Katrin Andreasson

Clinical Focus

• Neurology

Honors and Awards

• Pfizer/AFAR Innovations in Aging Research Award, American Federation for Aging Research (07/05)
• Paul Beeson Physician Faculty Scholars in Aging Award, American Federation for Aging Research (07/2001)

Professional Education

Postdoctoral Advisees

Jenny Johansson , Lu Lin , Ju Shi , Hidetoshi Taniguchi

Graduate & Fellowship Program Affiliations

• Neurology and Neurol Sciences
• Neurosciences

Web Site Links

• Neurology

Research Interests

We are interested in understanding the basic mechanisms by which neurons die in stroke and in neurodegenerative disease, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Our focus is on the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) pathway, which has been found to play a critical role in promoting neuronal death in a number of models of neurological disease, including stroke, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Alzheimer’s disease. We are examining the function of downstream prostaglandin receptor signaling pathways, focusing on the functions of prostaglandin receptors in glutamate toxicity, ischemia, and neuroinflammation. Using a combination of in vitro and in vivo genetic and pharmacological strategies, we are finding that specific prostaglandin receptor signaling pathways impact dramatically on disease progression in models of both acute and chronic neurodegeneration. The long-term goal of our research is to understand the contribution of prostaglandin signaling to neuronal injury in a wide array of neurological diseases and to develop therapeutic strategies targeting these pathways in human disease.

Publications

• The hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy model of perinatal ischemia. Taniguchi H, Andreasson K. J Vis Exp. 2008; (21)
• COX-2 oxidative metabolism of endocannabinoids augments hippocampal synaptic plasticity. Yang H, Zhang J, Andreasson K, Chen C. Mol Cell Neurosci. 2008; 37 (4): 682-95
• Misoprostol, an anti-ulcer agent and PGE2 receptor agonist, protects against cerebral ischemia. Li J, Liang X, Wang Q, Breyer RM, McCullough L, Andreasson K. Neurosci Lett. 2008; 438 (2): 210-5
• The prostaglandin E2 EP2 receptor accelerates disease progression and inflammation in a model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Liang X, Wang Q, Shi J, Lokteva L, Breyer RM, Montine TJ, Andreasson K. Ann Neurol. 2008; 64 (3): 304-14
• Small molecule, non-peptide p75 ligands inhibit Abeta-induced neurodegeneration and synaptic impairment. Yang T, Knowles JK, Lu Q, Zhang H, Arancio O, Moore LA, Chang T, Wang Q, Andreasson K, Rajadas J, Fuller GG, Xie Y, Massa SM, Longo FM. PLoS One. 2008; 3 (11): e3604