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Edward Perez-Reyes

Edward Perez-Reyes

Professor, Pharmacology

Primary Location
PO Box 800735
1340 Jefferson Park Ave., Pinn Hall, Room 5056A
Charlottesville, VA 22903
Primary Phone Number
Fax Number
434.982.3878

Bio & Overview

Current work in the lab is focused on developing gene therapies for pharmacoresistant epilepsies and insulin replacement. In these projects we are leveraging our experience in molecular cloning to develop novel adeno-associated viral (AAV) targeting vectors capable of delivering genes of interest. In a project funded by a CURE Challenge Award, we validated the ability of a modified K+ leak channel to reduce status epilepticus (Epilepsia, PMID: 24299204). Current funding focuses on developing novel drug-inducible genetic switches to control therapeutic gene delivery. Our work on insulin replacement is supported by donations from the Manning Foundation to the School of Medicine’s grant program ‘Launchpad for Diabetes.” This project is a collaboration with Thurl Harris, also in the Pharmacology department. Our work on epilepsy includes both developing novel models of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE; Epilepsia, PMID: 32954490), exploring the causes of epilepsy, and developing therapies to prevent TLE seizures (DOI 10.3390/ijms241411347). Our epilepsy work is a collaboration with Drs. Ukpong Eyo (Neuroscience), Mark Beenhakker (Pharmacology), Manoj Patel (Anesthesiology), Harald Sontheimer (Neuroscience) and Jaideep Kapur (Neurology). We have also leveraged our molecular cloning experience to advance studies in hearing with Dr. Jung-Bum Shin (Neuroscience) and in the control of breathing with Drs. Yingtang Shi and Doug Bayliss (Pharmacology). Our latest tools for neuroscience are optimized Cre-dependent AAVs with minimal off-target expression. For a complete list of scientific contributions see my profile on Google Scholar: perez-reyes e .

Academic Information

Department
Pharmacology
Academic Title
Professor

Primary Education

  • BA, Chemistry, University of North Carolina, 1978
  • PhD, Pharmacology, University of Colorado, Denver, 1986
  • Research Fellowship, Electrophysiology, Stanford University, 1989

Other Appointments

  • Professor, Neuroscience
  • Neuroscience
  • Professor, SCBB
  • Professor, MOMD

Other Affiliations

  • Advisor, Pharmacology
  • Advisor, Mol Med
  • Cardiovascular Research Center
  • Professor, BIMS
  • Brain Immunology and Glia Center
  • Investigator, Brain Institute

Research Interests

Exploring epilepsy circuits then preventing seizures using gene therapies. Developing drug-inducible genetic switches for insulin replacement gene therapies.

Research Disciplines

  • Biophysics
  • Biotechnology
  • Metabolism
  • Molecular Biology
  • Molecular Pharmacology
  • Neuroimmunology
  • Neuroscience
  • Translational Science

Research Opportunities

  • Molecular Pharmacology
  • Molecular and Systems Neuroscience
  • Neuroimmunology
  • Neuroscience

PhD Programs

  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology

Selected Publications

2023

Alexander, S. P. H., Mathie, A. A., Peters, J. A., Veale, E. L., Striessnig, J., Kelly, E., . . . Zhu, M. (2023). The Concise Guide to PHARMACOLOGY 2023/24: Ion channels. BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY, 180, S145-S222. doi:10.1111/bph.16178

Burke, C. T., Vitko, I., Straub, J., Nylund, E. O., Gawda, A., Blair, K., . . . Perez-Reyes, E. (2023). EpiPro, a Novel, Synthetic, Activity-Regulated Promoter That Targets Hyperactive Neurons in Epilepsy for Gene Therapy Applications. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES, 24(19). doi:10.3390/ijms241914467

Sullivan, K. A. A., Vitko, I., Blair, K., Gaykema, R. P. P., Failor, M. J. J., San Pietro, J. M. M., . . . Perez-Reyes, E. (2023). Drug-Inducible Gene Therapy Effectively Reduces Spontaneous Seizures in Kindled Rats but Creates Off-Target Side Effects in Inhibitory Neurons. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES, 24(14). doi:10.3390/ijms241411347

Gibbs-Shelton, S., Benderoth, J., Gaykema, R. P., Straub, J., Okojie, K. A., Uweru, J. O., . . . Eyo, U. B. (2023). Microglia play beneficial roles in multiple experimental seizure models. GLIA, 71(7), 1699-1714. doi:10.1002/glia.24364

2022

Upchurch, C. M., Yeudall, S., Pavelec, C. M., Merk, D., Greulich, J., Manjegowda, M., . . . Leitinger, N. (2022). Targeting oxidized phospholipids by AAV-based gene therapy in mice with established hepatic steatosis prevents progression to fibrosis. SCIENCE ADVANCES, 8(28). doi:10.1126/sciadv.abn0050

