Biography

JASMINA PROFIROVIC,  Ph.D.

Education and training
Postdoctoral training, University of Illinois at Chicago
Ph.D. in Pharmacology, University of Illinois at Chicago
B.S. in Pharmacy, University of Belgrade School of Pharmacy

Area of specialty
Pharmacology
G protein signaling

Scholarly interest
G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent the largest class of receptors in humans that regulate a great number of physiological functions including nerve activity, smooth muscle activity, metabolism, cardiac function, and the secretion of most glands in the body. They are the targets for about a half of all prescription drugs on the market.
Extracellular stimuli, such as hormones, neurotransmitters, and sensory stimuli, activate GPCRs, which in turn activate G proteins. The activated G proteins change the activity of the effector proteins and other downstream signaling molecules and regulate diverse functions in the cells. I am interested in regulation of G protein signaling both upstream (GPCRs) and downstream from G proteins. I am particularly interested in identifying the role and signaling mechanisms of a regulator of G protein signaling 2 (RGS2) in endothelial cells. RGS2 is an essential protein in blood pressure regulation because the mice lacking this protein are hypertensive.

Vita highlights
American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship, American Heart Association
Klaus R. Unna Award for Outstanding Research Accomplishments as a Graduate Student, University of Illinois at Chicago
The Best Student of the Class Award, University of Belgrade School of Pharmacy

Recent publications
1. Profirovic J, Strekalova E, Urao N, Krbanjevic A, Andreeva AV, Sudhakar Varadarajan, Tohru Fukai, Ushio-Fukai M, Hen R, Voyno-Yasenetskaya T. A novel regulator of angiogenesis in endothelial cells: 5-hydroxytriptamine 4 receptor. Angiogenesis. 2012 Aug 18. [Epub ahead of print].
2. Profirovic J, Han J, Andreeva AV, Neamu R, Pavlovic S, Vogel SM, Walter U, Voyno-Yasenetskaya T. Vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein deficiency potentiates PAR-1-induced increase in endothelial permeability in mouse lungs. J Cell Physiol. 2011;226(5):1255-64.
3. Andreeva AV, Han J, Kutuzov MA, Profirovic J, Tkachuk VA, Voyno-Yasenetskaya TA. T-cadherin modulates endothelial barrier function. J Cell Physiol. 2010;223(1):94-102.
4. Han J, Liu G, Profirovic J, Niu J, Voyno-Yasenetskaya T. Zyxin is involved in thrombin signaling via interaction with PAR-1 receptor. FASEB J. 2009;23(12):4193-206.
5. Liu G, Han J, Profirovic J, Strekalova E, Voyno-Yasenetskaya T. Galpha13 regulates MEF2-dependent gene transcription in endothelial cells: role in angiogenesis. Angiogenesis. 2009;12(1):1-15.