Abdel A. Abdel-Rahman, Ph.D.
Professor and Vice Chairman, Distinguished Professor
Email: abdelrahmana@ecu.edu
Voice: 252-744-3470
Estrogen’s “hostile” side: Role in exacerbated cardiomyopathy in women.
Ongoing NIH-funded translational studies aim at understanding why the paradoxical transformation of estrogen into a harmful hormone promotes cardiac and neuronal inflammation/injury. Specifically, we study how disruption of estrogen modulation of the circadian rhythm regulated redox enzymes and heart specific micro-RNAs (miRNAs) underlies the higher vulnerability of females to alcohol- or diabetes-evoked cardiac and autonomic dysfunction.
The “good” side of cannabinoids (CBs): Tale of three gaseous modulators.
We elucidate novel mechanisms for the: (i) cannabinoid receptor (CB1R)-mediated adverse cardiovascular and neuronal effects, and (ii) neuro- and cardio-protective effects of the “good” CB receptor, GPR18, which preserves homeostasis under healthy conditions. Our studies focus on signaling interactions between the adipokine adiponectin and 3 biological gases (nitric oxide, hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide) to recognize the therapeutic potential of targeting this rapidly recognized CB system for alleviating human heart disease and diabetes.
Extramural Funding.
Continuous NIH funding (>$12,000,000 as Principal Investigator) has permitted acquisition of the new equipment and advanced techniques needed for our multilevel approach research. Current funding:
2R01 AA14441-11. Sex/estrogen-dependent vulnerability to alcohol- evoked cardiotoxicity: Role of circadian rhythm regulated enzymes. Principal Investigator. Source: National Institutes on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. 9/1/2018-7/31/2023. Total cost $1,926,570.
Mentored Graduate Students and Postdoctoral scholars.
– 14 PhD, and 2 MS, students
– 15 Postdoctoral scholars
Representative Publications
from>130 peer reviewed publications at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/browse/collection/41140301/?sort=date&direction=ascending
Leffler KE and Abdel-Rahman AA. Estrogen-Dependent Disruption of Adiponectin-Connexin43 Signaling Underlies Exacerbated Myocardial Dysfunction in Diabetic Female Rats. J Pharmacol Exp Ther Feb;368(2):208-217, 2019.
Fouda MA, El-Sayed SS, Abdel-Rahman AA. Restoration of Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla Cystathionine-γ Lyase Activity Underlies Moxonidine-Evoked Neuroprotection and Sympathoinhibition in Diabetic Rats. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 364(2):170-178, 2018.
Matouk AI, Taye A, El-Moselhy MA, Heeba GH, Abdel-Rahman AA. Abnormal cannabidiol confers cardioprotection in diabetic rats independent of glycemic control. Eur J Pharmacol. Feb 5; 820:256-264, 2018.
Fouda MA, Abdel-Rahman AA. Endothelin Confers Protection against High Glucose-Induced Neurotoxicity via Alleviation of Oxidative Stress. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. Apr;361(1):130-139, 2017.
Abdel-Rahman AA. Influence of sex on cardiovascular drug responses: role of estrogen. Curr Opin Pharmacol. 33:1-5, 2017.
Yao F and Abdel-Rahman AA. Estrogen Receptor-a and ß Play Major Roles in Ethanol-Evoked Myocardial Oxidative Stress and Dysfunction in Conscious Ovariectomized Rats. Alcoholism: Clin Exp Research. 41(9):1541-1550; 2017.
Matouk A, Taye A, El-Moselhy M, Heeba G and Abdel-Rahman AA. Chronic Endocannabinoid GPR18 Activation Lowers Blood Pressure and Improves Myocardial Function in Conscious Rats. J Cardiovascular Pharmacology. 69(1):23-33, 2017.
Rezq S, Abdel-Rahman AA. Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla EP3 Receptor Mediates the Sympathoexcitatory and Pressor Effects of Prostaglandin E2 in Conscious Rats. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. Nov;359(2):290-299, 2016.
Ferreira RB, Oliveira MG, Antunes E, Wanda P. Almeida WP, Ibrahim BM, Abdel-Rahman AA. New 2-Aminothiazoline derivatives lower blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) via I1-imidazoline and alpha-2 adrenergic receptors activation. European Journal of Pharmacology Volume 791, Pages 803-810, 2016.
Yao F and Abdel-Rahman AA. Estrogen receptor ERα plays a major role in ethanol-evoked myocardial oxidative stress and dysfunction in conscious female rats. Alcohol. Feb;50:27-35, 2016.
