Academic Background

B.S., University of Southampton, UK, 1976;
Ph.D., University of Southampton, UK, 1981.

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Intercellular Ca²⁺ Signaling

Intercellular communication is a fundamental paradigm of multicellular organisms and regulates cooperative cell responses. It has been discovered that intercellular communication can be mediated by intercellular Ca²⁺ waves, increases in [Ca²⁺]_i that propagate between cells via gap junctions. Ca²⁺ waves occur in a diversity of cell types including airway epithelial, endothelial and glial cells. Intercellular Ca²⁺ signaling also occurs between cells of different types, i.e. between glia and neurons and between smooth muscle and endothelial or epithelial cells. Consequently, Ca²⁺ waves are thought to be important in regulating a wide range of cell processes, including mucociliary clearance, wound healing, muscle contraction during childbirth and brain function. Our objective is to understand the mechanisms of intercellular Ca²⁺ signaling. Investigative techniques involve fluorescent digital imaging microscopy, electrophysiology, tissue culture and mathematical modeling. We are currently testing the hypothesis that Ca²⁺ waves are mediated by the passage of the second messenger, inositol trisphosphate, through gap junctions to release intracellular Ca²⁺.