Scott W. Rogers - Neuroscience Program

Molecular Neuroscience
Cellular Neuroscience
Neurobiology of Disease

e-mail: Scott.Rogers@hsc.utah.edu
801-585-6339
B.S., M.S., 1979, Utah State University; Ph.D. 1986, University of Utah; Post-Doctorate, 1986-1991, The Salk Institute for Biological Sciences

RESEARCH:

Genetics of Aging and Nicotine Addiction

How do genes shape the brain and ultimately the behaviors it controls? Like humans, mice of different genetic backgrounds also exhibit remarkably different susceptibilities to nicotine dependence, the effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and the variety of maladies experienced with advancing age. We are interested in identifying the genetics elements that contribute to these processes and how their interactions with the environment shape our highly individualized responses.

Selected Publications:

Gahring, L.C., Vasquez-Opazo, G.A., and Rogers, S.W. (2010) Choline promotes nicotinic receptor alpha4+beta2 upregulation. J. Biol. Chem., 285(26):19793-19801.

Gahring, L.C., and Rogers, S.W. (2010) The nicotinic receptor subunit alpha5 modifies assembly, upegulation and response to pro-inflammatory cytokines. J Biol Chem, in press.

Gahring, L.C., Osborne, A., Reed, M., and Rogers, S.W. (2010) Neuronal Nicotinic Alpha7 Receptors Modulate Early Neutrophil Infiltration to Sites of Skin Inflammation. J. NeuroInflam., in press.

Gahring, L.C., and Rogers, S.W. (2008) Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Expression in the Hippocampus of 27 Mouse Strains Reveals Novel Inhibitory Circuitry. Hippocampus, 18(8):737-749.

Rogers, S.W., Weis, J.J., Ma, Y., Teuscher, C., and Gahring, L.C. (2008) Mouse Chromosome 11 Harbors Genetic Determinants of Hippocampal Strain-Specific Nicotinic Receptor Expression. Hippocampus, 18(8):750-757.

Osborne-Hereford, A., Rogers, S.W. and Gahring, L.C. (2008) Neuronal Nicotinic alpha7 Receptors Modulate Inflammatory Cytokine Production in the Skin Following Ultraviolet Radiation. J. Neuroimmunol., 193(1-2):130-139.

Gahring, L.C., Osborne-Hereford, A., Vasquez, G. and Rogers, S.W. (2008) TNFalpha enhances nicotinic receptor upregulation via a p38MAPK-dependent pathway. J. Biol. Chem., 283(2):693-699.

Gahring, L.C., and Rogers, S.W. (2008) Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Expression in the Hippocampus of 27 Mouse Strains Reveals Novel Inhibitory Circuitry. Hippocampus, 18(8):737-749.

Rogers, S.W., Baker, T., and Gould, T. (2007) Chapter 3: Mouse Models and the Genetics of Nicotine Addiction. In: NCI Monograph 22, Phenotypes and Endophenotypes: Foundations for Genetic Studies of Nicotine Use and Dependence.

Gahring, L.C., and Rogers, S.W. (2006) Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor expression and function on nonneuronal cells. AAPS J., 7:E885-894.

Gahring, L.C., et al., and Rogers, S.W. (2005) Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines Modify Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Assembly. J. Neuroimmunology, 166:88-101.

Gahring, L.C., Persiyanov, K., Days, E.L., and Rogers, S.W. (2005) Nicotinic Receptor Expression in the Aging Mouse Hippocampus Corresponds with Cyclooxygenase 2 and PPARg Expression and is Altered by Long-term NS398 Administration. J. Neurobiol., 62:453-468.

Gahring, L.C., Persiyanov, K., and Rogers, S.W. (2005) Mouse Strain-specific changes in nicotinic receptor expression with age. Neurobiol. Aging, 6:973-980.

Recent Reviews:

Rogers, S.W., Baker, T.B., and Gould, T.J. (2009) Chapter 4: Mouse Models and the Genetics of Nicotine Addiction. In: National Cancer Institute. Phenotypes and Endophenotypes: Foundations for Genetic Studies of Nicotine Use and Dependence. Monograph No. 20. National Institutes of Health Publication No. 09-6366.

Albuquerque, E.X., Pereira, E.F.R., Alkondon, M., and Rogers, S.W. (2009) Mammalian nicotinic acetylcholine receptors: from structure to function. Physiol. Rev., 89:73-120.