Professor - Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences

e-mail: kanna001@umn.edu

Research Interests
Dr. Kannan's laboratory performs research on the regulation of intracellular calcium in smooth muscle cells and immune cells. We are interested in signal transduction mechanisms in the regulation of calcium, particularly the role of CD38-cyclic ADP-ribose. In recent studies, we have demonstrated that the pathways involved in the synthesis and degradation of cyclic ADP-ribose in smooth muscle are regulated by steroid hormones and inflammatory cytokines. We use molecular biological and digital video imaging tools to investigate intracellular calcium regulation in these cells. CD38 deficient mice also develop attenuated airway hyperresponsiveness, a hallmark of asthma, following challenge with cytokines and allergen. We are investigating the potential contribution of CD38/cADPR signaling in the asthmatic phenotype.

Selected Publications
(For a comprehensive list of  Dr. Kannan's recent publications, refer to PubMed, a service provided by the National Library of Medicine.)

Deepak A. Deshpande, Soner Dogan, Timothy F. Walseth, Steven M. Miller, Yassine Amrani, Reynold A. Panettieri and Mathur S. Kannan. (2004). Modulation of calcium signaling by IL-13 in human airway smooth muscle: role of CD38/cADPR pathway. Am. J. Resp. Cell Mol Biol. 30:1-7.

Dogan, Soner, D. A. Deshpande, M. S. Kannan, T. F. Walseth. (2004). Changes in CD38 expression and ADP-ribosyl cyclase activity in rat myometrium during pregnancy: influence of sex steroid hormones. Biol. Reprod. 71:97-103.

Deshpande, Deepak A., Thomas A. White, Carlos Milla, Timothy F. Walseth, Frances E. Lund, and Mathur S. Kannan. (2005). Altered airway responsiveness in CD38 deficient mice. Am. J. Resp.Cell Mol Biol. 32: 149-156.

Deshpande, D.A., T.A. White, S. Dogan, R.A. Panettieri, T.F. Walseth, and M.S. Kannan. (2005). CD38/Cyclic ADP-ribose signaling: role in the regulation of calcium homeostasis in airway smooth muscle. Am. J. Physiol. (Lung Cell Mol. Physiol) (Invited Review) 288: L1-L16.

Kang, Bit Na, K.G. Tirumurugaan, Deepak A. Deshpande,  Reynold A. Panettieri, Timothy F. Walseth and Mathur S. Kannan. (2005). Adenoviral mediated anti-sense CD38 attenuates TNF-a-induced changes in calcium homeostasis of human airway smooth muscle cells. Can. J. Physiol. Pharmacol.83: 1-6.

White, T.A., M.S. Kannan, and T.F. Walseth (2003). Intracellular calcium signaling through the cADPR pathway is agonist specific in porcine airway smooth muscle. FASEB J 10.1096/fj.02-0622fje.

Deshpande, D.A.,  T.F. Walseth, R.A. Panettieri, and M.S. Kannan. (2003). CD38 – cyclic ADP-ribose-mediated Ca²⁺ signaling contributes to airway smooth muscle hyperresponsiveness. FASEB J 10.1096/fj.02-0450fje.

Bit Na Kang, K.G. Tirumurugaan, Deepak A. Deshpande,  Yassine Amrani, Reynold A. Panettieri, Timothy F. Walseth and Mathur S. Kannan (2006). Transcriptional regulation of CD38 expression by Tumor necrosis factor–a in human airway smooth muscle cells: Role of NF-kB and sensitivity to glucocorticoids. FASEB J.20: 1000-1002.

 Alonso G.P. Guedes, Jaime Paulin, Laura Rivero, Hirohito Kita, Frances E. Lund and Mathur S. Kannan (2006). CD38 contributes to IL-13-induced airway hyperresponsiveness in mice. Am. J. Physiol. (Lung Cell Mol Physiol) 291:L1286-L1293.

 Tirumurugaan, K.G., Jude, J.A., Kang, B.N., Panettieri, R.A., Walseth, T.F. and Kannan, M.S. (2007). TNF-a induced CD38 expression in Human Airway Smooth Muscle Cells: Role of MAP kinases and Transcription Factors NF-kB and AP-1. Am. J. Physiol. (Lung Cell Mol Physiol) 292: L1385-L1395.

 Current Funding
"Dynamic Calcium Regulation in Airway Smooth Muscle," NIH.

Honors and Awards
Bush Faculty Development Award for Excellence and Diversity in Teaching, University of Minnesota, 1996-97.

Canadian Heart Foundation Research Fellowship, 1981-82.

Ontario Heart Foundation Senior Research Fellowship, 1982-86.

Abbott Senior Research Fellowship, 1994-95.

Current Students
Joseph A. Jude