John A. Auchampach, PhD

Professor and Vice-Chair

Locations

Pharmacology and Toxicology

Contact Information

General Interests

Cardiovascular Pharmacology

Education

PhD, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 1992
BS, Pharmacy, South Dakota State University, 1988

Research Experience

Adenosine
Cardiovascular Diseases
Heart Failure
Inflammation
Myocardial Infarction
Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
Receptors, Purinergic P1
Regeneration
Signal Transduction

Research Interests

Adenosine production by cells is increased when cellular energy utilization and the breakdown of adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP) is increased. Thus, adenosine levels are elevated in tissues when there is not enough oxygen in the cells or during other pathological processes involving cellular stress, inflammation, and tissue injury. Through interaction with four related receptors termed A1, A2A, A2B, and A3 adenosine receptors - proteins found on the surface of cells that recognize adenosine and related ligands - adenosine affects many different disease processes, ranging from ischemic heart disease to cancer.

We are investigating the biological function of the two least understood adenosine receptor subtypes, the A2B and A3 adenosine receptors. In particular, the team is investigating how the A3 adenosine receptor modulates activity of certain immune cells and helps to protect the heart from ischemia/reperfusion injury, known commonly as a heart attack. As part of this project, new ligands for the A3 adenosine receptor are being developed, including novel allosteric modulator compounds that enhance the ability of the receptor to be activated by binding to a region that is distinctly different than the binding site for adenosine. In a second project, we are investigating the novel hypothesis that the A2B adenosine receptor contributes to stiffening of the heart during certain chronic cardiovascular diseases that lead to heart failure by promoting the formation of excess connective tissue, a pathological process termed cardiac fibrosis. A basic understanding of the function of each of the adenosine receptors is anticipated to identify new approaches for the treatment of a wide range of diseases.

Evidence that the acetyltransferase Tip60 induces the DNA damage response and cell-cycle arrest in neonatal cardiomyocytes.

(Wang X, Lupton C, Lauth A, Wan TC, Foster P, Patterson M, Auchampach JA, Lough JW.) J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2021 06;155:88-98 PMID: 33609538 PMCID: PMC8154663 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85102458794 02/21/2021
Myh6-driven Cre recombinase activates the DNA damage response and the cell cycle in the myocardium in the absence of loxP sites.

(Wang X, Lauth A, Wan TC, Lough JW, Auchampach JA.) Dis Model Mech. 2020 12 18;13(12) PMID: 33106234 PMCID: PMC7758623 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85098138727 10/28/2020
Direct Comparison of (N)-Methanocarba and Ribose-Containing 2-Arylalkynyladenosine Derivatives as A3 Receptor Agonists.

(Tosh DK, Salmaso V, Rao H, Campbell R, Bitant A, Gao ZG, Auchampach JA, Jacobson KA.) ACS Med Chem Lett. 2020 Oct 08;11(10):1935-1941 PMID: 33062176 PMCID: PMC7549272 10/17/2020
Llgl1 regulates zebrafish cardiac development by mediating Yap stability in cardiomyocytes.

(Flinn MA, Otten C, Brandt ZJ, Bostrom JR, Kenarsary A, Wan TC, Auchampach JA, Abdelilah-Seyfried S, O'Meara CC, Link BA.) Development. 2020 08 25;147(16) PMID: 32843528 PMCID: PMC7473637 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85089923843 08/28/2020
Truncated (N)-Methanocarba Nucleosides as Partial Agonists at Mouse and Human A3 Adenosine Receptors: Affinity Enhancement by N6-(2-Phenylethyl) Substitution.

(Tosh DK, Salmaso V, Rao H, Bitant A, Fisher CL, Lieberman DI, Vorbrüggen H, Reitman ML, Gavrilova O, Gao ZG, Auchampach JA, Jacobson KA.) J Med Chem. 2020 04 23;63(8):4334-4348 PMID: 32271569 PMCID: PMC7443318 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85083291207 04/10/2020
Myh6-driven Cre-recombinase activates the DNA damage response and the cell-cycle in the myocardium in the absence of loxP sites.

(Wang X, Lauth A, Wan TC, Lough JW, Auchampach JA.) Dis Model Mech. 2020 Jan 01 PMID: 34005117 01/01/2020
Ability of CP-532,903 to protect mouse hearts from ischemia/reperfusion injury is dependent on expression of A3 adenosine receptors in cardiomyoyctes.

(Wan TC, Tampo A, Kwok WM, Auchampach JA.) Biochem Pharmacol. 2019 05;163:21-31 PMID: 30710517 PMCID: PMC6470012 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85061006338 02/03/2019
Design and in Vivo Characterization of A1 Adenosine Receptor Agonists in the Native Ribose and Conformationally Constrained (N)-Methanocarba Series.

(Tosh DK, Rao H, Bitant A, Salmaso V, Mannes P, Lieberman DI, Vaughan KL, Mattison JA, Rothwell AC, Auchampach JA, Ciancetta A, Liu N, Cui Z, Gao ZG, Reitman ML, Gavrilova O, Jacobson KA.) J Med Chem. 2019 02 14;62(3):1502-1522 PMID: 30605331 PMCID: PMC6467784 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85059756838 01/04/2019
IL-13 promotes in vivo neonatal cardiomyocyte cell cycle activity and heart regeneration.

(Wodsedalek DJ, Paddock SJ, Wan TC, Auchampach JA, Kenarsary A, Tsaih SW, Flister MJ, O'Meara CC.) Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2019 01 01;316(1):H24-H34 PMID: 30339498 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85060194313 10/20/2018
Structure activity relationship of 2-arylalkynyl-adenine derivatives as human A3 adenosine receptor antagonists.

(Yu J, Mannes P, Jung YH, Ciancetta A, Bitant A, Lieberman DI, Khaznadar S, Auchampach JA, Gao ZG, Jacobson KA.) Medchemcomm. 2018 Nov 01;9(11):1920-1932 PMID: 30568760 PMCID: PMC6256369 12/21/2018
Repurposing of a Nucleoside Scaffold from Adenosine Receptor Agonists to Opioid Receptor Antagonists.

(Tosh DK, Ciancetta A, Mannes P, Warnick E, Janowsky A, Eshleman AJ, Gizewski E, Brust TF, Bohn LM, Auchampach JA, Gao ZG, Jacobson KA.) ACS Omega. 2018 Oct 31;3(10):12658-12678 PMID: 30411015 PMCID: PMC6210068 11/10/2018
Activation of adenosine A2A or A2B receptors causes hypothermia in mice.

(Carlin JL, Jain S, Duroux R, Suresh RR, Xiao C, Auchampach JA, Jacobson KA, Gavrilova O, Reitman ML.) Neuropharmacology. 2018 09 01;139:268-278 PMID: 29548686 PMCID: PMC6067974 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85043451256 03/20/2018

Pharmacology and Toxicology