PHARMACOLOGY RESEARCH FACULTY
Selected Publications
  • Strong, JR. Miller, RA., Astle, CM., Baur, JA., de Cabo, R., Fernandez, E., Guo, W., Javors, M., Kirkland, JL., Nelson, JF., Sinclair, DA., Teter, B., Williams, D., Zaveri, N., Nadon NL., Harrison, DE. (2012) Evaluation of Resveratrol, Green Tea Extract, Curcumin, Oxaloacetic Acid, and Medium-Chain Triglyceride Oil on Life Span of Genetically Heterogeneous Mice. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci March
  • Miller, RA., Harrison, DE., Astle, CM., Baur, JA., Rodriguez Boyd, A., de Cabo, R., Fernandez, E., Flurkey, K., Javors, MA., Nelson, JF., Orihuela, CJ., Pletcher, S., Sharp, ZD., Sinclair, D., Starnes, JW., Wilkinson, JE., Nadon, NL. and Strong, JR. (2011) Rapamycin, but not resveratrol or simvastatin, extends life span of genetically heterogeneous mice. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 66A(2):191-201
  • Frahm, KA., Lumia, AR., Fernandez, E., Strong, JR., Roberts, JL. and McGinnis, MY. (2011) Effects of anabolic androgenic steroids and social subjugation on behavior and neurochemistry in male rats. Pharmacol Biochem Behav Jan:97(3):416-422
  • Miller, R., Harrison, D., Astle, AM., Baur, JA., de Cabo, R., Fernandez, E., Flunkey, K., Javors, MA., Nelson, LF., Pletcher, S., Sharp, ZD., Sinclair, D, Starnes, JW., Wilkinson, JE., Nadon, NL. and Strong, JR. (2010) Rapamycin, but not resveratrol or simvastatin, extends lifespan of genetically heterogeneous mice. J Gerontonal Biol Sci
  • Frahm, KF., Lumia, AR., Fernandez, E., Strong, JR., Roberts, JL. and McGinnis, MY. (2010) Effects of Anabolic Androgenic Steroids and Social Subjugation on Behavior and Neurochemistry in Male Rats. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior Jan;97:416-422
  • Harrison, DE., Strong, JR., Sharp, ZD., Nelson, JF., Astle, CM., Flurkey, K., Nadon, NL., Wilkinson, JE., Frenkel, K., Carter, CS., Pahor, M., Javors, MA., Fernandez, E. and Miller, RA. (2009) Rapamycin fed late in life extends lifespan in genetically heterogeneous mice. Nature Jul;460(7253):392-395
  • Price, DA., Martinez, AA., Seillier, A., Koek, W., Acosta, Y., Fernandez, E., Strong, JR., Lutz, B., Marsicano, G., Roberts, JL. and Giuffrida, A. (2009) WIN55,212-2, a cannabinoid receptor agonist, protects against nigrostriatal cell loss in the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine mouse model of Parkinson‘s disease. Eur J Neurosci Jun;29(11):2177-2186
Elizabeth Fernandez
 

Elizabeth Fernandez

Assistant Professor/Research
Ph.D., Cellular & Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology
University of Nevada
Reno, Nevada

Office: 210-562-6050
Email: fernandeze@uthscsa.edu

 
 

Keywords


aging, elderly, Alzheimers, Parkinson's, rapamycin, simvastatin, resveratrol, Aldh1, Gpx1

 

Research Summary


Aging is the main risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases. Parkinson's disease (PD) is a disorder of the brain that leads to shaking (tremors) and difficulty with walking, movement, and coordination. My studies are focused to test the role of impaired detoxification of biogenic aldehydes and reactive oxygen species in the Gpx1/Aldh1a1 double KO model of Parkinson’s disease and whether the use of aldehyde trapping agents and N-acetylcysteine, separately and/or together will revert the effects, and could provide a new therapeutic approach to intervention in Parkinson ’s disease.

 

The objectives in these studies are to examine the role of two genes, aldehyde dehydrogenase 1a1 (Aldh1a1) and the glutamate peroxidase 1 (Gpx1), each of whose expression is notably reduced in the nigrostriatal pathway in Parkinson’s disease, and the effects of the aldehyde trapping agent-hydralazine- and or the glutathione precursor N-acetylcysteine in preventing or attenuating the progression of Parkinson’s disease.

 
 

• Appointments, Boards, Committees and Memberships •

Subcommittee for Research Safety - Chairperson South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Research and Development (2010-2011)


Subcommittee for Research Safety - Co-Chairperson South Texas Veterans Health Care System (2009-2010)


 

• Accomplishments, Awards and Honors •

Top 10 Stories of 2009 as recognized by Nature - paper on murine life-extension by rapamycin Nature (2009)


The Breakthroughs of 2009 as recognized by Science - paper on murine life-extension by rapamycin Science (2009)