photo of Shruti Sharma, PhD

Shruti Sharma, PhD

  • Associate Professor
  • Center for Biotechnology & Genomic Medicine,
  • Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University
  • 706-721-6522| Lab phone - 706-721-3404
Research methods employed by the Sharma lab

Vascular inflammation plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. Building on my experience in vascular biology and genomic medicine, my current research focuses on understanding the role of endothelial dysfunction on vascular attributes of diabetic retinopathy. The long-term goal of my lab is to study the role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) signaling in diabetic retinopathy and uncover precise molecular mechanisms to develop novel therapeutic targets. We are currently testing a pharmacological compound, sgp130Fc (fused chimera of extracellular gp130 and the Fc region of IgG1), to selectively inhibit the IL-6 trans-signaling pathway to prevent the inflammation and retinal vascular dysfunction associated with diabetic retinopathy. My lab utilizes both in-vitro and rodent models of diabetic retinopathy to conduct our research.

  • Targeting of interleukin-6 classical and trans-signaling in diabetic retinopathy
  • Proteomics, glycomics, and glycoproteomic profiling in vision research
  • Discerning molecular mechanisms associated with glaucomatous optic neuropathy (glaucoma)

 

Project 1: IL-6 Signaling MechanismProject 2: Glycoproteomics Studies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Projects

NIH-Funded Projects

  1. 'Targeting Interleukin-6 Trans-signaling in Diabetic Retinopathy' (RO1EY026936) [Role: PI].
  2. 'Proteomic Biomarkers for Glaucomatous Optic Neuropathy' (RO1EY029728) [Role: Co-I].
  3. 'Center Core Grant for Vision Research' (P30EY031631) [Role: Co-director].

Education

PhD, Biochemistry, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, India


Teaching

Graduate courses

  • Course Director, Translational Genomics and Proteomics (GNMD 8051)
  • Course Director, Genomic Medicine Seminar (GNMD 8060)
  • Course Director, Functional Genomics and Proteomics Using Animal Models (GNMD 8052) 

Editorial Board, Frontiers in Oxidant Physiology

I served as the Specialty Chief Editor of Frontiers in Oxidant Physiology (impact factor: 4.566) from 2012 to 2020 and led a team of 215 editors. The journal focuses on interdisciplinary research concerning genetic, biophysical, genomic, proteomic, cellular, molecular, biochemical, physiological, and pharmacological aspects of oxidants and redox active molecules, as well as the pathological events associated with oxidative stress.


Media Articles

Dr. Shruti Sharma, left and Dr. Ashok Sharma

Noninvasive technique collects sufficient tear fluid to look for biomarkers of health and disease


Jagwire | May 27, 2022

The protective outer layer of our eyes, called the tear film, contains thousands of proteins, which provide clues about wellness and disease, and scientists have fine-tuned what they say is a non-invasive and efficient way to look at those clues.

They anticipate that one day a tear fluid workup could be as routine as bloodwork during a physical exam as well as in diagnosing a myriad of conditions from dry eye disease to Alzheimer’s.           

