Anisa Jahangiri, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Medicine

Room 533 Wethington Bldg.
900 S. Limestone
Lexington, KY 40536-0200
Tel: (859)-323-4933 ext. 81383
Fax: (859)-257-3646
e-mail: anisa.jahangiri@uky.edu

Academic Appointments:

• Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Molecular
   Medicine
• Graduate Center for Nutritional Sciences
• Cardiovascular Research Center
• Barnstable Brown Diabetes and Obesity Center

Education:

• B.Sc, The Flinders University of South Australia
• B.Sc. (Hons), The University of Adelaide, Australia
• Ph.D.,The University of Adelaide, Australia
• Post-doctoral Fellow, The Heart Research Institute, Sydney Australia
• Post-doctoral Scholar, The Department of Internal Medicine, University of
   Kentucky

Awards:

• University of Adelaide Honours
• Australian Postgraduate Award (pre-doctoral fellow)
• High Commendation Award for Student Presentation-International Society for
   Heart Research meeting, Sydney, Australia
• Young Investigator Award Finalist at the International Symposium on
   Atherosclerosis (ISA), Kyoto, Japan

• Specific Interest in Nutrition:

HDL remodeling during obesity and weight loss.

Research:

High-density lipoproteins (HDL) protect against the development of atherosclerotic coronary heart disease. In part, this reflects the ability of HDL to promote the efflux of cholesterol from macrophages in the artery wall, but given that atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disorder, it may also reflect the anti-inflammatory properties of HDL. During inflammation, the composition and levels of HDL are dramatically altered. Serum amyloid A (SAA), becomes a major apolipoprotein on the triglyceride-enriched acute phase HDL. Furthermore, acute phase secreted phospholipases, particularly group IIA secretory phospholipase A₂, associate selectively with HDL, hydrolyzing its phospholipids and altering its function. The remodeling of HDL during the acute phase response by other lipases such as endothelial lipase or the cholesterol ester transfer protein has not been studied in detail. These proteins are important regulators of plasma HDL levels. Our laboratory uses transgenic mouse models as well as adenoviral technology to investigate the roles of these factors in HDL remodeling. Given the link between inflammation and obesity, we are also studying the changes in HDL function during weight loss in humans.

Publications:

1. de Beer MC, Webb NR, Whitaker NL, Wroblewski JM, Jahangiri A, van der Westhuyzen DR, de Beer FC (2009) SR-BI Selective Lipid Uptake. Subsequent Metabolism of Acute Phase HDL. Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. Mar 19. [Epub ahead of print].

2. West M, Greason E, Kolmakova A, Jahangiri A, Asztalos B, Pollin TI, Rodriguez A (2009) Scavenger receptor class B type I protein as an independent predictor of HDL cholesterol levels in subjects with hyperalphalipoproteinemia. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 94(4):1451-7.

3. Jahangiri A, de Beer MC, Noffsinger V, Tannock LR, Ramaiah C, Webb NR, van der Westhuyzen DR and de Beer FC (2009) HDL remodeling during the acute phase response. Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. 29(2):261-7.

4. Jahangiri, A., Leifert, W.R. and McMurchie, E.J. (2006) Dietary fish oil alters cardiomyocyte Ca²⁺ dynamics and antioxidant status. Free Radical Biology & Medicine 40(9):1592-602.

5. Jahangiri, A., Rader, D.J., Marchadier, D., L.K. Curtiss, D.J. Bonnet and Rye, K.A. (2005) Evidence that Endothelial Lipase Remodels High Density Lipoproteins without Mediating the Dissociation of Apolipoprotein A-I. Journal of Lipid Research 46(5):896-903.

6. Caiazza, D., Jahangiri, A., Rader, D.J., Marchadier, D. and Rye, K.A. (2004) Apolipoproteins regulate the kinetics of endothelial lipase-mediated hydrolysis of phospholipids in reconstituted high-density lipoproteins. Biochemistry 43: 11898-11905.

7.  Jahangiri, A., Leifert, W.R. and McMurchie, E.J. (2002) Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: Recent Aspects in Relation to Health Benefits. Food Australia 54(3):74- 77.

8. Patten, G.S., Abeywardena, M.Y., McMurchie, E.J. and Jahangiri, A. (2002) Dietary fish oil increases acetylcholine and eicosanoid-induced contractility of isolated rat ileum. Journal of Nutrition 132:2506-2513.

9. Leifert, W.R., Dorian, C.L., Jahangiri, A. and McMurchie, E.J. (2001) Dietary fish oil prevents asynchronous contractility and alters Ca²⁺ handling in adult rat cardiomyocytes. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry 12(6):365-376.

10. Jahangiri, A., Leifert, W.R. Patten, G.S. and McMurchie, E.J. (2000) Termination of asynchronous contractile activity in rat atrial myocytes by n‑3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry 206: 33-41.

11. Leifert, W.R., Jahangiri, A., Saint, D.A and McMurchie, E.J. (2000) Effects of dietary n-3 fatty acids on contractility, Na⁺ and K⁺ currents in a rat cardiomyocyte model of arrhythmia. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry 11(7-8): 382-392.

12.  Leifert, W.R., Jahangiri, A., and McMurchie, E.J. (2000) Membrane fluidity changes are associated with the antiarrhythmic effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in adult rat cardiomyocytes. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry 11(1): 38-44.

13. Leifert, W.R., Jahangiri, A., and McMurchie, E.J. (1999) Anti-arrhythmic fatty acids and antioxidants in animal and cell studies (Invited review). Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry 10: 252-267.