Joshua L. Dunaief, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology
Member, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania
Member, Neuroscience Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania
Scientist, F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology
Member, Institute on Aging, University of Pennsylvania
Member, Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania
Department: Ophthalmology
Contact information
305 Stellar Chance
422 Curie Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6100
422 Curie Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6100
Office: 215-898-5235
Fax: 215-573-3918
Fax: 215-573-3918
Email:
jdunaief@mail.med.upenn.edu
jdunaief@mail.med.upenn.edu
Graduate Group Affiliations
Publications
Education:
B.A. (Biology)
Harvard University (magna cum laude), 1987.
PhD
Columbia University, 1994.
MD
Columbia University, 1996.
B.A. (Biology)
Harvard University (magna cum laude), 1987.
PhD
Columbia University, 1994.
MD
Columbia University, 1996.
Post-Graduate Training
Intern in Internal Medicine, Mercy Hospital/University of Maryland, 1996-1997.
Resident in Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, 1997-2000.
Medical Retina Fellowship, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, 2000-2004.
Intern in Internal Medicine, Mercy Hospital/University of Maryland, 1996-1997.
Resident in Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, 1997-2000.
Medical Retina Fellowship, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, 2000-2004.
Certifications
American Board of Ophthalmology, 2001.
Permanent linkAmerican Board of Ophthalmology, 2001.
Description of Research Expertise
Research InterestsMechanisms of oxidative stress induced apoptosis in the retina
Key words: AMD, iron, oxidative stress, apoptosis, retina, aging, mitochondria.
Description of Research
Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of irreversible blindness, yet its pathogenesis is poorly understood. Evidence suggests that cumulative oxidative damage contributes to AMD and aging in general. My lab has found that AMD retinas have iron overload, which can increase oxidative stress. Increased understanding of retinal iron homeostasis may lead to treatments for AMD. To investigate the mechanisms of retinal iron regulation, we use transgenic mouse models, human retinal tissue, and a dual chamber tissue culture system to study iron transport. A mouse line deficient in the iron transporting ferroxidases ceruloplasmin and hephaestin develops age-dependent retinal iron overload and retinal degeneration with features of AMD (Hahn et al., PNAS, 2004). Recent research suggests that iron plays a key role in apoptosis induced by a variety of insults. Further investigation of the mechanisms of retinal iron homeostasis and of iron induced apoptosis are the focus of the lab.
Rotation Projects for 2006-2007
Recent results suggest that iron chelation confers remarkable protection from apoptosis initiated by a variety of insults. Lab rotations this year will focus on uncovering the role of iron in apoptosis in cultured mammalian cells.
Lab personnel:
Majda Hadziahmetovic, postdoc
Ying Song, research specialist
Jared Iacovelli, graduate student
Allan Hunter, K12 fellow
Natalie Wolkow, MD/PhD student
Steve Grieco, research assistant
Description of Clinical Expertise
age-related macular degeneration (AMD)Selected Publications
Iacovelli J, Mlodnicka AE, Veldman P, Ying GS, Dunaief JL, Schumacher A: Brain and retinal ferroportin 1 dysregulation in polycythaemia mice. Brain research Jul 2009.Hahn P, Song Y, Ying GS, He X, Beard J, Dunaief JL: Age-dependent and gender-specific changes in mouse tissue iron by strain. Experimental gerontology Jun 2009.
Lukinova,N, Iacovelli,J Dentchev,T, Wolkow,N, Hunter,A, Amado,D, Ying,G-S, Sparrow,J, and Dunaief, JL: Iron Chelation Protects the Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cell Line ARPE-19 against Cell Death Triggered by Diverse Stimuli. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 50(3), March 2009.
Charkoudian Louise K, Dentchev Tzvete, Lukinova Nina, Wolkow Natalie, Dunaief Joshua L, Franz Katherine J: Iron prochelator BSIH protects retinal pigment epithelial cells against cell death induced by hydrogen peroxide. Journal of inorganic biochemistry 102(12): 2130-5, Dec 2008.
Loh A, Hadziahmetovic M, Dunaief JL: Iron homeostasis and eye disease. Biochimica et biophysica acta Nov 2008.
Shoham Akiva, Hadziahmetovic Majda, Dunaief Joshua L, Mydlarski Marc B, Schipper Hyman M: Oxidative stress in diseases of the human cornea. Free radical biology & medicine 45(8): 1047-55, Oct 2008.
Clemons Traci E, Gillies Mark C, Chew Emily Y, Bird Alan C, Peto Tunde, Figueroa Maria, Harrington Molly W, : The National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire in the Macular Telangiectasia (MacTel) Project. Investigative ophthalmology & visual science 49(10): 4340-6, Oct 2008.
Risk factors for choroidal neovascularization and geographic atrophy in the complications of age-related macular degeneration prevention trial. Ophthalmology 115(9): 1474-9, 1479.e1-6, Sep 2008.
Bhisitkul, Robert B. Winn, Bryan J. Lee, On-Tat. Wong, Joshua. Pereira, Daniel de Souza. Porco, Travis C. He, Xining. Hahn, Paul. Dunaief, Joshua L.: Neuroprotective effect of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide against photoreceptor apoptosis in a rabbit model of subretinal hemorrhage. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 49(9): 4071-7, Sep 2008.
Maguire Maureen G, Alexander Judith, Fine Stuart L, : Characteristics of choroidal neovascularization in the complications of age-related macular degeneration prevention trial. Ophthalmology 115(9): 1468-73, 1473.e1-2, Sep 2008.