                                                    >> Read more


Publications

More from PubMed

  1. Interleukin-6 trans-signaling mediated regulation of paracellular permeability in human retinal endothelial cells. Glass J, Robinson R, Lee TJ, Sharma A, Sharma S; International Journal of Translational Medicine (2021)
  2. Interleukin-6 trans-signaling: a pathway with therapeutic potential for diabetic retinopathy. Sharma S; Frontiers in Physiology (2021)
  3. RNA-Seq analysis reveals gene expression changes induced by IL-6 trans-signaling activation in retinal endothelial cells. Robinson R, Brown D, Churchwell L, Lee TJ, Kodeboyina SK, Bloom J, Sharma A, Sharma S; Cytokine (2021)
  4. Serum glycoproteomic alterations in patients with diabetic retinopathy. Sharma A, Cox J, Glass J, Lee TJ, Kodeboyina SK, Zhi W, Ulrich L, Lukowski Z, Sharma S; Proteomes (2020)
  5. Diabetes induced alterations in murine proteome are mitigated by IL-6 trans-signaling inhibition. Robinson R, Youngblood H, Iyer H, Bloom J, Lee TJ, Chang L, Lukowski Z, Zhi W, Sharma A, Sharma S; Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (2020)
  6. Interleukin-6 trans-signaling inhibition prevents oxidative stress in a mouse model of early diabetic retinopathy. Robinson R, Srinivasan M, Shanmugan A, Ward A, Ganapathy V, Bloom J,  Sharma A, Sharma S; Redox Biology (2020) 
  7. Proteomic biomarkers of retinal inflammation in diabetic retinopathyYoungblood H, Robinson R, Sharma A, Sharma S; International Journal Molecular Science (2019)
  8. Unraveling the role of genetics in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathySharma A, Valle ML, Beveridge C, Liu Y, Sharma S; Eye (2019)
  9. Comparative STAT3-regulated gene expression profile in renal cell carcinoma subtypesRobinson RL, Sharma A, Bai S, Heneidi S, Lee TJ, Kodeboyina SK, Patel N, Sharma S; Frontiers in Oncology (2019)
  10. Inhibition of interleukin-6 trans-signaling prevents inflammation and endothelial barrier disruption in retinal endothelial cellsValle ML, Dworshak J, Sharma A, Ibrahim AS, Al-Shabrawey M, Sharma S; Experimental Eye Research (2019)
  11. Proteomic alterations in aqueous humor from patients with primary open angle glaucomaSharma S, Bollinger KE, Kodeboyina SK, Zhi W, Patton J, Bai S, Edwards B, Ulrich L, Bogorad D, Sharma A; Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (2018)
  12. IGF-binding proteins in type-1 diabetes are more severely altered in the presence of complicationsSharma A, Purohit S, Sharma S, Bai S, Zhi W, Ponny SR, Hopkins D, Steed L, Bode B, Anderson SW, She JX; Frontiers in Endocrinology (2016)
  13. Elevated serum levels of soluble TNF receptors and adhesion molecules are associated with diabetic retinopathy in patients with type-1 diabetesSharma S, Purohit S, Sharma A, Hopkins D, Steed L, Bode B, Anderson SW, Caldwell R, She JX; Mediators of Inflammation (2015)
  14. Endothelin-1 induces a glycolytic switch in pulmonary arterial endothelial cells via the mitochondrial translocation of endothelial nitric oxide synthaseSun X, Kumar S, Sharma S, Aggarwal S, Lu Q, Gross C, Rafikova O, Lee SG, Dasarathy S, Hou Y, Meadows ML, Han W, Su Y, Fineman JR, Black SM; American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology (2014)
  15. Dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase II overexpression attenuates LPS-mediated lung leak in acute lung injuryAggarwal S, Gross CM, Kumar S, Dimitropoulou C, Sharma S, Gorshkov BA, Sridhar S, Lu Q, Bogatcheva NV, Jezierska-Drutel AJ, Lucas R, Verin AD, Catravas JD, Black SM; American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology (2014)
  16. Rosiglitazone preserves pulmonary vascular function in lambs with increased pulmonary blood flowOishi PE, Sharma S, Datar SA, Kumar S, Aggarwal S, Lu Q, Raff G, Azakie A, Hsu JH, Sajti E, Fratz S, Black SM, Fineman JR; Pediatric Research (2013)
  17. L-carnitine preserves endothelial function in a lamb model of increased pulmonary blood flowSharma S, Aramburo A, Rafikov R, Sun X, Kumar S, Oishi PE, Datar SA, Raff G, Xoinis K, Kalkan G, Fratz S, Fineman JR, Black SM; Pediatric Research (2013)
  18. Disruption of endothelial cell mitochondrial bioenergetics in lambs with increased pulmonary blood flowSun X, Sharma S, Fratz S, Kumar S, Rafikov R, Aggarwal S, Rafikova O, Lu Q, Burns T, Dasarathy S, Wright J, Schreiber C, Radman M, Fineman JR, Black SM; Antioxidants & Redox Signaling (2013)
  19. Chronic inhibition of PPAR-γ signaling induces endothelial dysfunction in the juvenile lambSharma S, Barton J, Rafikov R, Aggarwal S, Kuo HC, Oishi PE, Datar SA, Fineman JR, Black SM; Pulmonary Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2013)
  20. Role of carnitine acetyl transferase in regulation of nitric oxide signaling in pulmonary arterial endothelial cellsSharma S, Sun X, Agarwal S, Rafikov R, Dasarathy S, Kumar S, Black SM; International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2012)
  21. Preserving mitochondrial function prevents the proteasomal degradation of GTP cyclohydrolase ISharma S, Sun X, Kumar S, Rafikov R, Aramburo A, Kalkan G, Tian J, Rehmani I, Kallarackal S, Fineman JR, Black SM; Free Radical Biology & Medicine (2012)
  22. Glutathione supplementation attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in a mouse model of acute lung injuryAggarwal S, Dimitropoulou C, Lu Q, Black SM, Sharma S; Frontiers in Physiology (2012)
  23. PPAR-γ regulates carnitine homeostasis and mitochondrial function in a lamb model of increased pulmonary blood flowSharma S, Sun X, Rafikov R, Kumar S, Hou Y, Oishi PE, Datar SA, Raff G, Fineman JR, Black SM; PLOS One (2012) 

 


GRADUATE STUDENTS

photo of Richard Kontoh-Twumasi

Richard Kontoh-Twumasi

  • Undergraduate: University of Cape Coast, Ghana
photo of Stepan Budkin

Stepan Budkin

  • Undergraduate: Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

706-721-3404



GRADUATED STUDENTS

photo of Rebekah Robinson

Rebekah Robinson

  • MD/PhD Student
Undergraduate: Armstrong State University, Savannah, GA
Project: IL-6/gp130 signaling in diabetic retinopathy

 


MEDICAL RESIDENTS & STUDENTS

photo of Grace Koh

Grace Koh

  • Medical Student (M1)
  • Medical College of Georgia (MCG)

706-721-3404

photo of Arthur Miller

Arthur Miller

  • Medical Student (M1)
  • Medical College of Georgia (MCG)

706-721-3404

 


LABORATORY STAFF

photo of Joshua Glass

Joshua Glass

  • Senior Research Assistant

706-721-3404

photo of Grace Greenway

Grace Greenway

  • Research Assistant

706-721-3404