also developing a bone targeting system for treatment of MPS disorders, substrate reudction therapy for MPSs, and gene therapy for MPS IVA. Other areas of interest are characterization of hyaluronidases, the molecular evolution of glycosaminoglycans and peptidoglycan receptor proteins, and chondroitin sulfate metabolism.

Education

M.D.C.M., 1984, McGill University Faculty of Medicine

Research Interests

Our lab focuses on understanding the molecular genetic basis of mammalian kidney development and on how disruption of specific pathways leads to abnormal development of this vital organ. We use the mouse as our model system.

Recent Publications

• Conditional expression of wnt9b in six2-positive cells disrupts stomach and kidney function.
  Kiefer SM, Robbins L, Rauchman M. PLoS One. (2012) 7(8):e43098.
  
• Tamm-Horsfall protein-deficient thick ascending limbs promote injury to neighboring S3 segments in an MIP-2-dependent mechanism.
  El-Achkar TM, McCracken R, Rauchman M, Heitmeier MR, Al-Aly Z, Dagher PC, Wu XR. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. (2011) 300(4):F999-1007.
  
• Early nephrologist involvement in hospital-acquired acute kidney injury: a pilot study.
  Balasubramanian G, Al-Aly Z, Moiz A, Rauchman M, Zhang Z, Gopalakrishnan R, Balasubramanian S, El-Achkar TM. Am J Kidney Dis. (2011) 57(2):228-34.
  

Education

M.D., 1989, Washington University School of Medicine

Research Interests

Clinical specialty in the areas of pediatric liver disease and general gastroenterology.

Recent Publications

Education

M.D., Ph.D., 1992, Shanghai Second Medical University, China

Research Interests

We are interested in the molecular and genetic mechanisms of cholesterol homeostasis and the pathophysiology of cholesterol-related diseases. Our current research focuses on the pathophysiology of cholesterol gallstone disease and genetic analysis of gallstone (Lith) genes, the molecular physiology and genetics of the intestinal cholesterol and fatty acid absorption, the biochemistry of bile formation, and the physical-chemistry of cholesterol crystallization in bile. Also, our research is directed principally at a specific area that appears to be fundamental to understanding nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, insulin resistance, and the metabolic syndrome.

Recent Publications

• The Biliary System.
  Wang DQ-H, Neuschwander-Tetri BA, Portincasa P. Morgan & Claypool Life Sciences, Princeton, New Jersey. (2012) pp. 1-146.
  
• The therapy of gallstone disease: what it was, what it is, what it will be.
  Portincasa P, Di Ciaula A, Bonfrate L, Wang DQ-H. World J Gastrointest. Pharmacol Therap. (2012) 3:7-20.
  
• Role of mitochondria in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease-from origin to propagation.
  Grattagliano I, de Bari O, Bernardo TC, Oliveira PJ, Wang DQ-H, Portincasa P. Clin Biochem. (2012) 45:610-618.
  
• Intestinal absorption, hepatic synthesis, and biliary secretion of cholesterol: Where are we for cholesterol gallstone formation?
  Portincasa P, Wang DQ-H. Hepatology. (2012) 55:1313-1316.
  
• Interactions between bile acids and nuclear receptors and their effects on lipid metabolism and liver diseases.
  Wang DQ-H, Neuschwander-Tetri BA, Portincasa P, Pandak MW. J Lipids. (2012) 560:715-717.
  
• Ezetimibe: its novel effects on the prevention and the treatment of cholesterol gallstones and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
  De Bari O, Neuschwander-Tetri BA, Liu M, Portincasa P, Wang DQ-H. J Lipids. (2012) 530:2847-2863.
  
• A pleiotropic role for the orphan nuclear receptor small heterodimer partner (SHP) in lipid homeostasis and metabolic pathways.
  Garruti G, Wang HH, Bonfrate L, de Bari O, Wang DQ-H, Portincasa P. J Lipids. (2012) 304:292-314.
  
• Mitochondria in chronic liver disease.
  Grattagliano, I, Russmann S, Diogo C, Bonfrate L, Oliveira P, Wang DQ-H, Portincasa P. Curr Drug Targets. (2011) 12:879-893.
  
• Apolipoprotein E reduces food intake via PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in the hypothalamus.
  Shen L, Wang DQ-H, Tso P, Jandacek RJ, Stephen C. SC, Liu M. Physiol Behav. (2011) 105:124-128.
  
• Dissecting the genetic heterogeneity of gallbladder stone formation.
  Krawczyk M, Wang DQ-H, Portincasa P, Lammert F. Sem Liver Dis. (2011) 31:157-172.