• B.S., Cell Biology/Immunology, 1996, Aix-Marseille II University, France
• M.S., Cell Communication in Endocrinology, 1997, Aix-Marseille II University, France
• Ph.D., Cell Communication in Endocrinology, 2000, Aix-Marseille II University, France
  

• Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Physiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, 2000-2003
• Research Instructor, Department of Physiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, February, 2003-August, 2003
• Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Medical University of Ohio, September, 2003-

• Molecular basis of the physiological effects of digitalis.

  Na+/K+-ATPase catalyzes the active transport of Na+ and K+ across the plasma membrane.

  To date, studies on the molecular basis of the physiological effects of digitalis such as the increase in cardiac contractility have focused on its ability to specifically inhibit the ion pumping function of Na+/K+-ATPase.

  However, it has become apparent that, in addition to pumping ions, Na+/K+-ATPase interacts with neighbor membrane proteins and takes part in signaling complexes to send messages to various intracellular organelles. Therefore, the mechanism of action of digitalis may go beyond the modulation of ionic homeostasis.

  Accordingly, ongoing studies in the laboratory aim to identify specific intracellular pathways involved in the integrated response of the cell following exposure to digitalis.

Representative Publications

• Pierre, S., Jamme, I., Droy-Lefaix, M-T., Nouvelot, A., and Maixent, J-M. (1999) Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) protects NA,K-ATPase activity during cerebral ischemia in mice. NeuroReport 10, 47-51.
• Sennoune, S., Gerbi, A., Duran, M-J., Benkoel, L., Pierre, S., Lambert, R., Dodero, F., Chamlian, A., Vague, P., and Maixent, J-M. (1999) Quantitative immunocytochemical study of NA,K-ATPase in rat hepatocytes after STZ-induced diabetes and dietary fish oil supplementation. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 47, 809-816.
• Gerbi, A., Sennoune, S., Pierre, S., Sampol, J., Raccah, D., Vague, P., and Maixent, J-M. (1999) Localization of NA+,K+-ATPase alpha/beta isoforms in rat sciatic nerves: Effect of diabetes and fish oil treatment. J. Neurochem. 73, 719-726.
• Barbey, O., Pierre, S., Duran, M-J., Sennoune, S., Levy, S., and Maixent, J-M. (2000) Specific up-regulation of mitochondria F0F1-ATPase activity after short episodes of atrial fibrillation in sheep. J. Cardiovasc. Electrophys. 11, 432-438.
• Maixent, J-M., Barbey, O., Pierre, S., Duran, J-J., Sennoune, S., Bourdeaux, M., Ricard, P., and Levy, S. (2000) Inhibition of NA,K-ATPase by external electrical cardioversion in a sheep model of atrial fibrillation. J. Cardiovasc. Electrophys. 11, 439-445.
• Sennoune, S., Gerbi, A., Duran, M-J., Grillasca, J-P., Compe, E., Pierre, S., Planells, R., Bourdeaux, M., Vague, P., Pieroni, G., and Maixent, J-M. (2000) Effect of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on rat liver NA+/K+-ATPase. Eur. J. Biochem. 267, 2071-2078.
• Pierre, S., Paganelli, F., Sennoune, S., Roche, R., Schwinger, R.H.G., Mesana, T., Maixent, J-M. (2001) RT-PCR detection of the NA,K-ATPase beta-3 isoform in human heart. Cell. Mol. Biol. 47, 261-264.
• Pierre, S., Compe, E., Grillasca, J-P., Plannells, R., Sampol, J., Pressley, T., and Maixent, J-M. (2001) RT-PCR detection of NA,K-ATPase subunit isoforms in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC): Evidence for the presence of alpha-1 and beta-3. Cell. Mol. Biol. 47, 319-324.
• Maixent, J.M., Duran, M.J., Pierre, S., Sennoune, S., Robert, K., Bernaqrd, M., and Levy, S. (2002) Remodeling of NA,K-ATPase and membrane fluidity after atrial fibrillation in sheep. J. Recept. Signal Transduct. Res. 22, 203-213.
• Pierre, S.V., Duran, M.J., Carr, D.L., and Pressley, T.A. (2002) Structure/function analysis of NA+-K+-ATPase central isoform-specific region: Involvement in protein kinase C regulation. Am. J. Physiol. Renal Physiol. 283, F1066-F1074.
• Pierre, S., Jamme, I., Robert, K., Gerbi, A., Duran, M-J., Sennoune, S., Droy-Lefaix, MT, Nouvelot, A., and Maixent, J-M. (2002) Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) protects NA,K-ATPase isoenzymes during cerebral ischemia. Cell. Mol. Biol. 48, 671-679.
• Pierre, S.V., Duran, M.J., Carr, D.L., and Pressley, T.A. (2003) Structure/function analysis of Na,K-ATPase alpha1 and alpha2 central isoform-specific regions reveals their involvement in regulation by protein kinase C. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 986, 260-262.
• Duran, M.J., Pierre, S.V., Carr, D.L., and Pressley, T.A. (2003) Role of the isoform-specific region of the Na,K-ATPase catalytic subunit. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 986, 258-259.
• Duran, M.J., Pierre, S.V., Carr, D.L., and Pressley, T.A. (2004) The isoform-specific region of the Na,K-ATPase catalytic subunit: Role in enzyme kinetics and regulation by protein kinase C. Biochemistry 43, 16174-16183.
• Pressley, T.A., Duran, M.J., and Pierre, S.V. (2005) Regions conferring isoform-specific function in the catalytic subunit of the Na,K-pump. Front. Biosci. 10, 2018-2026.