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INVESTIGATOR PROFILES |
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DIRECTOR SENIOR SCIENTIST SENIOR ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR CLINICAL RESEARCH AND PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE PROFESSOR OF PHARMACY, Albany College of Pharmacy CONTACT |
Paul J. Davis, M.D.Research FocusThe focus of the Davis Laboratory is defining the molecular basis of thyroid hormone actions initiated at the plasma membrane and in cytoplasm. Acting via a plasma membrane receptor the laboratory has described on integrin αvβ3, thyroid hormone modifies the cellular actions of cytokines and growth factors, enhances angiogenesis and promotes the tumor cell proliferation. A collaboration with the laboratory of Dr. Shaker A. Mousa (Pharmacology Research Institute, Albany College of Pharmacy) has developed a broadly-based pharmaceutical platform that is based on the integrin receptor for thyroid hormone. In this platform are reformulated thyroid hormone analogues that in low concentrations 1) inhibit cancer cell proliferation and tumor-associated angiogenesis, 2) restore chemosensitivity in chemotherapy-resistant cancer cells and 3) promote angiogenesis in ischemic tissues. The laboratory also studies the mechanisms and cellular consequences of thyroid hormone-directed post-translational modifications (phosphorylation, acetylation) of nuclear hormone receptor proteins and thyroid hormone-modulated composition of nuclear enhanceosomes. Thyroid hormone regulates these processes by mechanisms that originate outside the cell nucleus. Mechanisms are also studied of actions of estrogen and androgen that are initiated at the plasma membrane and in cytoplasm. Actions of thyroid hormone may overlap or mimic actions of steroids. For example, in the absence of estrogen, thyroid hormone in physiological concentrations can promote specific serine phosphorylation of nuclear estrogen receptor (ER)-α. This action of thyroid hormone is initiated at the cell surface. Dr. Davis is Thyroid Section Editor, Current Opinion in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Obesity, is Editor-in-Chief of Immunology, Endocrine and Metabolic Agents in Medicinal Chemistry and is an Associate Editor of Endocrine Research. Representative Publications (View)
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