Research Interests
Our laboratory applies molecular, biochemical, genetic and genomics approaches to understanding the mechanisms of environmental agent-related organ injury and carcinogenesis. Specifically, we are interested in nuclear receptor-mediated pathways in chemical carcinogenesis, oxidative DNA damage and repair, the role that alcohol and diet play in cancer, and the genetic determinants of the susceptibility to toxicant-induced liver injury. Through a combination of in vivo animal studies and experiments that utilize cellular and molecular models, we aim to better understand why certain chemicals cause cancer or organ damage in rodents and whether humans in general, or any susceptible sub-population in particular, are at risk from similar exposures.
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Center Line Articles
Recent Publications
Click here for a list of publications from PubMed
Rusyn I, Peters JM, Cunningham ML. Modes of action and species-specific effects of di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate in the liver. Crit Rev Toxicol. 2006 May;36(5):459-79.
Kono H, Woods CG, Maki A, Connor HD, Mason RP, Rusyn I, Fujii H. Electron spin resonance and spin trapping technique provide direct evidence that edaravone prevents acute ischemia-reperfusion injury of the liver by limiting free radical-mediated tissue damage. Free Radic Res. 2006 Jun;40(6):579-88.
Powell CL, Kosyk O, Ross PK, Schoonhoven R, Boysen G, Swenberg JA, Heinloth AN, Boorman GA, Cunningham ML, Paules RS, Rusyn I. Phenotypic anchoring of acetaminophen-induced oxidative stress with gene expression profiles in rat liver. Toxicol Sci. 2006 Sep;93(1):213-22.
Powell CL, Kosyk O, Bradford BU, Parker JS, Lobenhofer EK, Denda A, Uematsu F, Nakae D, Rusyn I. Temporal correlation of pathology and DNA damage with gene expression in a choline-deficient model of rat liver injury. Hepatology. 2005 Nov;42(5):1137-47.
Rusyn I, Asakura S, Li Y, Kosyk O, Koc H, Nakamura J, Upton PB, Swenberg JA. Effects of ethylene oxide and ethylene inhalation on DNA adducts, apurinic/apyrimidinic sites and expression of base excision DNA repair genes in rat brain, spleen, and liver. DNA Repair (Amst). 2005 Sep 28;4(10):1099-110.
Bradford BU, Rusyn I. Swift increase in alcohol metabolism (SIAM): understanding the phenomenon of hypermetabolism in liver. Alcohol. 2005 Jan;35(1):13-7. Review.
Bradford BU, Kono H, Isayama F, Kosyk O, Wheeler MD, Akiyama TE, Bleye L, Krausz KW, Gonzalez FJ, Koop DR, Rusyn I. Cytochrome P450 CYP2E1, but not nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase, is required for ethanol-induced oxidative DNA damage in rodent liver. Hepatology. 2005 Feb;41(2):336-44.
Rusyn I, Asakura S, Pachkowski B, Bradford BU, Denissenko MF, Peters JM,
Holland SM, Reddy JK, Cunningham ML, Swenberg JA. Expression of base excision DNA repair genes is a sensitive biomarker for in vivo detection of chemical-induced chronic oxidative stress: identification of the molecular source of radicals responsible for DNA damage by peroxisome proliferators. Cancer Res. 2004 Feb 1;64(3):1050-7.
Wheeler MD, Smutney OM, Check JF, Rusyn I, Schulte-Hermann R, Thurman RG. Impaired Ras membrane association and activation in PPARalpha knockout mice after partial hepatectomy. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2003 Feb;284(2):G302-12.
Yin M, Gabele E, Wheeler MD, Connor H, Bradford BU, Dikalova A, Rusyn I,
Mason R, Thurman RG. Alcohol-induced free radicals in mice: direct toxicants or signaling molecules? Hepatology. 2001 Nov;34(5):935-42.
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Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill