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Armen N. Akopian, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Dental School
Endodontics
210-567-6668
akopian@uthscsa.edu
Neuroscience
We investigate conceptually novel mechanisms linking prolactin to female-selective control of certain types of migraine. We investigate a conceptually novel mechanism for the transition from acute to chronic pain in females, which is based on sex-specific local translation in nociceptive synapses and its regulation by gonadal hormones and prolactin.
Diseases Associated: Postoperative pain Chemotherapy-induced pain TMD/TMJ Migraine
Specific Field of Study: General, sex and age-dependent mechanisms of pain chronicity
Techniques Used: Imaging in vitro and in vivo Electro-physiology Sequencing Transgenic mice Behavioral physiology
Education
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| Year | Degree | Discipline | Institution |
| 2001 | Postdoctoral Fellowship | Molecular Neuroscience, Research Fellow | University College of London London , United Kingdom |
| 1997 | Postdoctoral Fellowship | Molecular Neuroscience, Postdoctoral Fellowship | University College of London London , United Kingdom |
| 1994 | PhD | Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Science | Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Branch of Biological Sciences Moscow , USSR |
| 1994 | Postdoctoral Fellowship | Medical Research, Postdoc Fellowship | Sandoz Institute of Medical Research London , United Kingdom |
| 1987 | MS | Biology | Armenia State University USSR |
| 1985 | BS | Physics | Armenia State University USSR |
Appointments
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| 1/2013 - Present | Associate Professor with Tenure | University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio |
| 6/2011 - Present | Credentialed Mentoring Faculty Member | Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, UTHSCSA, Pharmacology, San Antonio, TX |
Expertise
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Biochemistry - This includes protein isolation and protein fraction enrichment, Western blot electrophoresis and immunoprecipitation. |
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Electrophysiology - This includes all aspects of patch clamp electrophysiology and extracellular recording. |
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Fluorescent imaging - This includes live imaging and calcium-imaging. |
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Future scientific Plans - Future scientific plans for at least the next 5-8 years will be to work on these three aforementioned projects in which overall goals are to substantially contribute to improving treatment of chronic pain with no opioids. I aim for not only understanding the mechanisms controlling the development of chronic pain, but to also discover promising therapeutic targets. I planned to obtain external funding support for these projects, and develop novel and contemporary approaches to facilitate solving questions raised by these projects. In this regard, our collaborative team is working hard to set up two contemporary approaches: single-cell sequencing and in vivo live imaging with two-photon microscopy. Thus, we (I am PI) submitted an S10 equipment grant to the NIH in June 2018 to support purchasing a 2-photon microscope system. Importantly, I conduct my research program with my graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. Thus, my research and teaching efforts are combined and execute simultaneously to meaningfully address the critical problem of chronic pain. |
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Molecular and cellular biology - This includes Isolation and synthesis of nucleic acids: DNA and RNA, construction of vectors and libraries, screening of genomic and cDNA libraries, in situ hybridization (non-radioactive and radioactive), and transfection and propagations of cell lines (primary and secondary). |
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Next Generation Sequencing - This includes RNA-seq from tissue samples and single-cell sequencing. |
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Pain modulation in pathological conditions - (inflammatory and neuropathic pain) |
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Research Program - My main area of research interest is to understand how chronic pain develops, especially mechanisms controlling the transition to and resolution from chronic pain conditions. Chronic pain mismanagement has led to opioid overuse, overdose related deaths and cardiovascular, renal and neurological complications at epidemic proportions. In this regard, several Institutes and Centers across the NIH support the ?Acute to Chronic Pain Signatures program?, including UM1, U24 and U54 funding opportunities. To address mechanisms of chronic pain, I started (from 2016-2018) three independent projects related to sex-dependent mechanisms of pain chronicity, age-dependent mechanisms of pain chronicity and peripheral mechanisms of pain chronicity. Projects associated with sex-dependent mechanisms of pain chronicity were recently (2018) awarded with two R01 grants (R01 NS102161 and R01 NS104200). Of particular relevance, these two new R01 grants were scored at the 1% and 2% levels (i.e., they better scores than 99% and 98% of all grants submitted to the NIH, respectively). This provides an independent assessment of the scientific impact of my research program. The other two project lines will form the basis of two additional R01 grants to be submitted in FY19. |
