Jonathan H. Jaggar, Ph.D.
Maury Bronstein Professor
Department of Physiology
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
894 Union Avenue
Memphis, TN 38163
Phone: (901) 448-1208
Office: 402 Nash Research Building
Email: Jonathan H. Jaggar
Grants Quick Links
Education
- Ph.D. Institution: University of Sheffield, United Kingdom
Research Interests
Arterial diameter, a primary determinant of systemic blood pressure, is regulated by the contractile state of smooth muscle cells in the arterial wall. One critical regulator of smooth muscle contractility is the intracellular calcium ion concentration. Smooth muscle cells control intracellular calcium concentration by regulating cellular influx, release, sequestration and extrusion. Since membrane potential regulates calcium entry in smooth muscle cells, ion channels that modulate membrane potential also change cellular contractility. Recent studies have discovered that local and global elevations in cytosolic calcium occur in smooth muscle cells. These different calcium signaling events not only regulate contractility, but may also regulate a number of other physiological functions. We are currently investigating sarcolemma ion channels that control membrane potential and calcium entry in arterial smooth muscle cells and the properties, physiological targets, and regulation of arterial diameter by different intracellullar calcium signals. Research in the laboratory involves a multi-faceted approach, studying events at molecular, cellular and intact artery levels. Techniques include patch clamp electrophysiology, rapid confocal calcium imaging, conventional calcium imaging, diameter measurement of pressurized arteries, and molecular biology.
Representative Publications
- Bannister JP, Dennisleo M, Narayanan D, Jangsangthong W, Nair A, Evanson KW, Pachuau J, Gabrick KS, Boop FA, Jaggar JH. The CaV1.2 channel C-terminus fragment is a bi-modal vasodilator. J Physiol. 2013 May 13. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 23568894.
- Schwingshackl A, Teng B, Ghosh M, Lim KG, Tigyi G, Narayanan D, Jaggar JH, Waters CM. Regulation of interleukin-6 secretion by the two-pore-domain potassium channel Trek-1 in alveolar epithelial cells. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2013 Feb 15;304(4):L276-86. doi: 10.1152/ajplung.00299.2012. Epub 2012 Dec 28. PubMed PMID: 23275623; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3567358.
- Adebiyi A, Thomas-Gatewood CM, Leo MD, Kidd MW, Neeb ZP, Jaggar JH. An elevation in physical coupling of type 1 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptors to transient receptor potential 3 (TRPC3) channels constricts mesenteric arteries in genetic hypertension. Hypertension. 2012 Nov;60(5):1213-9. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.112.198820. Epub 2012 Oct 8. PubMed PMID: 23045459; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3632264.
- Bannister JP, Bulley S, Narayanan D, Thomas-Gatewood C, Luzny P, Pachuau J, Jaggar JH. Transcriptional upregulation of α2δ-1 elevates arterial smooth muscle cell voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel surface expression and cerebrovascular constriction in genetic hypertension. Hypertension. 2012 Oct;60(4):1006-15. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.112.199661. Epub 2012 Sep 4. PubMed PMID: 22949532; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3632309.
- Bulley S, Neeb ZP, Burris SK, Bannister JP, Thomas-Gatewood CM, Jangsangthong W, Jaggar JH. TMEM16A/ANO1 channels contribute to the myogenic response in cerebral arteries. Circ Res. 2012 Sep 28;111(8):1027-36. Epub 2012 Aug 7. PubMed PMID: 22872152.
- Liang GH, Xi Q, Leffler CW, Jaggar JH. Hydrogen sulfide activates Ca²⁺ sparks to induce cerebral arteriole dilatation. J Physiol. 2012 Jun 1;590(Pt 11):2709-20. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.225128. Epub 2012 Apr 16. PubMed PMID: 22508960; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3424726.