Upchurch, C. M., Yeudall, S., Pavelec, C. M., Manjegowda, M., Bochkis, I. M., Scott, M., . . . Leitinger, N. (2022). Virus-induced Hepatic Expression of an Oxidized Phospholipid-binding Antibody Fragment Prevents Initiation of Hepatic Steatosis and Progression to Fibrosis.. FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, 36 Suppl 1. doi:10.1096/fasebj.2022.36.s1.l8081

Salvati, K. A., Ritger, M. L., Davoudian, P. A., O'Dell, F., Wyskiel, D. R., Souza, G. M. P. R., . . . Beenhakker, M. P. (2022). AMPK-mediated potentiation of GABAergic signalling drives hypoglycaemia-provoked spike-wave seizures. BRAIN, 145(7), 2332-2346. doi:10.1093/brain/awac037

2021

Alexander, S. P. H., Mathie, A., Peters, J. A., Veale, E. L., Striessnig, J., Kelly, E., . . . Zhu, M. (2021). THE CONCISE GUIDE TO PHARMACOLOGY 2021/22: Ion channels. BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY, 178, S157-S245. doi:10.1111/bph.15539

Straub, J., Vitko, I., Gaykema, R. P., & Perez-Reyes, E. (2021). Preparation and Implantation of Electrodes for Electrically Kindling VGAT-Cre Mice to Generate a Model for Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS, (174). doi:10.3791/62929

Correia Rocha, I. R., Perez-Reyes, E., & Chacur, M. (2021). Effect of photobiomodulation on mitochondrial dynamics in peripheral nervous system in streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes in rats. PHOTOCHEMICAL & PHOTOBIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, 20(2), 293-301. doi:10.1007/s43630-021-00018-w

2020

Shi, Y., Stornetta, D. S., Reklow, R. J., Sahu, A., Wabara, Y., Nguyen, A., . . . Bayliss, D. A. (2021). A brainstem peptide system activated at birth protects postnatal breathing. NATURE, 589(7842), 426-+. doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2991-4

Straub, J., Gawda, A., Ravichandran, P., McGrew, B., Nylund, E., Kang, J., . . . Perez-Reyes, E. (2020). Characterization of kindled VGAT-Cre mice as a new animal model of temporal lobe epilepsy. EPILEPSIA, 61(10), 2277-2288. doi:10.1111/epi.16651

2019

Catterall, W. A., Perez-Reyes, E., Snutch, T. P., & Striessnig, J. (n.d.). Voltage-gated calcium channels (version 2019.4) in the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology Database. IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology CITE, 2019(4). doi:10.2218/gtopdb/f80/2019.4

Wulczyn, K., Perez-Reyes, E., Nussbaum, R. L., & Park, M. (2019). Primary aldosteronism associated with a germline variant in CACNA1H. BMJ CASE REPORTS, 12(5). doi:10.1136/bcr-2018-229031

Nigam, A., Hargus, N. J., Barker, B. S., Ottolini, M., Hounshell, J. A., Bertram, E. H. I. I. I., . . . Patel, M. K. (2019). Inhibition of T-Type calcium channels in mEC layer II stellate neurons reduces neuronal hyperexcitability associated with epilepsy. EPILEPSY RESEARCH, 154, 132-138. doi:10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2019.05.006

Du, T. -T., Dewey, J. B., Wagner, E. L., Cui, R., Heo, J., Park, J. -J., . . . Shin, J. -B. (2019). LMO7 deficiency reveals the significance of the cuticular plate for hearing function. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 10. doi:10.1038/s41467-019-09074-4

2018

Cottrell, G. S., Soubrane, C. H., Hounshell, J. A., Lin, H., Owenson, V., Rigby, M., . . . Stephens, G. J. (2018). CACHD1 is an α2δ-Like Protein That Modulates CaV3 Voltage-Gated Calcium Channel Activity. JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, 38(43), 9186-9201. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3572-15.2018

2017

Joshi, S., Sun, H., Rajasekaran, K., Williamson, J., Perez-Reyes, E., & Kapur, J. (2018). A novel therapeutic approach for treatment of catamenial epilepsy. NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE, 111, 127-137. doi:10.1016/j.nbd.2017.12.009

Chemin, J., Taiakina, V., Monteil, A., Piazza, M., Guan, W., Stephens, R. F., . . . Spafford, J. D. (2017). Calmodulin regulates Cav3 T-type channels at their gating brake. JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY, 292(49), 20010-20031. doi:10.1074/jbc.M117.807925

Becker, F., Reid, C. A., Hallmann, K., Tae, H. -S., Phillips, A. M., Teodorescu, G., . . . Maljevic, S. (2017). Functional variants in HCN4 and CACNA1H may contribute to genetic generalized epilepsy.. Epilepsia open, 2(3), 334-342. doi:10.1002/epi4.12068

Lee, N., Jeong, S., Kim, K. -C., Kim, J. -A., Park, J. -Y., Kang, H. -W., . . . Lee, J. -H. (2017). Ca2+ Regulation of Cav3.3 T-type Ca2+ Channel Is Mediated by Calmodulin. MOLECULAR PHARMACOLOGY, 92(3), 347-357. doi:10.1124/mol.117.108530

