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Comparative Medicine
Dr. Jan Wagner

Janice D. Wagner, DVM PhD

Professor of Pathology (Comparative Medicine); Institute for Regenerative Medicine; Molecular Medicine Graduate Program
Tel: (336) 716-1630
Fax: (336) 716-1515
jwagner@wfubmc.edu

  • Deputy Associate Dean for Research
  • Director, Animal Resources Program
  • Board Certification: Diplomate, ACLAM, Laboratory Animal Medicine
Education:
  • Undergraduate: Hiram College, BA, 1978
  • Postgraduate: University of Virginia, MS, 1981; Ohio State University, DVM, 1985; Wake Forest University, PhD, 1991
  • Fellowship: Bowman Gray School of Medicine, 1985-89
Interests:
  • Teaching: Laboratory Animal Medicine, Animal Models of Human Disease, Comparative Atherosclerosis, Cardiovascular Disease 
  • Research: Comparative Atherosclerosis, Diabetes Mellitus in Monkeys, Animal Models of Human Disease, Women's Health, Cardiovascular Disease 
  • Clinical: Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes Mellitus, Nonhuman Primate Medicine
Current Project: Atherosclerosis, Estrogens, Diabetes 

My major research interests involve comparative diabetes mellitus and obesity; its pathogenesis, treatments, and relationship to exacerbation of cardiovascular disease. My research group has investigated the role of obesity, insulin resistance and inflammation and their role in both progression of diabetes and exacerbation of cardiovascular disease. The adipose tissue is an important source of circulating inflammatory cytokines representing a likely link between obesity and subsequent disease risk. We have further investigated changes in pancreatic function with the progression of insulin resistance to diabetes with a particular emphasis on islet associated amyloid and its role in beta cell failure.

Another area of interest is involves the mechanisms responsible for the increased cardiovascular disease with diabetes. We are studying mechanisms whereby hyperglycemia increases oxidative stress.

I am also interested in Women’s health and nutrition, specifically in the areas of cardiovascular disease and diabetes looking at the effects of hormones and dietary soy products on lipids, insulin, and atherosclerosis. 

Recent Publications:

Kavanagh K, Jones KL, Sawyer J, Kelley K, Carr JJ, Wagner JD, Rudel LL. Trans fat diet induces abdominal obesity and changes in insulin sensitivity in monkeys. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2007 Jul;15(7):1675-84.

Kavanagh K, Fairbanks LA, Bailey JN, Jorgensen MJ, Wilson M, Zhang L, Rudel LL, Wagner JD. Characterization and heritability of obesity and associated risk factors in vervet monkeys. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2007 Jul;15(7):1666-74.

Shadoan MK, Kavanagh K, Zhang L, Anthony MS, Wagner JD. Addition of medroxyprogesterone acetate to conjugated equine estrogens results in insulin resistance in adipose tissue. Metabolism. 2007 Jun;56(6):830-7.

Kaplan JR, Wagner JD. Type 2 diabetes-an introduction to the development and use of animal models. ILAR J. 2006;47(3):181-5.

Kavanagh K, Koudy Williams J, Wagner JD. Naturally occurring menopause in cynomolgus monkeys: changes in hormone, lipid, and carbohydrate measures with hormonal status. J Med Primatol. 2005 Aug;34(4):171-7.

Ibdah JA, Perlegas P, Zhao Y, Angdisen J, Borgerink H, Shadoan MK, Wagner JD, Matern D, Rinaldo P, Cline JM. Mice heterozygous for a defect in mitochondrial trifunctional protein develop hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance. Gastroenterology. 2005 May;128(5):1381-90.

Wagner JD, Clarkson TB. The applicability of hormonal effects on atherosclerosis in animals to heart disease in postmenopausal women. Semin Reprod Med. 2005 May;23(2):149-56. Review.

Cohen KA, Liu TF, Cline JM, Wagner JD, Hall PD, Frankel AE. Safety evaluation of DT(388)IL3, a diphtheria toxin/interleukin 3 fusion protein, in the cynomolgus monkey.
Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2004 Dec 22; [Epub ahead of print]

Register TC, Cann JA, Kaplan JR, Williams JK, Adams MR, Morgan TM, Anthony MS, Blair RM, Wagner JD, Clarkson TB. Effects of soy isoflavones and conjugated equine estrogens on inflammatory markers in atherosclerotic, ovariectomized monkeys. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005 Mar;90(3):1734-40.

Cefalu WT, Wang ZQ, Bell-Farrow AD, Collins J, Morgan T, Wagner JD. Caloric restriction and cardiovascular aging in cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis): metabolic, physiologic, and atherosclerotic measures from a 4-year intervention trial. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2004 Oct;59(10):1007-14.

