Pamela A. Lucchesi, PhD

Research

A key aspect of signal transduction is the ability of cells to translate an extracellular signal into an intracellular one, enabling cells to respond to their environment. The initial response of cells to growth factors and hormones is facilitated by interaction with cell surface receptors; this interaction then leads to the activation of intracellular signaling pathways. These pathways often require a series of sequential protein kinase reactions that ultimately regulate many cellular processes including growth, matrix production, contractility and ion transport. Our interests concern the regulation of the kinase signaling pathways by neurohormonal agents and reactive oxygen species in the cardiovascular system. Utilizing both intact tissue and cell culture models, our laboratory has concentrated on elucidating the role that kinases may play in modulating ion transport, matrix remodeling, sarcomere assembly, and contractility and cell growth. Representative current projects include: (1) Role of oxidative and nitrosative stress in the pathogenesis of heart failure; (2) Altered matrix remodeling in pressure and volume-overload heart failure with particular emphasis on cardiac fibroblasts; (3) Regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell growth by hypertrophic and hyperplastic factors. (4) Regulation of vascular smooth muscle function by kinase signaling pathways in vivo using two model systems: A carotid artery wire injury model (growth) and resistance vessel preparations (contractility). A combination of antisense, adenoviral and transgenic technologies are used to downregulate and manipulate expression/activation of key components of signaling cascades. 5) Alterations in myocyte Ca2+ homeostasis and sarcomeric assembly in pressure vs. volume overload.

Peer and International Recognition

• Serves on the Editorial Board of Circulation Research, Hypertension, American Journal of Physiology: Cell and American Journal of Physiology: Heart and Circulatory Physiology. Reviewer for Journal of Biological Chemistry, Cardiovascular Research, and Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology.
• Elected Fellow of the Council for High Blood Pressure Research of the American Heart Association and of the American Physiological Society.
• Permanent member NIH/NHLBI Cardiac Contractility, Hypertrophy, and Function study section 2003-2007.
• Co-Chair, Molecular signaling study section of the American Heart Association (Southeast Affiliate).
• Guest Editor, Antioxidant and Redox Signaling. Focus issue on redox control of the cell cycle. 2004.
• Serves as Vice-Chair of the Assessment Committee and as a member of the admissions committee for the UASOM. Serves as section leader for Endocrine Systems (Medical Physiology) and Cardiovascular Physiology (IBS-II).

Research Funding and Economic Impact

Principal investigator on two NIH research Grants. Co- Principal Investigator (with Dr. Dell’Italia) on one NIH research grant and co-Investigator (with Dr. Darley-Usmar) on an additional NIH research grant.

Biography

Dr. Pamela Lucchesi, Associate Professor, received her BA from Assumption College in Worcester, MA. Her PhD was awarded in 1989 from the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She completed her postdoctoral work at Harvard Medical School and Emory University Medical School. In 1994, Dr. Lucchesi joined the faculty of Loyola University School of Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physiology. Dr. Lucchesi joined the UAB faculty in 1998 and was recruited to the Department of Pharmacology at LSU Health Sciences Center in 2004.