JaNae Joyner
Fifth Year Student, 2006-2007
Education: BA (Biology/minor chemistry),
Mount Olive College, 2002
Graduate Program: Molecular Medicine
Laboratory Department: Hypertension and Vascular Research Center
Email: jjoyner@wfubmc.edu
Advisor: Dr. Bridget Brosnihan
“I chose to pursue my PhD at Wake Forest University in the program of Molecular Medicine due to its interdisciplinary range that strives to combine science and clinical medicine in pursuit of answers to diseases. I chose Dr. Brosnihan’s laboratory in the Hypertension Center due to the collaborative efforts of the center and their drive to push students to become independent thinkers and good scientists while still providing a nurturing environment for learning.”
Current Research:
Working in Dr. Bridget Brosnihan's lab in the Hypertension Center, I have been assessing the distribution of Ang-(1-7) and its synthetic enzyme ACE2. The peptide Ang-(1-7) is part of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System, which regulates blood pressure. It has been shown in previous research in our lab that Ang-(1-7) levels increase in the urine levels of pregnant human and Spague Dawley rat when compared to virgin subjects. This suggests an increase in the local tissue kidney levels of Ang-(1-7). Therefore, in the current project, we are assessing the local kidney production of Ang-(1-7) and ACE2 in virgin, pregnant (days 5, 15, 19), and 19 day pregnant RUPP Sprauge Dawley rats. Once we understand the production of Ang-(1-7), both circulating and within the tissues in normal pregnancy, we can use this information to understand preeclampsia, an abnormal state of pregancy that causes an increase in blood pressure leading to maternal and infant death.
Publications:
Joyner, J, Neves, LAA, Granger, JP, Alexander, BT, Merrill DC, Chappell, MC, Ferrario, CM, Davis, WP, Brosnihan, KB. Temporal-spatial expression of angiotensin-(1-7) and angiotensin converting enzyme 2 in the kidney of normal and hypertensive pregnant rats. [in press].
Brosnihan, KB, Neves, LAA, Anton, L, Joyner, J, Valdes, G, Merrill, DC. Enhanced expression of Ang-(1-7) during pregnancy. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research. 2004; 37: 1255-1262 [review].
Brosnihan KB, Neves L, Joyner J, Averill D, Chappell M, Sarao R, Penninger J, Ferrario C. Enhanced renal immunocytochemical expression of Ang-(1-7) and ACE2 during pregnancy. Hypertension. 2003 Oct;42(4): 749-53
Abstracts:
Joyner, J, Neves LA, Stovall K, Ferrario CM, Brosnihan KB. Contrasting effects of Angiotenin-(1-7) on urine volume in virgin and pregnant rats. (IASH, Miami FL, May, 2007).
Joyner J, Neves LA, Stovall K, Ferrario CM, Brosnihan KB. Angiotensin-(1-7) increases water intake and produces diuresis in association with down-regulation of aquaporin-1 during pregnancy in rats. (FASEB, Washington DC, April, 2007).
Joyner J, Neves LA, Gallagher PE, Merrill DC, Ferrario CM, Brosnihan KB. Counter-regulation of ACE and ACE2 gene expresión in the kidney of normal and pregnant rats. (Triangle Consortium of Reproductive Biology, UNC-CH, January, 2007)
Joyner J, Neves LA, Gallagher PE, Merrill DC, Ferrario CM, Brosnihan KB. Counter-regulation of ACE and ACE2 gene expresión in the kidney of normal and pregnant rats. Hypertension 2006. 48:e95.
Joyner J, Neves LAA, MC Chappell, PE Gallagher, CM Ferrario, KB Brosnihan. Temporal-spatial expression of Ang-(1-7) and ACE2 in association with ACE2 activity and mRNA in the kidney of normal and RUPP pregnant rats. FASEB Journal, 2006 20:A753.
Joyner, J, Neves, LAA, Chappell, MC, Gallagher, PE, Ferrario, CM, Brosnihan, KB. Temporal-spatial expression of Ang-(1-7) and ACE2 in association with ACE2 activity and mRNA in the kidney of normal and RUPP pregnant rats. North Carolina Academy of Science Annual Meeting (Bennett College, Greensboro, NC, February 24, 2006).
Joyner, J, Neves, LAA, Gallagher, PE, Chappell, MC, Ferrario, CM, Brosnihan, KB. Kidney ACE2 mRNA and Activity in Virgin and Normal Pregnant Sprague Dawley Rats. 15th Annual Triangle Consortium for Reproductive Biology (UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC February 10, 06).
Joyner J, Neves LAA, Granger JP, Alexander BT, Merrill DC, Ferrario CM, Brosnihan KB. Temporal-spatial expression of ACE2 and Ang-(1-7) in the kidney of normal and RUPP pregnant rats. Hypertension 2004;44(4):528.
Brosnihan KB, Joyner J, Neves LAA, Ferrario CM. ACE2 and Ang-(1-7) in the kidney of normal and RUPP pregnant rats from implantation to late gestation. Hypertens Pregnanacy 2004:23(Suppl 1):37.
