ANN TALLANT, Ph.D.
Professor, Surgical Sciences
Hypertension and Vascular Research Center,
Professor, Physiology & Pharmacology
Director, Hypertension and Vascular Research Center Seminar Series
Hanes Building, 6th floor
Winston-Salem, NC 27157
Tel: 336-716-2108
Fax: 336-716-2456
Email: atallant@wfubmc.edu
Education:
Memphis State University, BS, 1970
University of Tennessee at Memphis, PhD, 1983
Research Description:
Cell biology of hypertension
Signal transduction
Regulation of cell growth
Chemotherapeutics/chemoprevention of cancer
Current Research:
Research in Dr. Tallant’s laboratory focuses on cellular regulatory mechanisms, particularly those processes that control blood pressure and cell growth. Her approach to this research centers on the renin-angiotensin system and its role in regulating blood pressure and cell proliferation. The laboratory addresses these issues by studying receptors for angiotensin peptides, the intracellular mechanisms that respond to receptor activation, and the cellular processes that are evoked by intracellular signaling molecules. This system is examined in cells and tissues from normotensive animals as well as from animals with hypertension due to over-expression of the renin-angiotensin system. An understanding of the basic processes that regulate blood pressure and their alterations in diseased animals will provide insight into the pathology and treatment of hypertension as well as other pathologies.
In the last several years, this research has developed into a broader approach to understanding cellular growth mechanisms, addressing the role of angiotensin peptides in the growth of cardiac cells. Many of the drugs used to treat hypertension also improve cardiac function by reducing myocyte hypertrophy and cardiac fibrosis. However, the molecular mechanisms of how these drugs regulate cardiac cell growth are only beginning to be understood.
Finally, the laboratory also investigates the growth regulation by angiotensin peptides in malignant cells, specifically lung and sex-specific cancers. The potential for development of angiotensin peptides as chemopreventive and/or chemotherapeutic drugs is a challenging and exciting new area of research.
Tallant has published 11 book chapters and 55 journal articles. She currently has funding from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the NIH, the National Cancer Institute and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Recent Publications:
Jessup JA, Gallagher PE, Averill DB, Brosnihan KB, Tallant EA, Chappell MC, Ferrario CM.Effect of angiotensin II blockade on a new congenic model of hypertension derived from transgenic Ren-2 rats. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2006 Nov;291(5):H2166-72.
Gallagher PE, Chappell MC, Ferrario CM, Tallant EA. Distinct roles for ANG II and ANG-(1-7) in the regulation of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 in rat astrocytes. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2006 Feb;290(2):C420-6.
Tallant EA, Ferrario CM, Gallagher PE. Angiotensin-(1-7) inhibits growth of cardiac myocytes through activation of the mas receptor. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2005 Oct;289(4):H1560-6.
Ferrario CM, Jessup J, Chappell MC, Averill DB, Brosnihan KB, Tallant EA, Diz Di, Gallagher PE. Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition and angiotensin II receptor blockers on cardiac angiotensin-converting enzyme 2. Circulation. 2005 May 24;111(20):2605-10.
Gallagher PE, Tallant EA. Inhibition of human lung cancer cell growth by angiotensin-(1-7). Carcinogenesis 2004 Nov;25(11):2045-52..
Strawn WB, Richmond RS, Tallant EA, Gallagher PE, Ferrario CM. Renin-angiotensin system expression in rat bone marrow haematopoietic and stromal cells. British Journal of Haematology 2004;126:120-126.
Ishiyama Y, Gallagher PE, Averill DB, Tallant EA, Brosnihan KB, Ferrario CM. Up-regulation of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 after myocardial infarction by blockade of angiotensin II receptors. Hypertension 2004;43:1-7.
Tallant EA and Clark MA. Molecular mechanisms of inhibition of vascular growth by angiotensin-(1-7). Hypertension 2003;42:574-579.
Clark MA, Tallant EA and Diz DI. Downregulation of the AT1A receptor by pharmacologic concentrations of angiotensin-(1-7). J Cardiovascular Pharmacology 2001;37:437-448.
Clark MA, Diz DI and Tallant EA. Angiotensin-(1-7) downregulates the AT1 receptor in vascular smooth muscle cells. Hypertension 2001;37:1141-1146.
Tallant EA, Diz DI and Ferrario CM. Antiproliferative effects of angiotensin-(1-7) in vascular smooth muscle. Hypertension 1999;34(part 2):950-957.
Strawn WB, Ferrario CM, Tallant EA. Angiotensin-(1-7) reduces smooth muscle growth following vascular injury. Hypertension 1999;33207-211.
Freeman EJ, Chisolm GM, Ferrario CM, Tallant EA. Angiotensin-(1-7) inhibits vascular smooth muscle growth. Hypertension 1996;28:104-108.
Tallant EA, Higson JT. Angiotensin II activates distinct signal transduction pathways in astrocytes isolated from neonatal rat brain. Glia 1997;19:333-342.
For a listing of additional publications, refer to PubMed, a service provided by the National Library of Medicine.