Research Interests

The effect of ethanol on cell signaling in liver cells (hepatocytes) is being investigated with the goal to identify the key steps altered by ethanol in (a) MAP kinase pathway and (b) in the nuclear responses. Proteomic analysis of the kinase substrates affected by ethanol is one of the issues being addressed. In the nuclear effects, the focus is on the chromatin histone modification(s) and the goal is to understand the molecular mechanism and transcriptional consequence of ethanol induced epigenetic histone modifications (i.e. acetylation, methylation and phosphorylation). The CHIP assay, gene and protein array technologies are being utilized to identify the ethanol affected genes and proteins relevant to alcoholic liver disease. The laboratory also uses pharmacological agents in animals/ in vivo for translational implications of these studies.

The role of blood platelets and its secretory products in vascular responses is another topic of focus. We have established the pharmacological properties of platelet activating factor (PAF) and its receptor associated cell signaling responses in human and rabbit platelets. Our new observations show that upon activation, human platelets secrete specific PKC isozymes (PKC α, βII and δ). This raises the question of extracellular role of these PKCs on adjacent cells (eg. endothelial or smooth muscle cells) in the vasculature or at the site of injury where platelets adhere and secrete these isozymes. Diabetic platelets, which exhibit hypersensitivity, are being used to test whether secretion of these PKC’s have significance in the thromboembolic complications observed in diabetics.

Working model (Microsoft Powerpoint .ppt)

Professional Background

• PhD in 1977 from the University of Liverpool (England)
• Postdoctoral work at the University of Birmingham (England) 1977-1980
• Research Assistant Professor ,University of Texas Health Sciences Center in San Antonio, Texas 1980-84
• Assistant Professor to Professor, MU 1984-present
• Recipient of NIH Research Career Development Award 1989-1994
• Director of Graduate Studies in Pharmacology, MU 1989-1999
• Award for Excellence in Medical Education, 1999
• Awarded ‘Order of Socrates II’ for contribution to Medical Eeducation, 2008
• Editorial Board Member: J. Pharm. Exp. Ther.; World J. Gastroenterology
• Editor of Book : Platelet Activating Factor Receptor
• Service on several NIH review panels; current regular member of NIH study section (AA1)
• Research supported by grants from the National Institues of Health
• Margaret Proctor Mulligan Endowed Professor in Medical Research

Selected Publications

• Shukla, S.D., Velazquez, J, French, SW, Lu S, Ticku, MK and Zakhari S. (Review) Emerging role of epigenetics in the actions of alcohol. Alcoholism:                  Clin & Exp Res. 32, 1525-1534, 2008.
• Aroor AR, James, TT, Jackson DE and Shukla SD. Differential changes in MAP Kinases, histone modifications and liver injury in rats acutely treated with ethanol. Alcoholism: Clin & Exp Res. 34, 1543-1551, 2010.
• Choudhury M, Park P, Jackson DE and Shukla SD. Evidence for the role of oxidative stress in the acetylation of histone H3 by ethanol in rat hepatocytes. Alcohol 44, 531-540, 2010. 
• Choudhury M, Pandey RS, Clemens DL, Davis JW, Lim RW and Shukla SD, Knockdown of GCN5 histone acetyltransferase diminishes ethanol induced histone acetylation and affects differential expression of genes in human hepatoma cells. Alcohol 45, 311-324, 2011.
• Aroor, AR, Jackson DE and Shukla SD. Elevated activation of ERK-1 and ERK-2 accompany enhanced liver injury following alcohol binge in chronically ethanol fed rats. Alcoholism: Clin & Exp Res. 35, 2128-2138, 2011.
• Aroor AR and Shukla SD. Binge ethanol intake in chronically exposed rat liver decreased LDL-receptor and increased angiotensinogen gene expression. World J. Hepatology. 3 (9), 250-255, 2011.
• James, T, Aroor AR, Lim RW and Shukla SD. Histone H3 phosphorylation (S10, S28) and phosphoacetylation (K9/S10) are differentially associated with gene expression in liver of rats treated in vivo with acute ethanol. J. Pharm. & Exp. Ther. 340, 237-247, 2012.
• Aroor AR, Jackson DE and Shukla SD. Dysregulated phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of cyclic-AMP response element binding protein (CREB) in rat liver after chronic ethanol binge. Eur J. Pharm. 679, 101-108, 2012.

Methodology/Techniques

The laboratory uses a variety of methods including: liver perfusion; cell culture; in vivo animal studies; receptor binding; cell signaling; protein kinase assays; post-translational histone modifications; blood platelet aggregation; western blotting; immuno-fluorescence detection, confocal microscopy; real time PCR; functional-proteomics; CHIP assay; gene and protein arrays, transcription assays, and various other pharmacological techniques.