Description of Research Program
The research foci of my laboratory are directed towards understanding the signaling pathways of cell injury, death (apoptosis and necrosis) in epithelial and cancer cells, and regeneration of epithelial cells following injury. This research is particularly important since stroke, trauma, and heart and kidney failure result from cell injury and death. In turn, the ability of injured cells to repair and regenerate is key for the return of brain, heart and kidney function. In contrast, cancer cells exhibit alterations in cell death pathways that allow them to survive and multiply. Our goal is to develop selective therapeutic agents that prevent cell death and promote cell repair in epithelial cells and stimulate cell death in cancer cells. Selected Publications
Zhuang S. Schnellmann RG. Suramin promotes proliferation and scattering
of renal epithelial cells. /Journal of Pharmacology & Experimental
Therapeutics/. 314(1):383-90, 2005 Jul Kinsey GR. Cummings BS. Beckett CS. Saavedra G. Zhang W. McHowat J.
Schnellmann RG. Identification and distribution of endoplasmic reticulum
iPLA2. /Biochemical & Biophysical Research Communications/.
327(1):287-93, 2005 Feb 4. Zhuang S. Dang Y. Schnellmann RG. Requirement of the epidermal growth
factor receptor in renal epithelial cell proliferation and migration.
///American Journal of Physiology - Renal Physiology/. 287(3):F365-72,
2004 Sep. Cummings BS. Kinsey GR. Bolchoz LJ. Schnellmann RG. Identification of
caspase-independent apoptosis in epithelial and cancer cells. J/ournal
of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics/. 310(1):126-34, 2004 Jul. Cummings BS. Gelasco AK. Kinsey GR. McHowat J. Schnellmann RG.
Inactivation of endoplasmic reticulum bound Ca2+-independent
phospholipase A2 in renal cells during oxidative stress. /Journal of
the American Society of Nephrology/. 15(6):1441-51, 2004 Jun. Zhuang S. Schnellmann RG. H2O2-induced transactivation of EGF receptor
requires Src and mediates ERK1/2, but not Akt, activation in renal
cells.[erratum appears in Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2004 Oct;56(4):F857 / //American Journal of Physiology - Renal Physiology/.
286(5):F858-65, 2004 May. Cummings BS. McHowat J. Schnellmann RG. Role of an endoplasmic reticulum
Ca2+-independent phospholipase A2 in cisplatin-induced renal cell
apoptosis. /Journal of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics/.
308(3):921-8, 2004 Mar. Liu X. Van Vleet T. Schnellmann RG. The role of calpain in oncotic cell
death. /Annual Review of Pharmacology & Toxicology. 44:349-70, 2004. | 