Rezq S, Abdel-Rahman AA. Central GPR109A Activation Mediates Glutamate-Dependent Pressor Response in Conscious Rats. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 356(2):456-65, 2016.
McGee MA, Abdel-Rahman AA. N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Signaling and Function in Cardiovascular Tissues. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 68(2):97-105, 2016.
El-Sayed SS, Zakaria MN, Abdel-Ghany RH, Abdel-Rahman AA. Cystathionine-γ lyase-derived hydrogen sulfide mediates the cardiovascular protective effects of moxonidine in diabetic rats. Eur J Pharmacol. 29;783:73-84, 2016.
Mohamed RA, Agha AM, Abdel-Rahman AA, Nassar NN. Role of adenosine A2A receptor in cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury: Signaling to phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (pERK1/2). Neuroscience. 9;314:145-59, 2016.
Ibrahim BM, Abdel-Rahman AA. A pivotal role for enhanced brainstem Orexin receptor 1 signaling in the central cannabinoid receptor 1-mediated pressor response in conscious rats. Brain research. 5:1622:51-63, 2015.
El-Mas MM, Abdel-Rahman AA. Estrogen modulation of the ethanol-evoked myocardial oxidative stress and dysfunction via DAPK3/Akt/ERK activation in male rats. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. 15;287(3):284-92, 2015.
McGee MA, Abdel-Rahman AA. Ethanol attenuates peripheral NMDAR-mediated vascular oxidative stress and pressor response. Alcohol (Fayetteville, N.Y.) 49(5):499-506, 2015.
Fan M, El-Mas MM, Abdel-Rahman AA. Preserved Left Ventricular Performance in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats Following Preload and Afterload Challenges. J Hypertension and Management. 2015 August; 1(1).
McGee M and Abdel-Rahman AA. Enhanced Vascular PI3K/Akt-NOX Signaling Underlies the Peripheral NMDAR-Mediated Pressor Response in Conscious Rats. J Cardiovascular Pharm. 63(5):395-405, 2014.
Penumarti A and Abdel-Rahman AA. The Novel Endocannabinoid Receptor GPR18 is Expressed in the Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla and Exerts Tonic Restraining Influence on Blood Pressure. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 349(1):29-38, 2014.
Ibrahim BM, Fan M and Abdel-Rahman AA. Oxidative stress and autonomic dysregulation contribute to the acute time-dependent myocardial depressant effect of ethanol in conscious female rats. Alcoholism: Clin Exp Res. 38(5):1205-15, 2014.
Ibrahim BM and Abdel-Rahman AA. Cannabinoid receptor 1 signaling in cardiovascular regulating nuclei in the brainstem: A review. J Advanced Res. 5:137-145, 2014.
El-Mas MM, Abdel-Rahman AA. Endothelial and neuronal nitric oxide synthases variably modulate the oestrogen-mediated control of blood pressure and cardiovascular autonomic control. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 41(3):246-54, 2014.
Taki, FA, Abdel-Rahman AA, Zhang, B. A Comprehensive Approach to Identify Reliable Reference Gene Candidates to Investigate the Link between Alcoholism and Endocrinology in Sprague-Dawley Rats. PLOS ONE 9:1-15, 2014.
El-Mas MM, Abdel-Rahman AA. Nongenomic effects of estrogen mediate the dose-related myocardial oxidative stress and dysfunction caused by acute ethanol in female rats. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 306(7):E740-747, 2014.
El-Mas MM, Abdel-Rahman AA. Ser/thr phosphatases tonically attenuate the ERK-dependent pressor effect of ethanol in the rostral ventrolateral medulla in normotensive rats. Brain Res. 19;1577:21-8; 2014.
Penumarti A, Abdel-Rahman AA. Neuronal nitric oxide synthase-dependent elevation in adiponectin in the rostral ventrolateral medulla underlies g protein-coupled receptor 18-mediated hypotension in conscious rats. J Pharmacol Exp Ther; 351(1):44-53, 2014.
Book Chapters
Contributed 15 book chapters as co-contributor or single contributor.
The most recent 4 (chapters 36-39) appeared in Brody’s Human Pharmacology (6th Edition): Mechanism-Based Therapeutics (Editor Lynn Wecker with David A. Taylor and Robert I. Theobald; ELSEVIER, Philadelphia, PA, 2019).
Laboratory Members
| Name | Title | Building/Room | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lindsey Lin | Research Specialist | BSOM 6W-52 | |
| Mary Katherine Donovan | Graduate Student | BSOM 6W-52 | |
| Collin Brinkley | Graduate Student | BSOM 6W-52 |