EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Ph.D., Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA

Fellowship, Hershey Medical Center, Department of Physiology

OFFICE ADDRESS

University of Washington Medical Center
1959 NE Pacific Street
UW Mailbox 356426
Seattle, WA 98195-6426


CURRENT RESEARCH INTERESTS

Studies of biochemical mechanisms by which high density lipoprotein (HDL) removes cellular cholesterol and phospholipids and protect against heart disease. Characterization of cellular pathways involved in cholesterol trafficking and their regulation by lipoproteins, cytokines, and hormones. Identification and characterization of signaling molecules involved in modulating cholesterol trafficking. Identification of genes and gene products involved in HDL-mediated removal of cellular lipids.  Studies of the molecular and cellular properties of ABCA1 and ABCG1, membrane transporters that mediate secretion of excess cellular cholesterol. Characterization of the properties of HDL apolipoproteins responsible for cellular interactions that facilitate lipid removal. Studies of the effects of diabetes on the properties and activity of ABCA1, ABCG1, and cellular cholesterol trafficking. 


REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS

Francis GA, Knopp RH, and Oram JF: Defective removal of cellular cholesterol and phospholipids by apolipoprotein A-I in Tangier Disease. J Clin Invest 96:78-87, 1995.

Lawn RM, Wade DP, Garvin MR, Wang X, Schwartz K, Porter JG, Seilhamer JJ, Vaughan AM, and Oram JF:  The Tangier disease gene product ABC1 controls the cellular apolipoprotein-mediated lipid removal pathway.  J Clin Invest 104:R25-R31, 1999.

Oram JF, Heinecke JW:  ATP-binding cassette transporter A1: a cell cholesterol exporter that protects against cardiovascular disease.  Physiol Rev 85:1343-72, 2005. 

Oram JF, Vaughan AM:  ATP-Binding cassette cholesterol transporters and cardiovascular disease.  Circ Res 99:1031-43, 2006. 

Vaughan AM, Oram JF:  ABCA1 and ABCG1 or ABCG4 act sequentially to remove cellular cholesterol and generate cholesterol-rich HDL.  J Lipid Res 47:2433-43, 2006.

Tang C, Vaughan AM, Anantharamaiah GM, Oram JF:  Janus kinase 2 modulates the lipid-removing but not protein-stabilizing interactions of amphipathic helices with ABCA1.  J Lipid Res 47:107-14, 2006.

Wang Y, Oram JF:  Unsaturated fatty acids phosphorylate and destabilize ABCA1 through a protein kinase C delta pathway.
J Lipid Res 48:1062-8, 2007.