Professor of Molecular and Integrative Physiology Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Dolph Simons Biosci Rsrch Labs
Lawrence, Kansas
Phone: (785) 864-3609
audus@ku.edu
Research
Professor Audus' research interests are focused on the application of endothelial and epithelial cell and tissue culture systems to study mechanisms of drug transport, metabolism, and tissue permeability regulation. His research has included establishment of tissue culture systems comprised of brain microvessel endothelium (i.e., the blood-brain barrier), alveolar epithelium (i.e., the respiratory epithelial barrier), and trophoblasts (i.e., the placental barrier).
In general, Dr. Audus' research group conducts investigations that are directed at developing a basic understanding of drug, tissue, disease, and environmental factors and mechanisms that regulate the distribution of drugs across epithelial and endothelial tissue interfaces into either the systemic circulation or specific tissue compartments from the vasculature. Specific examples of recent and ongoing research projects in Dr. Audus' group have included characterization of nutrient and peptide carriers, catecholamine and peptide regulation of permeability of the blood-brain barrier; macromolecule transfer mechanisms in alveolar epithelium; enzyme expression and induction in trophoblasts; and the transport and metabolism of drugs of abuse at the human placental barrier.
Gumbleton, M. and Audus, K.L., Progress and Limitations in the Use of In Vitro Cell Cultures to Model Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability, J. Pharm. Sci. 90: 1681-1698, 2001.
Hamilton, K.O., Topp, E., Makagiansar, I., Yazdanian, M., Siahaan, T., and Audus, K.L., Multidrug resistance associated protein 1 (MRP1) functional activity in Calu-3 cells, J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 298: 1199-1205, 2001.
Takahashi, T., Utoguchi, N., Takara, A., Yamamoto, N., Nakanishi, T., Tanaka, K., Audus, K.L., and Watanabe, Y., Carrier-Mediated Transport of Folic Acid in BeWo Cell Monolayers as a Model of Human Trophoblast, Placenta 22: 863-869, 2001.
Freed, A.L., Audus, K.L., and Lunte, S.M., Investigation of Substance P Transport Across the Blood-Brain Barrier, Peptides 23: 157-165, 2002.
Audus, K.L., Soares, M.J., and Hunt, J.S., Characteristics of the Fetal/Maternal Interface with Potential Usefulness in the Development of Future Immunological and Pharmacological Strategies, J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 301: 402-409, 2002.
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