My research program involves injury, inflammation and neuroprotection in stroke. We are interested in how the brain normally responds to cerebral ischemia (stroke) and how we can improve that response by pretreatment, i.e. preconditioning, with various stimuli. Some preconditioning stimuli include brief periods of ischemia, and low doses of bacterial- or viral-associated molecules such as endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) and non-methylated CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs). Via microarray profiling, we have discovered that the brain’s response to stroke injury is completely reprogrammed in the setting of prior preconditioning. Such reprogramming leads to a novel response to cerebral ischemia, which is dominated by the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines that are known to be neuroprotective (e.g. TGFβ and IFNβ). We are striving to identify (1) the essential molecular mediators common among these models of preconditioning and (2) the essential molecular mediators specific to each individual preconditioning paradigm. These studies have flourished via a productive collaboration with Dr. Roger Simon, a neuroscientist and neurologist at The Dow Neurobiology Institute in Portland, Oregon. Together, we hope to identify fundamental endogenous pathways responsible for an improved cellular and systemic ischemic response. Our primary goal is to uncover novel therapeutic targets for stroke.

Our studies have recently advanced to a very relevant preclinical model of mammalian stroke. This work involves collaborations with scientists from the Advanced Imaging Center at OHSU, the Oregon National Primate Research Center and the Dow Neurobiology Institute. Collectively, we have begun a translational research program around neuroprotection in stroke using candidate therapeutics.

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Selected Recent Publications

Rosenzweig HL, Minami M, Lessov NS, Coste SC, Stevens SL, Henshall DC, Meller R, Simon RP, Stenzel-Poore MP. Endotoxin preconditioning protects against the cytotoxic effects of TNFalpha after stroke: a novel role for TNFalpha in LPS-ischemic tolerance.J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2007 Oct;27(10):1663-74. -Download-

M. Stenzel-Poore, S. Stevens, Z. Xiong, N. Lessov, C. Harrington, M. Mori, R. Meller, H. Rosenzweig, E. Tobar, T. Shaw. Effect of ischaemic preconditioning on genomic response to cerebral ischaemia: similarity to neuroprotective strategies in hibernation and hypoxia-tolerant states. The Lancet, Volume 362, Issue 9389, Pages 1028-1037 (2003) -Download-

Stevens SL, Bao J, Hollis J, Lessov NS, Clark W, Stenzel-Poore MP. The use of flow cytometry to evaluate temporal changes in inflammatory cells following focal cerebral ischemia in mice. Brain Res. 932:110-119 2002.   -Download-

Holly L. Rosenzweig, BA; Nikola S. Lessov, MD; David C. Henshall, PhD; Manabu Minami, MD PhD; Roger P. Simon, MD Mary P. Stenzel-Poore, PhD Endotoxin Preconditioning Prevents Cellular Inflammatory Response During Ischemic Neuroprotection in Mice Stroke. 2004;35:2576. (2004) -Download-

Education and Experience

EDUCATION
1989-1992 The Salk Institute for Biological Studies Postdoctoral Fellowship.
1986-1988 Oregon Health Sciences Univ. Postdoctoral Fellowship
1982-1986 Oregon Health Sciences Univ. PhD Graduate program (Immunology)
1972-1976 Lewis and Clark College Bachelors of Science in Biology

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2007— Interim Chair, Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, OHSU
2006— Professor, Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, OHSU
2002— Director of Graduate Student Program, Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, OHSU
2001— Associate Professor, Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, OHSU
1997— OHSU Heart Research Center Scientist
1996— OHSU Neuroscience Graduate Program Faculty Member
1995 Assistant Professor, Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, OHSU
1993 Research Assistant Professor, Molec. Microbiol. and Immunol., OHSU
1989 Postdoctoral Fellowship, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
1988 Instructor, Microbiology and Immunology, OHSU
1986 Postdoctoral Fellowship, OHSU
1982 Graduate Student, OHSU



Mary Stenzel-Poore, PhD
Professor and Interim Chair
Voice: (503) 494-2433
Lab: (503) 494-5312
FAX: (503) 494-6862
poorem@ohsu.edu
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