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Amr H. Sawalha, MDThe University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center PHONE: 271-7977 E-MAIL: amr-sawalha@omrf.ouhsc.edu |
TITLES
Assistant Member
Arthritis and Immunology Research Program
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Department of Medicine
Staff Physician
Veteran Affairs Medical Center
Oklahoma City
Adjunct Faculty
Department of Pathology
EDUCATION
Jordan University of Science and Technology
Jordan
MD, 1998
Research Interests/Sub-Specialty
My current work focuses on the role of the MEK/ERK signaling pathway in the regulation of T-cell DNA methylation in lupus. DNA methylating enzymes, especially dnmt1, are in part regulated by MEK/ERK signaling. We are therefore developing a transgenic mouse line that overexpresses a dominant negative MEK in T cells. These mice show reduced dnmt1 expression and overexpression of the methylation-sensitive genes in T cells. In addition, female mice expressing dominant negative MEK develop anti-dsDNA antibodies that are lupus specific.
PUBLICATIONS
Click link for abstract
- Sawalha AH, Potts R, Schmid WR, Scofield RH, Harley JB. The genetics of primary Sjögren's syndrome. Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2003 Aug;5(4):324-32.
- Sawalha AH, Schmid WR, Binder SR, Bacino DK, Harley JB. Association between systemic lupus erythematosus and Helicobacter pylori seronegativity. J Rheumatol. 2004 Aug;31(8):1546-50.
- Sawalha AH, Harley JB. Antinuclear autoantibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2004 Sep;16(5):534-40.
- Sawalha AH, Saint S, Ike RW, Bronze MS. Clinical problem-solving. Still consider the source. N Engl J Med. 2005 Oct 6;353(14):1503-7.
- Sawalha AH, Jeffries M. Defective DNA methylation and CD70 overexpression in CD4+ T cells in MRL/lpr lupus-prone mice. Eur J Immunol. 2007 May;37(5):1407-13.
- Sestak AL, Nath SK, Sawalha AH, Harley JB. Current status of lupus genetics. Arthritis Res Ther. 2007;9(3):210.