布朗大学胃肠运动研究实验室博士后岗位

Instituion:

Brown University

Position:

postdoctoral position on the onset of inflammation in response to acid in the esophageal lumen

Job Description:

Our research interests include the mechanisms mediating contraction of the smooth muscle in the esophagus and Lower Esophageal Sphincter. Disorders of esophageal motor function and Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) competence, for instance gastroesophageal reflux disease, affect more than one in ten adults over 40 and one in four adults over 60 years of age.

The LES separates the stomach from the esophagus and prevents reflux of gastric acid into the esophagus by maintaining a sustained tonic contraction. The mechanisms responsible for maintenance of the contraction are not understood. Understanding these mechanisms may be useful to understand normal function, and some of the changes associated with esophageal disease.
 
 We have recently discovered that a Phospholipase A2, an enzyme similar to a lipid digesting enzyme secreted by the pancreas, is present in the circular muscle layer of the LES and produces arachidonic acid, presumably by digesting selected phospholipids from the muscle cell membrane. Arachidonic acid metabolites, such as prostaglandin F2a and thromboxane A2, contribute to maintaining LES tone by binding to selective receptors on the cell membrane. These signal transduction pathways are altered by inflammation, as it occurs in gastroesophageal reflux disease. Our research is focused on identifying the phospholipase A2 present in the LES, understanding the mechanisms regulating its production and activity, and defining inflammation-induced changes in this signal transduction pathway.

A postdoctoral position is available at Brown University, working on the onset of inflammation in response to acid in the esophageal lumen, i.e. on mechanisms responsible for acid-induced formation of platelet activating factor (PAF) in the esophageal mucosal layer, and on mechanisms responsible for PAF-induced production of hydrogen peroxide in the esophageal circular muscle. Many techniques will be used in this project: including Real time PCR, Western blot, smooth muscle cell isolation, muscle strip force recording, Gel shift assay, Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, ELISA, cell culture, tissue organ culture, cloning and subcloning, etc. The salary will be $35,000. If interested, please send your CV with three references to Piero_Biancani@brown.edu.

Contact:

Rhode Island Hospital
GI Motility Research Lab
593 Eddy Street
Providence, RI 02903
phone: 401-444-5629
fax: 401-444-5890
E-mail:Piero_Biancani@Brown.Edu