Michael Ihnat, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Pharmaceutical Sciences
Phone (405) 271-6593 x47965
Office CPB 319
Email michael-ihnat@ouhsc.edu
Summary
| A main focus of the Ihnat laboratory research is on micrometastatic tumor ‘dormancy,’ the period from when micrometastatic cancer cells sit down in the secondary organ/site to the time in which they reactivate. We also have studied the environmental toxicology of metals, arsenic and chromium in particular, for many years and we have recently developed a collaborative project looking at the nephrotoxicity of water-soluble components of lignite coal in drinking water. |
Research
Tumor dormancy. Projects in this area include determining the role of aspects of the immune system in dormancy/reactivation, identifying drugs to target dormant cells and modeling aspects of dormancy/reactivation in culture and in animals. We collaborate with many folks including Drs. Randle Gallucci and Lucila Garcia-Contreras in the OU College of Pharmacy; Dr. Jeff Eckert in the Department of Pediatrics/Neonatology; Dr. Aleem Gangjee at Duquesne University; Dr. Pui-Kai Li at The Ohio State; and Drs. David Warshawsky, Robert Hurst and others at Vuja De Sciences, a company devoted to studying tumor dormancy.
Lignite coal nephrotoxicity. We have been working with two geologists, Dr. R. Paul Philp at The University of Oklahoma in Norman, and Dr. Ann Ojeda at Auburn University to examine the nephrotoxic components of a low-rank coal called lignite, found in the gulf region of the US and the Balkan areas of europe. These components can leach into drinking water, particularly in private wells, and we have shown that lignite extracts are toxic to kidney cells in culture. Ongoing studies are examining the nephrotoxicity of these extracts in the drinking water in animals and determining which specific components of the extracts are nephrotoxic.
Publications & Presentations
- 11. Choudhary S, Ihnat M, Hamel E, Mooberry S L, Gangjee A. Design, synthesis and preclinical evaluation of 5-methyl-N4-aryl-furo[2,3-d]pyrimidines as single agents with combination chemotherapy potential. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters. 2018; 28 : 3085-3093
12. Xia D, Lai D V, Wu W, Webb Z D, Yang Q, Zhao L, Yu Z, Thorpe J E, Disch B C, Ihnat M, Jayaraman M, Dhanasekaran D N, Stratton K L, Cookson M S, Fung K M, Lin H K. Transition from androgenic to neurosteroidal action of 5α-androstane-3α, 17β-diol through the type A γ-aminobutyric acid receptor in prostate cancer progression. The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology. 2018; 178 : 89-98
13. Zaware N, Kisliuk R, Bastian A, Ihnat M, Gangjee A. Synthesis and evaluation of 5-(arylthio)-9H-pyrimido [4,5-b] indole-2, 4-diamines as receptor tyrosine kinase and thymidylate synthase inhibitors and as antitumor agents. Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2017; 27 : 1602-1607
14. Luckett-Chastain L R, Smith M L, Mickle B M, Ihnat M, Gallucci R. Interleukin (IL)-6 modulates transforming growth factor -β receptor II (TGF-βRII) function in epidermal keratinocytes. Experimental Dermatology. 2017; 26 : 697-704
15. Eckert J, Scott B, Lawrence S M, Ihnat M, Chaaban H. FLLL32, a curcumin analog, ameliorates intestinal injury in necrotizing enterocolitis. Journal of inflammation research. 2017; 10 : 75-81
Grants
- 6. A Synergistic Combination Therapy of Photodynamic Therapy and Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer. DOD. Start Date: 2014. End Date: 2018.
7. The role of IL-6 receptor in irritant dermatitis. CDC. Start Date: 2013. End Date: 2017.
8. A Novel Therapeutic Compound for the Treatment of Double-Hit Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma. State Agency. Start Date: 2015. End Date: 2016.
9. A Novel Therapeutic Compound for the Treatment of Double-Hit Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma. State Agency. Start Date: 2015. End Date: 2015.
10. Drugs Targeting Dormant Tumors as Anti-Metastatic Agents. NIH. Start Date: 2012. End Date: 2014.
Awards and Honors
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Education
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Administrative Assignments
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