Research in Dr. Aizenman’s laboratory is directed towards investigating cellular signaling processes leading to neuronal cell death.

Injurious processes in the brain lead to the activation of signaling cascades that eventually result in the demise of neurons. In Dr. Aizenman's laboratory, molecular pathways leading to cell death are being carefully dissected in order to provide novel therapeutic targets to treat neurodegenerative disorders. This laboratory works on potential final common mediators of cell death signaling events that can be effectively targeted to treat neuronal disorders. This work is primarily focused on acute neuronal injury, such as stroke, although the results from these studies could have broader applications to more chronic neurodegenerative conditions, such as Parkinson's disease, ALS and Alzheimer's disease. Over the last 22 years, the laboratory has investigated redox and photic regulation of NMDA receptors, excitotoxicity, dopamine oxidation pathways, zinc-mediated neurotoxicity, and potassium channel facilitated forms of neuronal apoptosis, among other topics.

Recent key publications:

Sensi, S.L., Paoletti, P., Koh, J.-Y., Aizenman, E., Bush, A.I. and Hershfinkel, M. The neurophysiology and pathology of brain zinc. Journal of Neuroscience 2011; 31: 16076-16085.

Chorin, E., O. Vinograd, I. Fleidervish, D. Gilad, S. Hermann, I. Sekler, E. Aizenman and M. Hershfinkel. Upregulation of KCC2 activity by zinc-mediated neurotransmission via the mZnR/GPR39 receptor. Journal of Neuroscience 2011; 31:12916-12926.

Aras, M.A. and E. Aizenman. Redox regulation of intracellular zinc: Molecular signaling in the life and death of neurons. Antioxidants and Redox Signaling 2011; 15: 2249-2262.

Aizenman, E., M.C. McCord, R.A. Saadi, K.A. Hartnett and Kai He. Complex role of zinc in methamphetamine toxicity in vitro. Neuroscience 2010; 171:31-39.

Hershfinkel, M., E. Aizenman, G. Andrews and I. Sekler. Zinc Bells Rang in Jerusalem! Science Signaling 2010; 3(129):mr2.

He, K. and E. Aizenman. ERK signaling leads to mitochondrial dysfunction in extracellular zinc-induced neurotoxicity. Journal of Neurochemistry 2010; 114:452-461.

Aras, M.A., R.A. Saadi and E. Aizenman. Zn(2+) regulates Kv2.1 voltage-dependent gating and localization following ischemia. European Journal of Neuroscience 2009; 30:2250-2257.

Redman, P.T., K.A. Hartnett, M.A. Aras, E.S. Levitan and E. Aizenman. Regulation of apoptotic potassium currents by coordinated zinc-dependent signaling. Journal of Physiology 2009; 587:4393-4404.

Hershfinkel, M., K. Kandler, M.E. Knoch, M. Dagan-Rabin, M.A. Aras, C. Abramovitch-Dahan, I. Sekler and E. Aizenman. Intracellular zinc inhibits KCC2 transporter activity. Nature Neuroscience 2009; 12:725-727.

Aras, M.A., H. Hara, K.A. Hartnett, K. Kandler and E. Aizenman. PKC regulation of neuronal zinc signaling mediates survival during preconditioning. Journal of Neurochemistry 2009; 110:106-117.