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Solange Abdulnour-Nakhoul, Ph.D.

(Gastroenterology; ion transport in epithelia, membrane physiology, cellular ion transport)

Associate Professor of Medicine
Ph.D: Basic Medical Sciences, American University of Beirut
Postdoctoral: Yale University, Dept of Cellular and Molecular Physiology

The main focus of research in the lab is to understand the mechanisms of protection of the esophageal tissue from acid reflux.

One project focuses on studying the role and cellular mechanisms of esophageal submucosal glands (SMG) secretion. This is done by 1) studying the effect of SMG HCO3- and mucin secretion on luminal acid clearance and epithelial resistance against acid injury 2) identifying and localizing specific membrane ion transporters in SMG cells and characterizing their role in HCO3- secretion, 3) characterizing the role of cholinergic and adrenergic receptors in SMG secretion and 4) characterizing at the molecular level selected membrane ion transporters involved in SMG HCO3- secretion.

Another project aims at studying ion transport in the stratified squamous epithelium of the esophagus. Cellular transport of ions (Na+, H+ , HCO3- and Cl-) is of major importance for the maintenance of the intracellular milieu in this epithelium, the constancy of which is continually challenged by exposure to acid refluxate from the stomach and to various other injurious substances resulting from food intake.

A third project involves the study of pre-epithelial and epithelial defense mechanisms against acid in Barrett esophagus, a premalignant lesion of the esophagus, in which columnar epithelium replaces stratified squamous.

The techniques we are using include the pH stat technique for measuring bicarbonate secretion, immunohistochemistry for the localization of different transporters and proteins, surface pH measurements using microelectrodes for the study of pre-epithelial defense mechanisms, intracellular measurements using ion selective and conventional microelectrodes, spectrophotometry for the measurement of secreted mucin, and molecular biology techniques to characterize the molecular properties of the transporters

Recent Publications:

A PubMed listing of research publications by Solange Abdulnour-Nakhoul, Ph.D

Contact:

Med-Gastroenterology
solange@tulane.edu
568-0811 Ext 3509