Cohen KA, Liu TF, Cline JM, Wagner JD, Hall PD, Frankel AE. Toxicology and pharmacokinetics of DT388IL3, a fusion toxin consisting of a truncated diphtheria toxin (DT388) linked to human interleukin 3 (IL3), in cynomolgus monkeys. Leuk Lymphoma. 2004 Aug;45(8):1647-56.

Gee MK, Zhang L, Rankin SE, Collins JN, Kauffman RF, Wagner JD. Rosiglitazone treatment improves insulin regulation and dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetic cynomolgus monkeys. Metabolism. 2004 Sep;53(9):1121-5.

Shadoan MK, Zhang L, Wagner JD. Effects of hormone therapy on insulin signaling proteins in skeletal muscle of cynomolgus monkeys. Steroids. 2004 May;69(5):313-8.

Edwards IJ, Wagner JD, Vogl-Willis CA, Litwak KN, Cefalu WT. Arterial heparan sulfate is negatively associated with hyperglycemia and atherosclerosis in diabetic monkeys. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2004 Apr 29;3(1):6.

Wagner JD, Schwenke DC, Greaves KA, Zhang L, Anthony MS, Blair RM, Shadoan MK, Williams JK. Soy protein with isoflavones, but not an isoflavone-rich supplement, improves arterial low-density lipoprotein metabolism and atherogenesis. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2003 Dec; 23(12): 2241-6.

Shadoan MK, Anthony MS, Rankin SE, Clarkson TB, Wagner JD. Effects of tibolone and conjugated equine estrogens with or without medroxyprogesterone acetate on body composition and fasting carbohydrate measures in surgically postmenopausal monkeys. Metabolism. 2003 Sep;52(9):1085-91.

Register TC, Wagner JD, Zhang L, Hall J, Clarkson TB. Effects of tibolone and conventional hormone replacement therapies on arterial and hepatic cholesterol accumulation and on circulating endothelin-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, and E-selectin in surgically menopausal monkeys. Menopause. 2002 Nov-Dec;9(6):411-21.

Wagner JD, Kaplan JR, Burkman RT. Reproductive hormones and cardiovascular disease mechanism of action and clinical implications. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2002 Sep;29(3):475-93.

Clarkson TB, Anthony MS, Wagner JD. A comparison of tibolone and conjugated equine estrogens effects on coronary artery atherosclerosis and bone density of postmenopausal monkeys. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001 Nov;86(11):5396-404.

Wagner JD, Anthony MS, Cline JM. Soy phytoestrogens: research on benefits and risks. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2001 Dec;44(4):843-52. Review.

Pennathur S, Wagner JD, Leeuwenburgh C, Litwak KN, Heinecke JW. A hydroxyl radical-like species oxidizes cynomolgus monkey artery wall proteins in early diabetic vascular disease. J Clin Invest. 2001 Apr;107(7):853-60.

Wagner JD, Cline JM, Shadoan MK, Bullock BC, Rankin SE, Cefalu WT. Naturally occurring and experimental diabetes in cynomolgus monkeys: a comparison of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and islet pathology. Toxicol Pathol. 2001 Jan-Feb;29(1):142-8.

Wagner JD, Zhang L, Greaves KA, Shadoan MK, Schwenke DC. Soy protein reduces the arterial low-density lipoprotein (LDL) concentration and delivery of LDL cholesterol to the arteries of diabetic and nondiabetic male cynomolgus monkeys. Metabolism. 2000 Sep;49(9):1188-96.

Wagner JD. Rationale for hormone replacement therapy in atherosclerosis prevention. J Reprod Med. 2000 Mar;45(3 Suppl):245-58. Review.

Greaves KA, Wilson MD, Rudel LL, Williams JK, Wagner JD. Consumption of soy protein reduces cholesterol absorption compared to casein protein alone or supplemented with an isoflavone extract or conjugated equine estrogen in ovariectomized cynomolgus monkeys. J Nutr. 2000 Apr;130(4):820-6.

Cefalu WT, Wagner JD, Bell-Farrow AD, Edwards IJ, Terry JG, Weindruch R, Kemnitz JW. Influence of caloric restriction on the development of atherosclerosis in nonhuman primates: progress to date. Toxicol Sci. 1999 Dec;52(2 Suppl):49-55.

Edwards IJ, Wagner JD, Litwak KN, Rudel LL, Cefalu WT. Glycation of plasma low density lipoproteins increases interaction with arterial proteoglycans. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 1999 Oct;46(1):9-18.