2016

Shi, Y., Abe, C., Holloway, B. B., Shu, S., Kumar, N. N., Weaver, J. L., . . . Bayliss, D. A. (2016). Nalcn Is a "Leak" Sodium Channel That Regulates Excitability of Brainstem Chemosensory Neurons and Breathing. JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, 36(31), 8174-8187. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1096-16.2016

Park, J., Yu, Y. P., Zhou, C. -Y., Li, K. -W., Wang, D., Chang, E., . . . Luo, Z. D. (2016). Central Mechanisms Mediating Thrombospondin-4-induced Pain States. JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY, 291(25), 13335-13348. doi:10.1074/jbc.M116.723478

Warthen, D. M., Lambeth, P. S., Ottolini, M., Shi, Y., Barker, B. S., Gaykema, R. P., . . . Scott, M. M. (2016). Activation of Pyramidal Neurons in Mouse Medial Prefrontal Cortex Enhances Food-Seeking Behavior While Reducing Impulsivity in the Absence of an Effect on Food Intake. FRONTIERS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE, 10. doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00063

2015

Karmazinova, M., Jaskova, K., Griac, P., Perez-Reyes, E., & Lacinova, L. (2015). Contrasting the roles of the I-II loop gating brake in CaV3.1 and CaV3.3 calcium channels. PFLUGERS ARCHIV-EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY, 467(12), 2519-2527. doi:10.1007/s00424-015-1728-y

Wang, G., Bochorishvili, G., Chen, Y., Salvati, K. A., Zhang, P., Dubel, S. J., . . . Zhu, J. J. (2015). CaV3.2 calcium channels control NMDA receptor-mediated transmission: a new mechanism for absence epilepsy. GENES & DEVELOPMENT, 29(14), 1535-1551. doi:10.1101/gad.260869.115

Kumar, N. N., Velic, A., Soliz, J., Shi, Y., Li, K., Wang, S., . . . Bayliss, D. A. (2015). Regulation of breathing by CO2 requires the proton-activated receptor GPR4 in retrotrapezoid nucleus neurons. SCIENCE, 348(6240), 1255-1260. doi:10.1126/science.aaa0922

2013

Perez-Reyes, E., & Lee, J. -H. (2014). Ins and outs of T-channel structure function. PFLUGERS ARCHIV-EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY, 466(4), 627-633. doi:10.1007/s00424-013-1419-5

Dey, D., Eckle, V. -S., Vitko, I., Sullivan, K. A., Lasiecka, Z. M., Winckler, B., . . . Perez-Reyes, E. (2014). A potassium leak channel silences hyperactive neurons and ameliorates status epilepticus. EPILEPSIA, 55(2), 203-213. doi:10.1111/epi.12472

Eckle, V. -S., Shcheglovitov, A., Vitko, I., Dey, D., Yap, C. C., Winckler, B., & Perez-Reyes, E. (2014). Mechanisms by which a CACNA1H mutation in epilepsy patients increases seizure susceptibility. JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON, 592(4), 795-809. doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2013.264176

Seo, H., Li, H. Y., Perez-Reyes, E., & Lee, J. -H. (2013). Effects of Eugenol on T-type Ca2+ Channel Isoforms. JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY AND EXPERIMENTAL THERAPEUTICS, 347(2), 310-317. doi:10.1124/jpet.113.207936

2012

Shcheglovitov, A., Vitko, I., Lazarenko, R. M., Orestes, P., Todorovic, S. M., & Perez-Reyes, E. (2012). Molecular and biophysical basis of glutamate and trace metal modulation of voltage-gated Cav2.3 calcium channels. JOURNAL OF GENERAL PHYSIOLOGY, 139(3), 219-234. doi:10.1085/jgp.201110699

2011

Hargus, N. J., Jennings, C., Perez-Reyes, E., Bertram, E. H., & Patel, M. K. (2012). Enhanced actions of adenosine in medial entorhinal cortex layer II stellate neurons in temporal lobe epilepsy are mediated via A1-receptor activation. EPILEPSIA, 53(1), 168-176. doi:10.1111/j.1528-1167.2011.03337.x

Karmazinova, M., Baumgart, J. P., Perez-Reyes, E., & Lacinova, L. (2011). The voltage dependence of gating currents of the neuronal CAV3.3 channel is determined by the gating brake in the I-II loop. PFLUGERS ARCHIV-EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY, 461(4), 461-468. doi:10.1007/s00424-011-0937-2

2010

Strege, P. R., Sha, L., Beyder, A., Bernard, C. E., Perez-Reyes, E., Evangelista, S., . . . Farrugia, G. (2010). T-type Ca2+ channel modulation by otilonium bromide. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-GASTROINTESTINAL AND LIVER PHYSIOLOGY, 298(5), G706-G713. doi:10.1152/ajpgi.00437.2009

Perez-Reyes, E. (2010). Characterization of the gating brake in the I-II loop of CaV3 T-type calcium channels. CHANNELS, 4(6), 453-458. doi:10.4161/chan.4.6.12889