Faculty
Jay Wimalasena, Ph.D.
POSTDOCTORAL AND GRADUATE STUDENT TRAINING:
Ph.D. advisor to: Korakod Indrapichate, Ph.D., 1990, Kathy Alpaugh, Ph.D., 1991, Lehigh University, Dr. Tzu Hao Wang 1999, and Dr. Shamila Ahamed, 2000, University of Tennessee, Post doctoral advisor of Dr. P. McKenzie, University of Tennessee Medical Center (1993-1998). Advisor to Dr. Ingrid Fernando (Ph.D.2004) and Marissa Bradbury(MS 2004) and Dr. A.V. Medeiros (M.S University of Tennessee 1998)
Other Academic Activities
Editorial board member Endocrine Related Cancer.
Reviewer for Oncogene, Cancer Research,Clinical Cancer Research, Experimental Cell Research , Molecular Cancer Research, Apoptosis, J.Cell Biochem, European Journal Of Cancer, Endocrine , Mol Pharm & others
Reviewer for DOD Breast Cancer Research program (2001-2007), Medical Research Council,U.K.
Current support
“Novel Methods for Imaging PET Biomarkers and Gene Therapy of Cancer”; 5% effort U.S. Army Medical Research; 05/01/07 – 05/31/09; $434,762 1st year; Goal and Specific Aims: To use PET imaging to monitor tumor metabolism and delivery of gene therapy viruses to tumors. Role: Co-Investigator
PUBLICATIONS IN PEER REVIEWED JOURNALS (ONLY):
1. Barton S, J Wimalasena and Schacter. Subcellular location of the kininogenase in the coagulating gland of guinea pig. Biochem. Pharmacol. 22:9, 1973.
2. Wagner K, MD Roper, BH Leichtling, J Wimalasena, and WD Wicks. Effects of 6- and 8- substituted analogs of adenosine 3’5’ - monophosphate on phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and tyrosine amino-transferase in hepatoma cell cultures. J. Biol. Chem. 250:231, 1975.
3. Leichtling BH, J Koontz, JL Su, K Wagner, MD Roper, J Wimalasena, and WD Wicks. Enzyme induction by cAMP in hybrid cells. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 185:525, 1978.
4. Leichtling BH, YT Su, J Wimalasena, TK Harden, BB Wolfe, and WD Wicks. Molecular basis for the lack of hormonal responsiveness of adenylate cyclase in minimal deviation rat hepatoma cells, loss of specific receptors. J. Cell Physiol. 96:215, 1978.
5. Wimalasena J and WD Wicks. Protein kinase activation by cAMP analogs in H25 cells in vivo and its relation to enzyme
induction. Mol. Pharmacol. 16:449, 1979.
6. Wimalasena J, BH Leichtling, EJ Lewis, TA Langan, and WD Wicks. Coordinate regulation of adenylate cyclase, protein kinase and specific enzyme synthesis by Cholera toxin. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 205:595, 1980.
7. Wicks WD, BH Leichtling, J Wimalasena, and J Koontz. Regulation of cAMP metabolism and specific protein synthesis in reuber hepatoma cells. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 349:195, 1980.
8. Kitabchi, AE, J Wimalasena, and J Barker. Specific receptor sites for d-a-tocopherol in purified isolate adrenocortical cell membrane. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 96:179, 1980.
9. Wimalasena J and ML Dufau. Water soluble gonadotropin receptors of the rat ovary. Endocrinology 110:1004, 1981.
10. Wimalasena J, M Davis, and AE Kitabchi. Receptors for d-a-tocopherol in human erythrocyte membranes. Biochem. Pharmacol. 31:3455, 1982.
11. Kitabchi AE and J Wimalasena. Specific receptors for d-a-tocopherol in human erythrocyte membranes. Biochem. Biophys. Acta. 684:200, 1982.
12. Wimalasena J, S Schwab, and ML Dufau. Soluble luteinizing hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin receptors of the rat ovary. Comparative studies of water and detergent-
soluble receptors. Endocrinology 113:618, 1983.
13. Kitabchi AE and J Wimalasena. Specific receptors for d-a-tocopherol in human erythrocyte membranes. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 393:300, 1982.
14. Wimalasena J, P Moore, JP Wiebe, JH Abel, and TT Chen. The porcine LH/hCG receptor. Characterization and Purification. J. Biol. Chem. 260:10689, 1985.
15. Wimalasena J, JH Abel, JP Wiebe, and TT Chen. The porcine LH/hCG receptor II: Is the purified receptor and oligomer of identical subunits? J. Biol. Chem. 261:9416, 1986.
16. Alpaugh K, K Indrapichate, J Abel, R Rimerman, and J Wimalasena. Purification and characterization of the human ovarian LH/hCG receptor and comparison of the properties of mammalian LH/hCG receptors. Biochem. Pharmacol. 40:2093-2104, 1990.
