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TESFAIGZI, YOHANNES, PHD CONTACT INFORMATION Fax: (505) 348-8567 e-mail: ytesfaig@LRRI.org Extended CV

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EDUCATION
B.S. (Agriculture) 1979, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
M.S. (Biology) 1985, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
Ph.D. (Microbiology) 1988, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
Postdoctoral Fellowship (Molecular Biology) 1992, University of California,
     Davis

EMPLOYMENT

2007 - Present	Director of COPD Program, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM
2005 - Present	Adjunct Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM
2005 - Present	Senior Scientist, Respiratory Immunology and Asthma Program, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM
2002 - 2007	Core Director, Environmental Lung Disease, NIEHS Center, LRRI and UNM, Albuquerque, NM
1999 - 2005	Scientist, Respiratory Immunology and Asthma Program, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM
1998 - 2005	Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM
1997 - Present	Clinical Associate Professor, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
1996 - 1999	Associate Scientist, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM
1994 - 1997	Clinical Assistant Professor, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
1994 - 1996	Associate Scientist, Inhalation Toxicology Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM
1992 - 1993	Assistant Research Biochemist, Section of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis, CA
1989 - 1992	Postgraduate Research Assistant, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, Davis, CA

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
American Association for Cancer Research
American Thoracic Society
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
American Physiological Society

AREAS OF RESEARCH
Dr. Tesfaigzi's research interests are: (1) The role of cytokines and other inflammatory mediators in regulating signaling of apoptosis in airway epithelial cells. (2) The factors that regulate homeostasis in airway epithelia. (3) Gene polymorphisms that make people susceptible to cigarette smoke-induced emphysema and chronic bronchitis. These studies have implications for treating humans with chronic bronchitis and asthma, because they address persistence of mucous cells in these subjects. Findings from animal models are tested in human in vitro models and population-based studies.

REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS

1. Foster, J. E., K. Gott, M. R. Schuyler, W. Kozak and Y. Tesfaigzi: LPS-Induced Neutrophilic Inflammation and Bcl-2 Expression in Metaplastic Mucous Cells. Am. J. Physiol. Lung Cell. Mol. Physiol. 285: L405-L414, 2003.

2. Scott, B. R., D. M. Walker, Y. Tesfaigzi, H. Schöllnberger and V. Walker: Mechanistic Basis for Nonlinear Dose-Response Relationships for Low-Dose Radiation Induced Stochastic Effects. Nonlin. Biol. Toxicol. Med. 1: 93-122, 2003.

3. Singh, S. P., E. G. Barrett, R. Karla, S. Razani-Boroujerdi, R. J. Langley, V. Kurup, Y. Tesfaigzi and M. L. Sopori: Prenatal Cigarette Smoke Decreases Lung cAMP and Increases Airway Hyperresponsiveness. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 168(3): 342-347, 2003.

4. Tesfaigzi, Y., P. S. Wright and S. A. Belinsky: SPRR1B Overexpression Enhances Entry of Cells into the G₀ Phase of the Cell Cycle. Am. J. Physiol. Lung Cell. Mol. Physiol. 285: L889-L898, 2003.

5. Tesfaigzi, Y., J. F. Harris, J. A. Hotchkiss and J. R. Harkema: DNA Synthesis and Bcl-2 Expression During the Development of Mucous Cell Metaplasia in Airway Epithelium of Rats Exposed to LPS. Am. J. Physiol. Lung Cell. Mol. Physiol. 286(2): L268-L274, 2004.

6. Wang, S.-Z., Y.-X. Bao, C. L. Rosenberger, Y. Tesfaigzi, J. M. Stark and K. S. Harrod: IL-12p40 and IL-18 Modulate Inflammatory and Immune Responses to Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection. J. Immunol. 173: 4040-4049, 2004.

7. Harris, J. F., M. J. Fischer, J. R. Hotchkiss, B. P. Monia, S. H. Randell, J. R. Harkema and Y. Tesfaigzi: Bcl-2 Sustains Increased Mucous and Epithelial Cell Numbers in Metaplastic Airway Epithelium. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 171(7): 764-772, 2005.

8. Tesfaigzi, Y., J. D. McDonald, M. D. Reed, S. P. Singh, G. DeSanctis, P. R. Eynott, F. F. Hahn, M. J. Campen and J. L. Mauderly: Low-Level Subchronic Exposure to Wood Smoke Exacerbates Inflammatory Responses in Allergic Rats. Toxicol. Sci. 88(2): 505-513, 2005.

