DR. ADANI PUJADA
Biologist | Life Sciences Educator | Mentor | Science communicator in Evidence-Based Teaching in Higher Ed
RESEARCH
Our lab focuses on understanding the pathogenesis of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) to prevent or treat the development of colon cancer.
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is subtype of IBD that causes chronic inflammation and ulcers affecting the innermost lining of colon and rectum.
Almost 1 million people suffer through UC in the United States alone, with a disease history of 16 years.
Notch1 signaling is an evolutionary conserved intercellular signaling pathway that regulates cell fate, cell proliferation, cell differentiation, and cell death.
Notch1 can act as a mediator or suppressor depending on the cellular context and disease stage.
Aim of this study is to understand the mechanistic role of Notch1 in UC
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Figure 1: A hallmark of inflamed tissue in UC patients is the intestinal epithelial disruption and high expression of Notch will result in absorptive progenitor cells which will differentiate in epithelial cells.
Updates of this project , in a different mice model, were presented at the Experimental Biology Conference 2019 in Orlando FL.
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Preliminary data of this project was presented at the Digestive disease week 2017 in Chicago, IL. I received a Poster of distinction award!
PUBLICATIONS
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Viennois E., Pujada A., Sung J.S., Gewirtz A.T., Chassaing B., Merlin D., Impact of PepT1 deletion on microbiota composition and colitis requires multiple generations. Nature Partner Journals - Biofilms and Microbiomes. 2020
Walter L., Canup B., Pujada A., Bui. T, Arbasi B., Laroui H., Merlin D., and Garg P. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 limits reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and DNA damage in colitis associated cancer. Nature – Cell Death and Disease 2020
Viennois E., Chassaing B., Tahsin, A., Pujada A., Wang L., Gewirtz A.T., and Merlin D., Fecal host microRNAs reflect gut microbiota composition and indicates its pro-inflammatory potential. Theranostics Journal. 2019
Viennois, E., Pujada A., Zen, J., Merlin D., The POT superfamily: Function, regulation and pathophysiological relevance, specific example of PepT1 in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Comprehensive Physiology Journal. 2018
Pujada A., Walter, L., Patel, A., Bui, TA, Zhang Z., Zhang Y., Denning T.L., Garg P., Matrix metalloproteinase MMP9 maintains epithelial barrier function and preserves mucosal lining in colitis associated cancer. Oncotarget Journal. 2017
Pujada A., Walter L., Dhere T., Garg P. Matrix metalloproteinases as potential fecal biomarkers for ulcerative colitis- a function beyond their proteolytic activity. Journal of Metalloproteinases in Medicine. 2016
Walter L., Pujada A., Bhatnagar N., Bialkowska A., Yang VW., Laroui H., Garg P., Epithelial derived-matrix metalloproteinase (MMP9) exhibits a novel defensive role of tumor suppressor in colitis associated cancer by activating MMP9-Notch1-ARF-p53 axis. Oncotarget Journal. 2016
ABSTRACT PUBLICATIONS
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Pujada, A., Bui, TA., Merlin D., Garg, P., Notch1 mediates acute colitis by downregulating IL17 and IL22 cytokines and cross talking with NF-kB pathway. Poster presentation at Experimental Biology Conference 2019
Pujada, A., Bui, TA., Walter, L., Denning, TL., Garg, P., Notch1 mediates protection in colitis associated cancer. Oral presentation at Crohn’s and Colitis Congress 2018
Viennois, E., Chassaing, B., Pujada, A., Tahsin, A., Merlin D., Fecal miRNAs shape the intestinal microbiota. Poster presentation at Crohn’s and Colitis Congress 2018
Garg, P., Pujada, A., Walter, L., Zhang, Z., Laroui, H., Zhang, Y., The Novel Tumor Suppressive Role of Notch1 in Colitis-Associated Cancer. Poster of distinction at Digestive Disease Week 2017
Walter L., Pujada A., Canup, B., Laroui, H., Garg, P., MMP9 modulates ROS levels and DNA repair pathway to maintain genomic stability in colitis associated cancer. American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017
Walter L., Pujada A., Laroui, H., Denning, TL., Garg, P., MMP9 Favors Microbiota Adherence and Modulates ROS Levels to Maintain Genomic Stability in Colitis Associated Cancer. Gastroenterology Journal. 2017
Pujada A., Walter L., Mohammadian SA, Dhere, T., Denning, TL., Garg, P., Epithelial Derived Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP9) Maintains Epithelial Integrity and Viability Facilitating Microbial Adherence in Chronic Colitis. Gastroenterology Journal. 2016
Walter L., Pujada A., Mohammadian SA., Bialkowska A., Yang VW., Garg P., Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP9) mediated Notch1 activation is necessary to prevent DNA damage and thereby maintain the genomic stability in Colitis Associated Cancer. Gastroenterology Journal. 2016
Walter L., Pujada A., Mohammadian SA., Bialkowska A., Yang VW., Garg P., Matrix metalloproteinase 9 has a novel tumor suppressive role in inflammation associated colorectal cancer by modulating intrinsic tumor microenvironment. American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting. 2016, New Orleans
Pujada, A., Walter, L., Garg, P., Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP9) Regulates Immune Response in Colonic Epithelium Through Activation of Notch1 in Colitis Associated Cancer. Gastroenterology Journal. 2015
SEMINARS AND POSTER PRESENTATIONS
Seminar:
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Notch1 mediates protection in Colitis Associated Cancer. 2018 Crohn’s and Colitis Congress. Las Vegas, NV
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Poster Presentations:
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Notch1 mediates acute colitis by downregulating IL17 and IL22 cytokines and cross talking with NFkβ pathway. 2019 Experimental Biology Conference. Orlando, FL.
The novel tumor suppressive role of Notch1 in Colitis-Associated Cancer. 2017 Digestive Disease Week. Chicago, IL
Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP9) regulates immune response in colonic epithelium through activation of Notch1 in Colitis Associated Cancer. 2015 Digestive Disease Week. Washington, DC
DR. MERLIN'S LAB
