Elias Aizenman, PhD

Aizenman, Elias
Professor, Neurobiology
Ph.D., The Johns Hopkins University (1985)
Address: E1456 BSTWR
200 Lothrop Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2536
Telephone: 412-648-9434
Fax: 412-648-1441
E-mail: redox@pitt.edu
Website: http://aizenmanlab.neurobio.pitt.edu

Cellular & molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration

Research in Dr. Aizenman's laboratory is directed towards investigating cellular signaling processes leading to neuronal cell death.

Acute and chronic injurious processes in the brain lead to the activation of signaling cascades that eventually result in the demise of neurons. In Dr. Aizenman's laboratory, molecular pathways leading to cell death are being carefully dissected in order to provide novel therapeutic targets to treat neurodegenerative disorders. This laboratory works on potential common final mediators of cell death signaling events that can be effectively targeted to treat neural disorders. This work is primarily focused on acute neuronal injury, such as stroke, although the results obtained from these studies could have broader applications to more chronic neurodegenerative conditions. Over the last 22 years, the laboratory has investigated redox and photic regulation of NMDA receptors, excitotoxicity, dopamine oxidation pathways, zinc-mediated neurotoxicity, and Kv2.1 potassium channel facilitated forms of neuronal apoptosis, among other topics.

Sample publications:

Regulation of neuronal pro-apoptotic potassium currents by the hepatitis C virus non-structural protein 5A.
Norris CA, He k, Springer MG, Hartnett KA, Horn JP, Aizenman E.
J Neurosci. 2012 Jun 27;32(26):8865-70.

SNARE-dependent upregulation of potassium chloride co-transporter 2 activity after metabotropic zinc receptor activation in rat cortical neurons in vitro.
Saadi RA, He K, Hartnett KA, Kandler K, Hershfinkel M, Aizenman E.
Neuroscience. 2012 May 17;210:38-46

The neurophysiology and pathology of brain zinc.
Sensi SL, Paoletti P, Koh JY, Aizenman E, Bush AI, Hershfinkel M.
J Neurosci. 2011 Nov 9;31(45):16076-85.

Upregulation of KCC2 Activity by Zinc-Mediated Neurotransmission via the mZnR/GPR39 Receptor.
Chorin E, Vinograd O, Fleidervish I, Gilad D, Herrmann S, Sekler I, Aizenman E, Hershfinkel M.
J Neurosci. 2011 Sep 7;31(36):12916-26.

Redox regulation of intracellular zinc: molecular signaling in the life and death of neurons.
Aras MA, Aizenman E.
Antioxid Redox Signal. 2011 Oct 15;15(8):2249-63.

Complex role of zinc in methamphetamine toxicity in vitro.
Aizenman E, McCord MC, Saadi RA, Hartnett KA, He K.
Neuroscience. 2010 Nov 24;171(1):31-9.

Zinc bells rang in Jerusalem!
Hershfinkel M, Aizenman E, Andrews G, Sekler I.
Sci Signal. 2010 Jul 6;3(129):mr2.

ERK signaling leads to mitochondrial dysfunction in extracellular zinc-induced neurotoxicity.
He K, Aizenman E.
J Neurochem. 2010 Jul; 114(2):452-61.

Zn2+ regulates Kv2.1 voltage-dependent gating and localization following ischemia.
Aras MA, Saadi RA, Aizenman E.
Eur J Neurosci. 2009 Dec;30(12):2250-7.

Regulation of apoptotic potassium currents by coordinated zinc-dependent signaling.
Redman PT, Hartnett KA, Aras MA, Levitan ES, Aizenman E.
J Physiol. 2009 Sep 15;587(Pt 18):4393-404.

Protein kinase C regulation of neuronal zinc signaling mediates survival during preconditioning.
Aras MA, Hara H, Hartnett KA, Kandler K, Aizenman E.
J Neurochem. 2009 Jul;110(1):106-17.

Intracellular zinc inhibits KCC2 transporter activity.
Hershfinkel M, Kandler K, Knoch ME, Dagan-Rabin M, Aras MA, Abramovitch-Dahan C, Sekler I, Aizenman E.
Nat Neurosci. 2009 Jun;12(6):725-7.

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