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Gerard P. Ahern Associate Professor of Pharmacology Ph.D., Physiology and Biophysics Australian National University, 1996 (202) 687-9678 gpa3@georgetown.edu |
How do we sense the world around us? How do cells detect changes in the external or extracellular environment? We are interested in the fundamental mechanisms that allow cells to sense diverse chemical or physical stimuli. Our focus is a class of membrane ion channels called Transient Receptor Potentials (TRP) channels. We also explore novel ligand signaling at G-protein coupled receptors both in neurons and immune cells. We use a combination of electrophysiological, cell imaging, genetic and biochemical techniques, and where possible, appropriate animal models.
Selected Publications:
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Motter AL and Ahern GP. TRPA1 is a polyunsaturated fatty acid sensor in mammals. PLoS One 7: e38439, 2012
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Ahern GP. 5-HT and the immune system. Curr Opin Pharmacol. 11(1):29-33, 2011
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Bandyopadhyay BC, Pingle SC, Ahern GP., Store-operated Ca²+ signaling in dendritic cells occurs independently of STIM1. J Leukoc Biol. 89(1):57-62, 2011
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Cornett PM, Matta JA, Ahern GP. General anesthetics sensitize the capsaicin receptor transient receptor potential V1. Mol Pharmacol. 74(5):1261-8, 2008
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Matta JA, Cornett PM, Miyares RL, Abe K, Sahibzada N, Ahern GP General anesthetics activate a nociceptive ion channel to enhance pain and inflammation. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 105:8784-8789, 2008
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Matta JA, Ahern GP: Voltage is a partial activator of rat thermosensitive TRP channels. J Physiol. 585:469-82, 2007
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O'Connell PJ, Wang X, Leon-Ponte M, Griffiths C, Pingle SC, Ahern GP: A novel form of immune signaling revealed by transmission of the inflammatory mediator serotonin between dendritic cells and T cells. Blood. 107:1010-7, 2006
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Ahern GrP, Books IM, Miyares RL, Wang XB: Extracellular cations sensitize and gate capsaicin receptor TRPV1 modulating pain signaling. J Neurosci. 25:5109-16, 2005
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Ahern GP: Activation of TRPV1 by the satiety factor oleoylethanolamide. J Biol Chem. 278:30429-34, 2003
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