Cynthia Ju, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Immunology and Toxicology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Mailing address:
4200 E. 9th Ave, C238
Denver, CO 80262

Telephone:
Voice:     303-315-2180
Lab:        303-315-2181
Fax:        303-315-0274
E-Mail: Cynthia.Ju@uchsc.edu

Training and Education:
Ph.D., University of Toronto, Ontario (Drug Metabolism & Toxicology)
M.S., University of Victoria, British Columbia (Bio-organic Chemistry)
B.S., Peking University, Beijing (Chemistry)

Research Interests:
My laboratory studies the role of the innate immune system in inflammatory liver diseases caused by drugs and other hepatotoxic agents. Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) accounts for more than 25% of liver failure cases in the ICU, and these adverse drug reactions are currently the most common cause of withdrawal of drugs from the pharmaceutical market. The key to predicting and preventing DILI is a thorough understanding of the underlying mechanisms.
Our current research focuses on (1) establishing a mouse model of halothane-induced liver damage, (2) investigating the role of hepatic macrophages, neutrophils, NK, and NKT cells in halothane-, acetaminophen-, and Con A-induced liver injury, and (3) developing a screen assay to evaluate drug candidates’ potential of causing immune reactions. Findings from these studies are expected to contribute to the ultimate goals of identifying mechanistic features and predisposing factors that determine patients’ susceptibility to DILI and developing diagnostic tests to predict a candidate drug’s potential of causing DILI.

Teaching:
Professional Program:
PHRD 4750 - Integrated Organ System VI
PHRD 4200 - Instructional Methods II
Graduate Program:
TXCL 7322 Reactive Metabolites and Immunotoxicology

More recent publication:

L. Cheng, Q. You, H. Yin, M.P. Holt, C. Franklin, and C. Ju (2008) “The Effect of PolyI:C Co-treatment on Halothane-Induced Liver Injury in Mice”, Hepatology, Accepted.

M.P. Holt, L. Cheng, and C. Ju (2008) “Identification and Characterization of Infiltrating Macrophages in Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury”, J. Leukoc. Biol., Accepted.

Q. You, L. Cheng, R.M. Kedl, and C. Ju (2008) “Mechanism of T Cell Tolerance Induction by Hepatic Kupffer Cells”, Hepatology, In Press.

L. Cheng, B.J. Stewart, Q. You, D.R. Petersen, J.A. Ware, J.R. Piccotti, T.T. Kawabata, and C. Ju (2008) “Covalent Binding of the Nitroso Metabolite of Sulfamethoxazole Is Important in Induction of Drug-Specific T Cell Responses in vivo”, Mol. Pharmacol., 73: 1769-1775

H. Yin, L. Cheng, R. Langenbach, C. Ju (2007) “Prostaglandin I2 and E2 Mediate the Protective Effects of Cyclooxygenase-2 in A Mouse Model of Immune-Mediated Liver Injury”, Hepatology, 45: 159-169.

Q. You, L. Cheng, T.P. Reilly, D.R. Wegmann, C. Ju (2006) “Role of neutrophils in a mouse model of halothane-induced liver injury”, Hepatology, 44: 1421-1431.

C. Ju (2005) “Immunological mechanisms of drug-induced liver injury”, Current Opinion in Drug Discovery and Development, 8: 38-43.

C. Ju and Lance R. Pohl (2005) “Tolerogenic role of Kupffer cells in immune-mediated adverse drug reactions”, Toxicology, 209: 109-112.

M.P. Holt and C. Ju (2005) “Mechanisms of Drug-Induced Liver Injury”, AAPS Journal, 8: E48 – E54.

C. Ju, J. P. McCoy, C. J. Chung, M. L. M. Graf and L. R. Pohl (2003) “Tolerogenic role of Kupffer cells in allergic reactions”, Chem. Res. Toxicol. 16: 1514-1519.

C. Ju, T. P. Reilly, M. Bourdi, M. F. Radonovich, J.N. Brady, J. W. George and L. R. Pohl (2002) “Protective role of Kupffer cells in acetaminophen-induced hepatic injury in mice”, Chem. Res. Toxicol. 15: 1504-1513.

Keywords: Innate Immune System, Drug-Induced Liver Injury, Inflammation

Curriculum Vitae
Recent Publications

Last updated: 7/28/08