17. Saxena S, D Meehan, and J Wimalasena. Ethanol has direct effects on progesterone and estradiol production by human granulosa cells and other mammalian granulosa cells. Alcohol: Clin. Exp. Res. 14:522-527, 1990.
18. Wimalasena J, C Cavallo, and D Meehan. Human epithelial ovarian cancer cell steroid secretion and its control by gonadotropins. Gynecol. Oncol. 41:56-63, 1991.(43 citations by 08)
19. Indrapichate K, D Meehan, TA Lane, S-Y Chu, Ch V Rao, D Johnson, TT Chen, and J Wimalasena. Biological actions of monoclonal LH/hCG receptor antibodies. Biol. Reprod. 46:265-278, 1992.
20. Wimalasena, J, R Dostal, and D Meehan. Gonadotropins, estradiol and growth factors regulate epithelial ovarian cancer cell growth in culture. Gynecol. Oncol. 46:345-350, 1992.(67 citations by 08)
21. Wimalasena J, D Meehan, R Dostal, and M De Silva. Selective Inhibition of LH action by Ethanol in Cultured Human Granulosa Cells. Alcohol: Clin. Exp. Res. 17:340-344, 1993.
22. Bukovsky, A, TT Chen, J Wimalasena, and MR Caudle. The cellular localization of LH receptor immunoreactivity.. Biol. Reprod. 48:1367-1382, 1993.(64 citations by 07)
23. Wimalasena J. Ethanol has direct effects on human choriocarcinoma cell steroid hormone secretion. Alcohol: Clin. Exp. Res. 18:369-374, 1994.
24. Wimalasena J, D Meehan, R Dostal, JS Foster, M Cameron, and M Smith. Growth factors interact with estradiol and gonadotropins in the regulation of ovarian cancer cell growth and growth factors receptors. Oncol. Res. 5:325-337, 1993.(35 citations)
25. Wimalasena J, F Beams, and MR Caudle. Ethanol modulates the hormone secretory responses induced by epidermal growth factor in choriocarcinoma cells. Alcohol: Clin. Exp. Res. 18:1448-1455, 1994.
26. Bukovsky A, Caudle MR, Keenan JA, Wimalasena J, Foster JS, and Van Meter SE. Quantitative evaluation of the cell cycle related protein (pRb) and localization of Thy-1 differentiation protein and macrophages during follicular development and atresia.
Biol. Reprod. 52:776-792, 1995.
27. M Cameron, MR Caudle, W Sullivan, JJ Peluso, and Wimalasena J. The Steroidogenic and morphologic effects of Taxol on cultured ovarian cancer cells. Oncology Res. 7:145-156, 1995.
28. Bukovsky A, Caudle MR, Keenan JA, Wimalasena J, Foster JS, Upadhyaya NB, and Van Meter SE. Expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins (p53 pRb) in the human female genital tract. J. Assisted Reprod. Genetics 12:123-131, 1995.
29. Bukovsky A, JA Keenan, MR Caudle, J Wimalasena, NB Upadhyaya, and SE Van Meter. Immunohistochemical studies of the adult human ovary. Possible contribution of epithelial and stromal factors to folliculogenesis. Am. J. Reprod. Immunol. 33:323-340, 1995.
30. Maurer DR, J Wimalasena, K Indrapichate, D Puett, and MH Majercik. Cytoskeletal regulation of hCG-induced receptor clustering in transformed leydig cells. Cell. Physiol. Biochem. 5:361-370, 1995.
31. McKenzie PP, McClaran JD, Caudle MR, Fukuda A, and Wimalasena J. Alcohol inhibits EGF stimulated progesterone secretion from human granulosa cells. Alcohol: Clin. Exp. Res. 19:1382-1388, 1995.
32. Bukovsky A, Caudle MR, Keenan JA, Wimalasena J, Upadhyaya NB, and Van Meter SE. Is corpus luteum regression an immune mediated event? Localization of immune system components and LH receptors in human corpora lutea. Biol. Reprod. 53:1373-1384, 1995.
33. Foster JS and Wimalasena J. Estrogen regulates activity of cyclin dependent kinases and retinoblastoma protein phosphorylation in breast cancer cells. Mol. Endocrinol. 10:488-498, 1996. ( 144 citations by 08)
34. Cameron M, Foster J, Bukovsky A, and Wimalasena J. Activation of MAPK by gonadotropins and cAMP in porcine granulosa cells. Biol. Reprod. 55:111-119, 1996 (106 citations by 08)
35. Dees C, Askari M, Foster S, Ahamed S and Wimalasena J. DDT mimics estradiol by stimulating breast cancer cells to enter the cell cycle.Molecular Carcinogenesis 18, 107-114, 1997
36. Dees C, Travis C, Foster S, Ahamed S and Wimalasena J. Dietary estrogens stimulate human breast cells to enter the cell cycle. Environment. Health Perspect, 105, Supp. 3, 633-636, 1997. (50 citations by 08)
37. Takao Y., Honda T., Ueda M., Hattori N., Yamada S., Maeda M., Fujiwara H., Mori T. and Wimalasena J. Immunohistochemical localization of the LH/HCG receptor in human ovary: HCG enhances cell surface expression of LH/HCG receptor on luteinizing granulosa cell in vitro. Mol. Human Reprod. 3, 569-578, 1997.
