Selected Publications
Chronic exposure to synthetic food colorant Allura Red AC promotes susceptibility to experimental colitis via intestinal serotonin in mice
Chemicals in food are widely used leading to significant human exposure. Allura Red AC (AR) is a highly common synthetic colorant; however, little is known about its impact on colitis. In this study, we show chronic exposure of AR at a dose found in commonly consumed dietary products exacerbates experimental models of colitis in mice.
A33 Effects Of The Next Generation Probiotic, Akkermansia Muciniphila, On Intestinal Inflammation And Barrier Function
Akkermansia muciniphila is a symbiotic bacterium that accounts for 1-5% of the human fecal microbiota. Though a clear-cut role and mechanism by which A. muciniphila influences inflammatory conditions is unknown, evidence indicates this microbe is depleted in IBD, suggesting it may have protective effects that are lost in these conditions. Here, we investigate the role and mechanism of A. muciniphila in intestinal inflammation and its influence on intestinal barrier function by utilizing barrier-disrupting models of colitis.
Disruption of autophagy by increased 5-HT alters gut microbiota and enhances susceptibility to experimental colitis and Crohn’s disease
Autophagy, an essential intracellular recycling process, is linked to the pathogenesis of various diseases including Crohn’s disease (CD). Factors that lead to the development of impaired autophagy during intestinal inflammation remain largely unexplored. In this study, we report the impact of the interaction between serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine;(5-HT)] and autophagy in colitis in mouse and human studies.
Inhibition of NADPH Oxidase (NOX) 2 Mitigates Colitis in Mice with Impaired Macrophage AMPK Function
Novel 5-HT7 Receptor Antagonists Modulate Intestinal Immune Responses and Reduce Severity of Colitis