Anjaparavanda P. Naren, PhD

Thomas Boat Chair in Cystic Fibrosis Research, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Research
Director, Cystic Fibrosis Research Center, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Research
Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics

brenda.mcmillan@cchmc.org

About

Biography

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a cAMP-regulated chloride channel located primarily on the apical surface of epithelial cells that line various organs, including the airways and the gut. CFTR dysfunction is detrimental and may result in life-threatening medical disorders. Dr. Naren's laboratory studies two such disorders; (1) Cystic fibrosis, a lethal genetic disease that affects mostly the Caucasian population (>30,000 in USA), in which the CFTR chloride channel is HYPO-functional and (2) Secretory diarrhea, a disease affecting millions of children worldwide, in which HYPER-function of the CFTR chloride channel can occur due to infectious toxins, such as cholera toxin and E. coli enterotoxin. His lab is interested in identifying interactions between CFTR and its binding partners and defining how spatiotemporal regulation of CFTR-containing macromolecular complexes in the apical compartment of polarized epithelial cells lining the secretory epithelia regulates overall fluid secretion. Our studies will identify new drug targets for cystic fibrosis, secretory diarrhea, and other diseases resulting from CFTR dysfunction and provide insights into the etiology of diseases associated with CFTR-interacting molecules.

Interests

Cystic fibrosis; secretory diarrhea.

Publications

EMC3 is critical for CFTR function and calcium mobilization in the mouse intestinal epithelium. Penrod, S; Tang, X; Moon, C; Whitsett, JA; Naren, AP; Huang, Y. American Journal of Physiology: Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology. 2025; 328:G72-G82.

Defective CFTR modulates mechanosensitive channels TRPV4 and PIEZO1 and drives endothelial barrier failure. Amoakon, JP; Lee, J; Liyanage, P; Arora, K; Karlstaedt, A; Mylavarapu, G; Amin, R; Naren, AP. iScience. 2024; 27:110703.

High frequency of germline variants in CFTR identified in PDAC patients enrolled in an expanded panel multi-gene panel testing program. Hendifar, A; Hitchins, M; Lauzon, M; Hatchell, KE; Heald, B; Pandol, S; Naren, AP; Osipov, A. HPB. 2024; 26:1082-1085.

Distinct positions of genetic and oral histories: Perspectives from India. Biddanda, A; Bandyopadhyay, E; de la Fuente Castro, C; Witonsky, D; Urban Aragon, JA; Pasupuleti, N; Moots, HM; Fonseca, R; Freilich, S; Stanisavic, J; Naren, AP; Sikdar, M; Rai, N; Raghavan, M. Human Genetics and Genomics Advances. 2024; 5:100305.

Pulmonary Vascular Dysfunctions in Cystic Fibrosis. Amoakon, JP; Mylavarapu, G; Amin, RS; Naren, AP. Physiology (Bethesda, Md.). 2024; 39:0.

Functional Consequences of CFTR Interactions in Cystic Fibrosis. Ramananda, Y; Naren, AP; Arora, K. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2024; 25:3384.

ABCC4 impacts megakaryopoiesis and protects megakaryocytes against 6-mercaptopurine induced cytotoxicity. Ranjit, S; Wang, Y; Zhu, J; Cheepala, SB; Schuetz, EG; Cho, WJ; Xu, B; Robinson, CG; Wu, G; Naren, AP; Schuetz, JD. Drug Resistance Updates. 2024; 72:101017.

A personalized medicine approach to optimize care for a pediatric cystic fibrosis patient with atypical clinical symptoms. Lee, J; Husami, A; Arora, K; Zhang, W; Kadri, F; Yarlagadda, S; Moon, C; Mun, KS; Zhang, K; Huang, Y; Clancy, JP; Shaikhkhalil, A; Paul, G; Naren, AP. Pediatric Pulmonology. 2024; 59:229-232.

Guided construction of single cell reference for human and mouse lung. Guo, M; Morley, MP; Jiang, C; Wu, Y; Li, G; Du, Y; Zhao, S; Wagner, A; Cakar, AC; Kouril, M; Morrisey, EE; Whitsett, JA; Lin, S; Xu, Y. Nature Communications. 2023; 14:4566.

Su1232 EMC REGULATES INTESTINAL EPITHELIAL STEM CELL HOMEOSTASIS PARTIALLY THROUGH CALCIUM MOBILIZATION. Huang, Y; Penrod, S; Whitsett, J; Naren, AP. Gastroenterology. 2023; 164:s-560.

From the Blog

Tools for Science

Pancreas-On-A-Chip May Advance Cystic Fibrosis Research

Anjaparavanda P. "AP" Naren, PhD8/12/2019