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JaNae Joyner, Ph.D.

Project Coordinator-Postdoc Fellow  

The Hypertension and Vascular Research Center, Wake Forest University Health Sciences    

 

      

Email address: jjoyner@wfubmc.edu

Education:

BA (Biology/minor chemistry), 2002, Mount Olive College;

Former Certified NC Emergency Medical Technician

 

Research Interest:

I assessed the distribution of Ang-(1-7) and its synthetic enzyme ACE2. The peptide Ang-(1-7) is part of the renin angiotensin system, which regulates blood pressure as well as salt and fluid homeostasis. 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, we assessed 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. We will also assessed the role of Ang-(1-7) on renal function and blood pressure in normal pregnancy through the use of the Ang-(1-7) antagonist A-779.  Once the production of Ang-(1-7) is understood, both circulating and within the tissues in normal pregnancy, this information can be used to understand preeclampsia, an abnormal state of pregancy that causes an increase in blood pressure leading to maternal and infant death.  

Honors/Awards:

2007 APS Water and Electrolyte Homeostasis Section Travel Award 

2007 APS Caroline tum Suden/Fracis A. Hellebrandt Professional Opportunity Award

2007 Essay submitted for the Nephrological Issues in Experimental Biology (NIER) renal research essay contest 

2006 Wake Forest Alumni Student Travel Award

2006 Selected participant for the American Physiological Society Professional Skills Training Short Course on Writing Review for Scientific Journals (Englewood, CO)

2006 Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine (SEBM), Young Investigator Award 

2005 Young Investigator Award awarded by the North American Society for the Study of Hypertension and Pregnancy (NASSHP)

2005 Manchester Who’s Who Among Executive and Professional Women in Research and Science

2003 Article selected as top cardiology article by MDLinx In Circulation.net by the European Society of Cardiology "Enhanced renal immunocytochemical expression of Ang-(1-7) and ACE2 during pregnancy. Hypertension, 2003.

2002 The Thomas R. Morris Award for Academic Excellence and Leadership

2002 Citation for Outstanding Student of the Year Award in Science

2002  Derieux Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research Collegiate, Academy of North Carolina Academy of Science

2001 Dr. Thomas R. Morris Award for Excellence in Science

2001 Founders Leadership Award

2000 Lorelle Martin Award for Excellence in Science

1999  Freshman of the Year Award

Publications:

Manuscripts

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 submission].

Neves, LAA, Stovall, K, Joyner, J, Valdes G, Gallagher, PE, Ferrario CM, Merrill, DC, Brosnihan, KB.  ACE2 and Ang-(1-7) in the uterus during early gestation.  [in submission].

Joyner, J, Neves, LAA, Gallagher, PE, Merrill, DC, Ferrario CM, Brosnihan, KB.  Counter-Regulation of ACE and ACE2 mRNA in the Kidney of Normal Pregnant Rats is Disrupted in Hypertensive Pregnant Rats.  [in preparation].

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; 42[part 2]:749-753.

Other publications:

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.

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, Joyner J, Williams A, Averill DB, Chappell MC, Sarao R, Penninger J, Ferrario CM, Merrill DB, 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.  Hypertension 2003:42(3):431

Neves L, Joyner J, Williams A, Averill DB, Chappell MC, Sarao R, Penninger J, Ferrario CM, Merrill DB, 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.  Endocrinology Soc 2003;  :page 44

Brosnihan KB, Neves LA, Joyner J, Williams A, Averill DB, Chappell MC, Sarao R, Pettinger J, Ferrario CM.  Enhanced renal distribution of Ang-(1-7) and ACE-2 during pregnancy. Proceedings from the XVth Scientific Meeting of the Inter-American Society of  Hypertension 2003, page 57.

Joyner J. A Paleobotany study to identify Triassic flora fossils.  Jour. of the N.C. Acad. Science 2000; 118(2):  112-113.

Joyner J, Dreher K. Molecular mechanism of residual oil fly ash induced lung injury.  Jour. Elisha Mitchell Sci. Soc 2001; 117(3): 192.

Joyner J, Smoak I.  Glucose-dependent statement of extracellular matrix proteins in embryonic mouse heart.  Toxicologist 2000; 54: 297.

Joyner J, Smoak I. Hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, the effects on the 9.5 day embryonic heart.  Jour. Elisha Mitchell  Sci. Soc 2000; 116(3): 272.

Oral Presentation:

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.  North American Society for the Study of Hypertension and Pregnancy (NASSHP).  August, 12-14, 2005.

Invited Guest Speaker/Oral Presentation:

Joyner, J, Neves, LA, Granger, JP, Alexander, BT, Merrill, DC, Ferrario, CM, Brosnihan, KB.  The doorways of life:  keep knocking.  Mount Olive College Alumni Weekend.  November 19, 05. 

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 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, K.B.  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, and Brosnihan, K.B.  Enhanced renal distribution of Ang-(1-7) and ACE-2 during pregnancy.  Wake Forest University Surgical Sciences Research Day.  November 6, 2003.

Joyner J, Neves, L, and Brosnihan, K.B.  Enhanced renal distribution of Ang-(1-7) and ACE-2 during pregnancy.  Wake Forest University Graduate School Research Day.  March 26, 2004.

Grant Support:

 

2006-2008         American Heart Association Pre-doctoral Fellowship

AHA061547U  Joyner (PI)     7/1/2006-6/30/08

The role of  angiotensin-(1-7) in renal function in normal pregnancy and pregnancy induced hypertension.

Role:  PI

 

2006-2007         Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society Grant-in-Aid

Joyner (PI)     4/1/2006-3/31/2007

Role of the novel angiotensin [Ang-(1-7)] in volume regulation in pregnancy. 

Role:  PI

 

2005-2005         Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society Grant-in-Aid

Joyner (PI)     1/1/2005-12/31/2005

Novel role of Ang-(1-7) in volume regulation in pregnancy.

Role:  PI