Neves LAA, Williams A, Joyner J, Valdes G, Corthorn J, Gallagher PE, Ferrario CM, Merrill DC, Brosnihan KB. Chronic reduction in uterine perfusion pressure in the pregnant rat results in marked down-regulation of ACE2 expression in the uterus but not placenta. ISSHP 2004 23:153.
Brosnihan KB, Neves LAA, Williams A, Joyner J, Valdes G, Corthorn J, Gallagher PE, Merrill DC, Ferrario CM. Downregulation of ACE2. Hypertens Pregnancy 2004;23 (Suppl 1):153.
Neves LAA, Williams A, Joyner J, Valdes G, Corthorn J, Gallagher PE, Ferrario CM, Merrill DC, Brosnihan KB. Chronic reduction in uterine perfusion pressure in the pregnant rat results in marked down-regulation of ACE2 expression in the uterus but not placenta. Hypertension 2004;44(4):527.
Neves L, William A, Joyner J, Averill DB, Chappell M, Sarao R, Penninger J, Ferrario CM, Merill DC, Brosnihan KB. "ACE-2, a novel enzyme of the renin-angiotensin system, is present in the uterus in association with enhanced levels of Ang-(1-7) during pregnancy." Submitted for High Blood Pressure Council Meeting, Washington DC, (September, 2003).
Neves L, Joyner J, William A, Averill DB, Chappell MC, Sarao R, Pettinger J, Ferrario CM, Brosnihan KB. "ACE-2, a novel enzyme of the renin-angiotensin system, is present in the uterus in association with enhanced levels of Ang-(1-7) during pregnancy." Poster presentation at the Endocrine Society’s 85th Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (June 19-22, 2003).
Neves L, Williams A, Joyner J, Averill DB, Chappell MC, Sarao R, Pettinger J, Ferrario CM, Merrill DC, Brosnihan KB. "ACE-2, a novel enzyme of the renin-angiotensin system, is present in the uterus in association with enhanced levels of Ang-(1-7) during pregnancy," Oral presentation at the XVth Scientific Meeting of the Inter-American Society of Hyptertension, San Antonio, Texas (April 27-30, 2003).
Other Publicantions:
Joyner, J. Training a Young Girl to Become a Scientist: Module Posted on UNESCO Website Motivates Girls to Embark on Science Careers. Association for Women in Science Magazine 2007; 36(1): 14-15.
Joyner, J, Brosnihan, KB. Assessment of the novel renin angiotenin sytem enzyme, ACE2 in the kidney using fluorescent enzymatic assay, immunocytochemistry, and real time polymerase chain reaction. Nephrology Issues in Experimental Research. 2007 (website) http://www.nieronline.org/index.php?title=Nephrological_Issues_in_Experimental_Research
Joyner, J. Finding our way: The drive to keep keeping on when nothing seems to work. Association for Women in Science Magazine 2006; 35(4): 25.
Poster Presentations:
Joyner J, Neves LA, Gallagher PE, Merrill DC, Ferrario CM, Brosnihan KB. Counter-regulation of ACE and ACE2 gene expresión in the kidney of normal and pregnant rats. Wake Forest University Graduate School Research Day. March 23, 2007.
Joyner J, Neves LA, Gallagher PE, Merrill DC, Ferrario CM, Brosnihan KB. Counter-regulation of ACE and ACE2 gene expresión in the kidney of normal and pregnant rats. Wake Forest University Surgical Sciences Research Day. November 2, 2006.
Joyner, J, Neves, LAA, Gallagher, PE, Chappell, MC, Ferrario, CM, Brosnihan, KB. Kidney ACE2 mRNA and Activity in Virgin and Normal Pregnant Sprague Dawley Rats. Wake Forest University Surgical Sciences Research Day. November 3, 2005.
Joyner, J, Neves, LA, Granger, JP, Alexander, BT, Merrill, DC, Ferrario, CM, Brosnihan, KB. Temporal-spatial Expression of ACE2 and Ang-(1-7) in the Kidney of Normal and RUPP Pregnant Rats. Wake Forest University Graduate School Research Day. March 18, 2005.
Joyner, J, Neves, LA, Granger, JP, Alexander, BT, Merrill, DC, Ferrario, CM, Brosnihan, KB. Temporal-spatial Expression of ACE2 and Ang-(1-7) in the Kidney of Normal and RUPP Pregnant Rats. Wake Forest University Surgical Sciences Research Day. October 21, 2004.
Joyner J, Neves L, and Brosnihan KB. "Enhanced renal distribution of Ang-(1-7) and ACE-2 during pregnancy." Wake Forest University Graduate School Research Day. April 4, 2003.
Joyner J, Neves L, Brosnihan KB. "Enhanced renal distribution of Ang-(1-7) and ACE-2 during pregnancy." Wake Forest University Surgical Sciences Research Day. November 6, 2003.