9. Bartner, L. R., N. E. Robinson, M. Kiupel and Y. Tesfaigzi: Persistent Mucus Accumulation--A Consequence of Delayed Bronchial Mucous Cell Apoptosis in RAO-Affected Horses? Am. J. Physiol. Lung Cell. Mol. Physiol. 291(4): L602-L609, 2006.

10. Pierce, J., J. Rir-Sima-ah, I. Estrada, J. Wilder, A. Strasser and Y. Tesfaigzi: Loss of Pro-apoptotic Bim Promotes Accumulation of Pulmonary T Lymphocytes and Enhances Allergen-Induced Goblet Cell Metaplasia. Am. J. Physiol. Lung Cell. Mol. Physiol. 291(5): L862-L870, 2006.

11. Tesfaigzi, Y., O. B. Myers, C. A. Stidley, K. Schwalm, M. Picchi, R. E. Crowell, F. D. Gilliland and S. A. Belinsky: Genotypes in Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 are Risk Factor for COPD. Int. J. COPD 1(3): 267-268, 2006.

12. Bredow, S., D. E. Juri, K. Cardon and Y. Tesfaigzi: Identification of a Novel Bcl-2 Promoter Region that Counteracts in a p53-Dependent Manner the Inhibitory P2 Region. Gene 404(1-2): 110-116, 2007.

13. Harris, J. F., J. Aden, C. R. Lyons and Y. Tesfaigzi: Resolution of LPS-Induced Airway Inflammation and Goblet Cell Hyperplasia is Independent of IL-18. Respir. Res. 8(1): 24, 2007.

14. Stout, B. A., K. Melendez, J. Seagrave, M. J. Holtzman, B. Wilson, J. Xiang and Y. Tesfaigzi: STAT1 Activation Causes Translocation of Bax to the Endoplasmic Reticulum During the Resolution of Airway Mucous Cell Hyperplasia by IFN-g. J. Immunol. 178(12): 8107-8116, 2007.

15. Mebratu, Y. A., B. F. Dickey, C. Evans and Y. Tesfaigzi: The BH3-Only Protein Bik/Blk/Nbk Inhibits Nuclear Translocation of Activated ERK1/2 to Mediate IFNg-Induced Cell Death. J. Cell Biol. 183(3): 429-439, 2008.

16. Mishra, N. C., J. Rir-Sima-ah, R. J. Langley, S. P. Singh, J. C. Peña-Philippides, T. Koga, S. Razani-Boroujerdi, J. Hutt, M. Campen, K. C. Kim, Y. Tesfaigzi and M. L. Sopori: Nicotine Primarily Suppresses Lung Th2 but not Goblet Cell and Muscle Cell Responses to Allergens. J. Immunol. 180(11): 7655-7663, 2008.

17. Schwalm, K., J. F. Stevens, Z. Jiang, M. R. Schuyler, R. Schrader, S. H. Randell, F. H. Green and Y. Tesfaigzi: Expression of the Pro-apoptotic Protein Bax is Reduced in Bronchial Mucous Cells of Asthmatics. Am. J. Physiol. Lung Cell Mol. Physiol. 294(6): L1102-L1109, 2008.

18. Sood, A., C. A. Stidley, M. A. Picchi, J. C. Celedon, F. Gilliland, R. E. Crowell, S. A. Belinsky and Y. Tesfaigzi: Difference in Airflow Obstruction Between Hispanic and non-Hispanic White Female Smokers. COPD 5(5): 274-281, 2008.

19. Tesfaigzi, Y.: Regulation of Mucous Cell Metaplasia in Bronchial Asthma. Curr. Mol. Med. 8(5): 408-415, 2008.

20. Wang, X., W. Chen, W. Zeng, L. Bai, Y. Tesfaigzi, S. A. Belinsky and Y. Lin: Akt-Mediated Eminent Expression of c-FLIP and Mcl-1 Confers Acquired Resistance to TRAIL-Induced Cytotoxicity to Lung Cancer Cells. Mol. Cancer Ther. 7(5): 1156-1163, 2008.

21. Xiang, J., J. Rir-Sim-Ah and Y. Tesfaigzi: IL-9 and IL-13 Induce Mucous Cell Metaplasia that is Reduced by IFN-g in a Bax-Mediated Pathway. Am. J. Respir. Cell. Mol. Biol. 38(3): 310-317, 2008.

22. Mebratu, Y. and Y. Tesfaigzi: How ERK1/2 Activation Controls Cell Proliferation and Cell Death: Is Subcellular Localization the Answer? Cell Cycle 8(8): 1168-1175, 2009.