Publications
Abstract |
| Patil MJ, Brooks EG, Henry MA, Akopian AN. Der p 3 Allergen Activated Ano-1 Channel On Afferent Airway Nerves Regulates Th2 Cell Responses; 2014 Jan. (J. Allergy Clin. Immunol). |
Journal Article |
| Akopian AN, Hovhannisyn, AH, Patil, Mayur M. Characteristics of sensory neuronal groups in CGRP-1 cre-ER reporter mice: Comparison to Nav1.8-cre, TRPV1-cre and TRPV1-GFP mouse lines Public Library of Science 2018 Jan;13(6). |
| Mecklenburg J, Patil M, Koek W, Akopian AN. Effects of local and spinal administrations of mu-opioids on postoperative pain in aged vs adult mice Pain Reports 2017 Jan;. |
| Akopian AN, Brackley, AD, Gomez, R, Guerrero, KA, Glucksman, MJ, Du, J, Carlton, SM, Jeske NA. A-Kinase Anchoring Protein 79/150 Scaffolds Transient Receptor Potential A 1 Phosphorylation and Sensitization by Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Activation Scientific Reports 2017 Jan;7(1). |
| Akopian AN, Fanick ER, Brook EG. TRP channels and traffic-related environmental pollution-induced pulmonary disease Semin Immunopathol 2016 May;38(3):331-338. |
| Patil M,Henry M, Goffin V, Akopian AN. (300) Prolactin regulates sensory neurons in a female-specific manner at their peripheral and central terminals and not at their cell bodies The Journal of Pain 2016 Jan;17(4). |
| Akopian AN. Role of TRP ion channels in physiology and pathology Semin Immunopathol 2016 Jan;38(3):275-276. |
| Grattan DR, Akopian AN. Oscillating from Neurosecretion to Multitasking Dopamine Neurons Cell Report 2016 Jan;15(4):681-682. |
| Akopian AN et. al. The TRPA1 ion channel is expressed in CD4 T cells and restrains T-cell-mediated colitis through inhibition of TRPV1 Gut 2016 Jan;. |
| Green D, Patil M, Akopian AN. Influence of Hypophysectomy, Ovariectomy and Gonadectomy on Postoperative Hypersensitivity in Rats Global Anesthesia and Perioperative Medicine 2016 Jan;2(2):171-175. |
| Green D, Ruparel S, Gao X, Ruparel N, Patil M, Akopian A, Hargreaves K. Central activation of TRPV1 and TRPA1 by novel endogenous agonists contributes to mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia after burn injury Molecular Pain 2016 Jan;. |
| Brackley AD, Gomez R, Akopian AN, Henry MA, Jeske NA. GRK2 Constitutively Governs Peripheral Delta Opioid Receptor Activity Cell Report 2016 Jan;16(10):2686-2698. |
| Weng H-J, Patel KN, Jeske NA, Bierbower SM, Zou W, Tiari V, Zheng Q, Tang Z, Mo GCH, Wang Y, Geng Y, Zhang J, Guan Y, Akopian AN, Dong X. Tmem100 is a regulator of TRPA1-TRPV1 complex and contributes to persistent pain Neuron 2015 Jan;85:1-14. |
| Patil, M.J. Henry, M.A Akopian A.N. Prolactin Receptor in Regulation of Neuronal Excitability and Channels Channels 2014 Jan;8(3):193-202. |
| Belguin S, Diogenes A, Patil M, Ginsburg E, Henry MA, Akopian AN. Mechanisms of transient signaling via short and long prolactin receptor isoforms in female and male sensory neurons Journal of Biological Chemistry 2013 Oct;288(48):34943-34955. |
Teaching
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| Date | Description | Institution | # Students |
| 1/2017 - Present | Post-Doctoral Student Supervision | University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio | |
| 1/2016 - Present | Pre-Doctoral Student Supervision | University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio | |
| 1/2000 - Present | Individual Instruction | UT Health San Antonio | |
Grants
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| Funding Agency | NIH/NNDS |
| Title | Meningeal prolactin signaling and female-selective migraine mechanisms |
| Status | Active |
| Period | 8/2018 - 8/2023 |
| Role | Co-Investigator |
| Grant Detail | The major goals of this project are to investigate the role of meningeal prolactin system in female-selective mechanisms of migraine triggered by vasodilatory hormone CGRP and stress. |
| Funding Agency | NIH |
| Title | Sex-Specific regulation of local translation and chronic pain mechanisms in females |
| Status | Active |
| Period | 7/2018 - 6/2023 |
| Role | Co-Investigator |
| Grant Detail | The major goals of this project are to investigate sexual dimorphism of the transition from acute to chronic pain and the control of this process by gonadal hormones that regulate local translation in nociceptor terminals. |
| Funding Agency | NIH |
| Title | Prolactin regulation of postoperative pain in males and females |
| Status | Active |
| Period | 9/2015 - 8/2019 |
| Role | Principal Investigator |
| Grant Detail | The major goals of this project are to identify and characterize female-specific mechanisms in regulation of postoperative pain |
| Funding Agency | NIH-NIGMS |
| Title | Evaluation of Endogenous TRP Agonists in Human Burns |
| Status | Complete |
| Period | 12/2013 - 1/2017 |
| Role | Co-Investigator |
| Grant Detail | The long term goal of this project is to examine modulation of burn pain by oxidized linoleic acid metabolites |
| Funding Agency | University of Texas, UT BRAIN Seed Grant |
| Title | PROLACTIN AND SEX-DEPENDENCE OF MIGRAINE |
| Status | Complete |
| Period | 10/2015 - 10/2016 |
| Role | Principal Investigator |
| Grant Detail | Accumulation of preliminary results on sex-dependent and stress-dependent regulation of migraine by prolactin |
| Funding Agency | UTHSCSA |
| Title | Neuropathic Pain in Aging |
| Status | Complete |
| Period | 8/2015 - 8/2016 |
| Role | Principal Investigator |
| Grant Detail | Main goal of the project is to test contribution of age to pain |