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Peter J. Sims, M.D., Ph.D.

Contact Information

Phone Numbers

Office: (585) 276-3007

Fax: (585) 276-2272

Locations

University of Rochester Medical Center
School of Medicine and Dentistry
601 Elmwood Ave, Box MED
Rochester, NY 14642

Faculty Appointments

Biography

Research

We originally discovered and cloned phospholipid scramblase as a membrane protein with capacity to promote rapid transbilayer movement of phospholipids in response to Ca2+ . This protein turned out to be the first of four that together form the phospholipid scramblase (PLSCR) gene family. Our research during the last few years has revealed that PLSCRs may have functions beyond their putative role as membrane phospholipid scramblases. Taking advantage of gene knockout technology, we discovered that mice with a targeted deletion of PLSCR1 display perinatal granulocytopenia due to defective response to hematologic precursors to granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and stem cell factor. Interestingly, PLSCR3-/- mice have a phenotype reminiscent of metabolic syndrome in man: they display aberrant accumulation of abdominal fat, accompanied by the development of insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and dyslipidemia. These observations and our in vitro data suggest that PLSCRs are involved in signal transduction through growth factor receptors and may be required for normal cell maturation. Furthermore, we have shown that aberrant expression of PLSCR1 may play a role in tumor formation and increased susceptibility to viral infection. Current efforts are focused on unraveling the molecular mechanisms by which PLSCRs mediate these diverse functions.

Credentials

Education

1974
BA | Amherst College
Biophysics

1980
MD | Duke University Sch Medicine
Medicine

1980
PhD | Duke University Sch Medicine
Pharmacology

Post-doctoral Training & Residency

07/01/1982 - 06/30/1983
Fellowship in Pathology at University of Virginia

07/01/1981 - 06/30/1982
Residency in Pathology at University of Virginia

06/01/1980 - 06/30/1981
Internship in Pathology at University of Virginia

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Awards

2004
Adjunct Professor Shanghai Second Medical University Shanghai, China

1999 - 2001
Chairman, N.I.H. Hematology 1 Study Section

1995
N.I.H. (NHLBI) MERIT Award

1993 - 1999
Walter H. Schroeder Chair in Research, The Blood Center of Southeastern Wisconsin

1991 - 1992
Chairman, Veterans Administration Merit Review Board - Hematology

1990 - 1991
President, American Heart Association, Oklahoma Affiliate

1989
Man-of-the-Year Award, American Heart Association, Oklahoma Affiliate Chapter

1988 - 1992
S. Graham Smith Endowment Distinguished Scientist, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation,

1988
American Society for Clinical Investigation

1985 - 1990
Established Investigator of American Heart Association #85-128

1985
N.I.H. Research Career Development Award (Awarded but not activated in lieu of AHA Established Investigatorship)

1982 - 1985
John A. and George L. Hartford Fellowship in Biomedical Research

1982
Clinician-Scientist Award, American Heart Association (Awarded but not activated in lieu of Hartford Fellowship)

1981
Southern Medical Association Research Award

1976
Alpha Omega Alpha, Duke University School of Medicine

1974 - 1980
Medical Scientist Traineeship (PHS), GM-07171

1974
B.A., Summa Cum Laude, Amherst College

1972
Phi Beta Kappa, Amherst College

1972
Sigma Xi, Amherst College

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Publications

Journal Articles

2014
Kassas A, Moura IC, Yamashita Y, Scheffel J, Guérin-Marchand C, Blank U, Sims PJ, Wiedmer T, Monteiro RC, Rivera J, Charles N, Benhamou M. "Regulation of the tyrosine phosphorylation of Phospholipid Scramblase 1 in mast cells that are stimulated through the high-affinity IgE receptor." PloS one.. 2014 9(10):e109800. Epub 2014 Oct 07.

4/26/2013
Kodigepalli KM, Anur P, Spellman P, Sims PJ, Nanjundan M. "Phospholipid Scramblase 1, an interferon-regulated gene located at 3q23, is regulated by SnoN/SkiL in ovarian cancer cells." Molecular cancer.. 2013 Apr 26; 12:32. Epub 2013 Apr 26.

2/20/2013
Ory S, Ceridono M, Momboisse F, Houy S, Chasserot-Golaz S, Heintz D, Calco V, Haeberlé AM, Espinoza FA, Sims PJ, Bailly Y, Bader MF, Gasman S. "Phospholipid scramblase-1-induced lipid reorganization regulates compensatory endocytosis in neuroendocrine cells." The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience.. 2013 Feb 20; 33(8):3545-56.

Books & Chapters

1994
Chapter Title: Entamoeba Histolytica Resistance to Lysis by the Complement Membrane Attack Complex
Book Title: Constitutional Resistance to Infection
Author List: Petri, W. Jrs, Sims, P.J.
Edited By: Verheof, J., van Dijk, H., Verduin, C.M., Watson, D.A.
Published By: RG Landes 1994 in Austin

1993
Chapter Title: CD59
Book Title: Human Protein Data
Author List: Sims,P.J.
Edited By: Haeberli
Published By: VCH Verlagsgesellschaft 1993 in Weinheim

1993
Chapter Title: Complement Biology
Book Title: Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice
Author List: Sims,P.J., Wiedmer,T.
Edited By: Benz,E., Cohen,H., Furie,B., Hoffman,R., Shattil,S.
Published By: Churchill Livingstone 1993 in N.Y.

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