Nicholas R. Ferreri, Ph.D.
Professor of Pharmacology
Email:
Address:
Department of Pharmacology
Basic Sciences Building
New York Medical College
Valhalla, NY 10595
Professional Interests:
Mechanisms that regulate salt and water transport in the kidney are critical to understanding the development of hypertension. Accordingly, the laboratory is uncovering features of a novel cytokine-based mechanism that interacts with eicosanoids to control sodium and chloride reabsorption in the medullary thick ascending limb of Henle (mTAL), a nephron segment that reabsorbs 25% of filtered NaCl and is the site of action of ‘loop’ diuretics. We investigate the role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) in the context of hypertension and assess renal function and damage using a multidisciplinary approach. The regulation of blood pressure, sodium excretion, and renal inflammation is evaluated in vivo using TNF and TNF receptor deficient mice. These studies are coupled with in vitro cellular and molecular models utilizing freshly isolated mTAL tubules or primary cultures of mTAL cells that allow for a direct assessment of TNF components on the activity and expression of ion transport pathways, eicosanoid synthesis, and regulation of the nuclear factor of activated T cell (NFAT) family of transcription factors, which regulates TNF production in these cells.
Education Profile:
Post Graduate Studies
Graduate Degree: Ph.D.
Graduate Degree Institution: New York Medical College
Undergraduate Institution:
Selected Bibliography:
Chen, C.C.A., P.L. Pedraza, S. Hao, C.T. Stier, and N.R. Ferreri. 2010. TNFR1 deficient mice display altered blood pressure and renal responses to Ang II infusion. Am. J. Physiol. in press
Hao, S., H. Zhao, Z. Darzynkiewicz, S. Battula, and N.R. Ferreri. 2009. Expression and function of NFAT5 in medullary thick ascending limb (mTAL) cells. Am. J. Physiol. 296: F149-4F1503.
Abdullah, H.I., P.L. Pedraza, J.C. McGiff, and N.R. Ferreri. 2008. Calcium-sensing receptor (CaR) signaling pathways in medullary thick ascending limb cells mediate COX-2-derived PGE2 production: Functional significance. Am. J. Physiol. 295: F1082-F1089.
Abdullah, H.I., P.L. Pedraza, J.C. McGiff, and N.R. Ferreri. 2008. CaR activation increases TNF production by mTAL cells via a Gi-dependent mechanism. Am. J. Physiol. 294: F345-F354.
J.C. McGiff and N.R. Ferreri. 2008. Eicosanoids and the Kidney. In: The Kidney: Physiology and Pathophysiology, 4th Edition. Edited by Robert Alpern and Steven Hebert. Elsevier Academic Press, New York. Volume 1, p. 359-384.