38. Wang TH, Wang HS, Ichijo H, Giannakakou P, Foster JS, Fojo T, and Wimalasena J. Intracellular stress induced by microtubule-interfering agents activates c-Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase (Jnk/Sapk) J. Biol. Chem. 273(9):4928-4936, 1998 . ( 249 citations by 08)
39.McKenzie P.P., Foster J.S., House S.L., Bukovsky A., Caudle M.R. and Wimalasena J. Differential Expression of G1 Cyclins and Cyclin-Dependent Kinase-2 (Cdk2) Activity in Term Trophoblast from Human Placentae. Biol. of Reproduction 58:1283-1289, 1998.
40.Wang T-H. Pop D.M., Wang H-S., Saitoh M., Henley D.C., Ichijo H., and Wimalasena J., Microtubule Dysfunction induced by Paclitaxel initiates Apoptosis through both c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK)dependent and independent pathways in Ovarian Cancer Cells . J.Biol Chem 274 8208-8216 1999 (146 citations by 08)
41. Bukovsky A, Caudle MR, Keenan JA, Wimalasena J, McKenzie PP. Thy-1 differentiation protein and monocyte-derived cells during regeneration and aging of human placental villi. Amer J Reprod Immunol, 42, 135-152, 1999.
42. Bukovsky A, Ayala ME, Dominguez D, Keenan JA, Wimalasena J, McKenzie PP, Caudle MR. Postnatal androgenization induces premature aging of rat ovaries. Steroids.65 190-205. 2000.
43. The toxic effects of the dietary factors Indole-3-Carbinol and 3,3’-Diindolymethane on estrogen responsive and non-responsive cells in vitro. Cancer Detection and Prevention 2000; 24(Supplement 1). WR Thelin , C Dees 2, L Bradlow 3, DL, J Dan 5, S Foster 5, J Wimalasena 5
44. Foster J.S., Henley D.C., Seth P., and Wimalasena J., Multifaceted Regulation of Cell Cycle Progression by Estrogens: Regulation of Cdk inhibitors and CDC 25A Independent of Cyclin D1-Cdk4 Function Mol.Cell.Biol 21.794-810. 2001. (66 citations by 08)
45. Ahamed S., Foster J.S., and Bukovsky A, Wimalasena J., Signal Transduction via the Ras/Erk pathway is essential for Zearalenone induced cell cycle progression Mol Carcinogenesis 30, 88-98, 2001.
46. Foster JS, Henley DC, Ahammed A, Wimalasena J. Estrogens and Cell cycle regulation in Breast Cancer. Trends Endocrinol & Metab 12, 320-327, 2001.(92 citations by 08)
47.Bukovsky A, Caudle MR, Keenan JA, Upadhyaya NB, Van Meter S, Wimalasena J, Elder RF. Association of mesenchymal cells and immunoglobulins with differentiating epithelial cells. BMC Dev. Biol 11, 2001.
48. Bukovsky A, Ayala ME, Dominguez R, Keenan JA, Wimalasena J, Caudle MR. Changes in ovarian interstitial cell hormone receptors and behavior of mesenchymal cells. Steroids 67, 277-289, 2002.
49. Bukovsky A, Cekanova M, Caudle MR, Wimalasena J, Foster JS, Keenan JA, Elder RF. Variability of Placental expression of Cyclin E, low molecular weight variants. Biol of Reproduction 67, 568-574 2002.
50. Ahmed S., Diehl J.A., Foster J.S., Wimalasena J., Sequestration and down regulation of CKI are essential for activation of Cyclin E/Cdk2 in Zearalenone treated MCF7 breast cancer cells. Mol. Carcinogenesis .34.45-58,2002.
51.. Foster JS, Nakayama K, Wimalasena J, Estrogens regulate p27Kip1 in breast cancer cells through SKP2 dependent and independent mechanisms. J.Biol.Chem, 278,41355-41366, 2003.
52. Bukovsky A,Cekanova M, Caudle MR,Wimalasena J, Foster JS,Henley DC,Elder RF Expression and localization of estogen receptor alpha protein in normal and abnormal term placentae and stimulation of trophoblast differentiation by estradiol Rep Biol and Endocrinol 2003
53. Placental expression of estrogen receptor beta and its hormone binding variant - comparison with estrogen receptor alpha and a role for estrogen receptors in asymmetric division and differentiation of estrogen-dependent cells. Bukovsky A, Caudle MR, Cekanova M, Fernando RI, Wimalasena J, Foster JS, Henley DC, Elder RF.

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