Michael T. Piascik, Ph.D.
Professor,
The Ohio State University, 1978.
Office: HSRB-150 Health Sciences Research Building (0305)
Lab: HSRB-148; (859) 323-8575
Tel: (859) 323-5107
Class links:(links open in a new window)
Research Interests
We are interested in the regulation of cardiovascular function by the alpha1-adrenergic receptor subtypes. These receptors are members of the super family of G-protein coupled receptors. Research techniques used in the lab are whole animal cardiovascular measurements in both rats and genetically altered mice, in vitro assessment of contractile function, measurement of growth responses, immunocytochemistry and laser scanning confocal microscopy. Currently there are 3 known subtypes of the alpha1-AR: the alpha1A, the alpha1B and the alpha1D. While working with Drs. Robert Graham and Dianne Perez, Dr. Piascik participated in the cloning and characterization of the alpha1A and the alpha1D-AR subtypes. Over the past several years we have focused on the regulation of peripheral vascular function by the alpha1-ARs subtypes. It is our hypothesis that, while all blood vessels express all receptors, a single receptor participates in contractile regulation. Furthermore, this regulatory receptor is different in different vascular beds. We believe that the alpha1A and the alpha1D-ARs are primarily involved in the regulation of vascular smooth muscle contraction. We have also shown that the alpha1-ARs are expressed in different cellular compartments and differ in the rate and extent of agonist mediated internalization. We propose that these differences in cellular localization result in different regulatory activities for the alpha1-ARs. We believe that the major regulatory activity of the alpha1B-AR is in the regulation of hypertrophic growth responses. In collaboration with Dr. Dianne M. Perez of the Lerner Research Institute at the Cleveland Clinic we have examined growth responses in mice genetically altered to overexpress the wild-type and constitutively active forms of the alpha1B-AR. These mice develop cardiac hypertrophy. Our preliminary studies show that these mice also have elevated levels of the mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) ERK and JNK. Therefore, we propose that these kinases link the alpha1B-AR to hypertrophic responses. We continue to pursue these areas of investigation as well expand our horizons into new and novel areas of research involving the alpha1-ARs.
Recent Publications
Please note that these files are in PDF format and require the free Adobe® Reader® to view; click here to download Adobe® Reader® from Adobe's website.
Chalothorn D, McCune DF, Edelmann SE, Tobita K, Keller BB, Lasley RD, Perez DM, Tanoue A, Tsujimoto G, Post GR and Piascik MT. (2003)
"Differential cardiovascular regulatory activities of the alpha 1B- and alpha 1D-adrenoceptor subtypes."
J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 305:1045-53.
Yun J, Zuscik MJ, Gonzalez-Cabrera P, McCune DF, Ross SA, Gaivin R, Piascik MT and Perez DM. (2003)
"Gene expression profiling of alpha(1b)-adrenergic receptor-induced cardiac hypertrophy by oligonucleotide arrays."
Cardiovasc Res. 57:443-55.
Chalothorn D, McCune DF, Edelmann SE, Garcia-Cazarin ML, Tsujimoto G and Piascik MT. (2002)
Differences in the Cellular Localization and Agonist-Mediated Internalization Properties of the alpha(1)-Adrenoceptor Subtypes.
Mol Pharmacol 61:1008-16.
Waldrop, B.A., Piascik, M.T. and Post, G.R. (2002)
Regulation of cell growth and MAPK family members ERK, JNK, and p38 kinase by the Alpha-1B and Alpha-1D adrenergic receptor subtypes.
J Pharmacol Expt Ther 300:83-90.
Piascik, M.T. and Perez, D.M. (2001)
Perspectives in a1-adrenergic receptors: Pharmacology, Function and Future Directions., Invited Review, Perspectives in Pharmacology,
J Pharmacol Expt Ther 298:403-410.
Zuscik, M.J., Chalothorn, D., Hellard, D., Deighan, C. McGee, A., Daly, C.J., Waugh, D.J.J., Ross, S.A., Gaivin, R.J., Morehead, A.J., Thomas, J.D., Plow,
E.F., McGrath, J.C., Piascik, M.T., and Perez, D.M. (2001)
Hypotension, autonomic failure, and cardiac hypertrophy in transgenic mice over-expressing the alpha1B-adrenergic receptor.
J Biol Chem 276:13738-13743.
McCune DF, Edelmann SE, Olges JR, Post GR, Waldrop BA, Waugh DJJ, Perez DM and Piascik MT. (2000)
Regulation of the Cellular Localization and Signaling Properties of the alphaB- and alpha1D- Adrenoceptors by Agonists and Inverse Agonists.
Mol Pharmacol 57: 659-666.
Hrometz SL, Edelmann SE, McCune DF, Olges JR, Hadley RW, Perez DM and Piascik MT. (1999)
Expression of Multiple alpha1-Adrenoceptors on Vascular Smooth Muscle: Correlation with the Regulation of Contraction.
J Pharmacol Exp Ther 290: 452-463.
Porter JE, Edelmann S, Waugh DJ, Piascik MT and Perez DM. (1998)
The agonism and synergistic potentiation of weak partial agonists by triethylamine in alpha1 adrenergic receptor activation: Evidence for a salt-bridge as
the initiating process.
Mol Pharmacol 53:766-771.
Disclaimer: Journal articles can be downloaded from this site for personal use only and may not be duplicated or distributed for commercial reasons, without written authorization from the Journal, the copyright holder.