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null Arnold Kristof, MDCM, FRCPC

Scientist, RI-MUHC, Glen site

Translational Research in Respiratory Diseases Program

Centre for Translational Biology

Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University

Department of Medicine, Division of Respiratory Medicine, MUHC

 

Keywords

mTOR • nutrition • acute lung injury • tuberous sclerosis complex • lymphangioleiomyomatosis

Research Focus

My research focuses on a protein enzyme in cells called ‘mammalian target of rapamycin', also known as mTOR. This protein senses growth factors and nutrients, and uses this information to tell the cell to grow, divide, and survive. When too active, mTOR contributes to cancer. When nutrients or growth factors are too low, reduced mTOR activity causes a ‘stress response' that favours cell death. We study how excessive mTOR suppresses cell death, and how this contributes to a cancer-like lung disease called lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). On the flip side, we study why reduced mTOR activity amplifies cell death, lung inflammation, and lung injury. Studies are aimed at developing better molecular diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for patients with acute lung injury or LAM.

Selected Publications

Click on Pubmed to see my current publications list

  • A.S. Kristof. mTOR Signaling in Lymphangioleiomyomatosis. Lymph. Res. Biol. 8(1): 33-42, 2010. PMID: 20235885.

  • J.A. Fielhaber, J. Tan, K.B. Joung, O. Attias, S. Huegel, M. Bader, P.P. Roux, A.S. Kristof. Regulation of Karyopherin a1 and Nuclear Import by mTOR. J. Biol. Chem. 287(18): 14325-14335, 2012. PMID: 22399302.

  • J.A. Fielhaber, S. Carroll, A. Bondo-Dydensborg, M. Shourian, A. Triantafillopolous, S. Harel, S.N. Hussain, M. Bouchard, S.T. Qureshi, A.S. Kristof. Inhibition of Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Augments Lipopolysaccharide-induced Lung Injury and Apoptosis. J. Immunol. 188(9): 4535-4542, 2012. PMID: 22450807.

  • J.A. Fielhaber, Y.S. Han, J. Tan, S. Xing, C.M. Biggs, K.B. Joung, and A.S. Kristof. Inactivation of Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Increases STAT1 Nuclear Content and Transcriptional Activity in Alpha4 and Protein Phosphatase 2A-dependent Fashion. J. Biol. Chem. 284(36): 24341-24353, 2009. PMID: 19553685.

  • K. Fredriksson, J.A. Fielhaber, J. Lam, X. Yao, K.S. Meyer, K.J. Keeran, G.J. Zywicke, X. Qu, Z. Yu, J. Moss, A.S. Kristof, S.J. Levine. Paradoxical Effects of Rapamycin on Experimental House Dust Mite-induced Asthma. PLoS One. 7(5): e33984. PMID: 22685525.