Assistant Professor of Pharmacology
University of Houston College of Pharmacy
557 Science & Research Bldg. 2
Houston, TX 77204-5037
M.S., Biochemistry, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
Ph.D., Biochemistry, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
Post-doctoral Fellow, Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, TX; and Department of Medical Biochemistry Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
We are interested in studying how biochemical changes in the brain contribute to anxiety disorders. Our primary focus is to investigate a potentially causal role of oxidative stress in these disorders. Behavioral, pharmacological, biochemical and immunohistochemical approaches in neuronal cell culture and rodent models of oxidative stress are utilized to examine mechanistic underpinnings of anxiety disorders. Involvement of oxidative stress in comorbid prevalence of anxiety disorders with cognitive impairment and hypertension, also are being explored.
Current research projects in my laboratory include a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) funded project, which is focused on determining role of antioxidant defense mechanism mediated by a Regulator of G-Protein Signaling Protein (RGS)-2 in anxiety-like behavior of rats. Involvement of PKC, p38 MAPK and calpains in regulation of these mediators specifically involvement of antioxidant defense enzymes including glutathione reductase 1 and glyoxalase 1 in anxiety-like behavior of rats is being examined. Our recent work has identified that induction of oxidative stress via pharmacological intervention or via induction of psychological stress of acute sleep-deprivation, both lead to anxiety-like behavior in rats. We also have observed a causal role of oxidative stress in hypertension, and learning and memory impairment in rats. Projects are underway to investigate a deeper understanding of the underlying biology of some of these debilitating disorders.
Agency: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH); NIHR15
Project Title: “Oxidative Stress-A Potential Recipe for Anxiety-like behavior”
Role: Principal Investigator
Agency: Grant to Advance and Enhance Research (GEAR), University of Houston
Project Title: “Neuronal RGS2 Expression: Mechanisms and Implications In Oxidative Stress and Anxiety”
Role: Principal Investigator
- Research feature: http://www.uh.edu/news-events/stories/2011articles/Aug2011/080211SURF-2011.php
- UH Media Release on Posters on the Hill honor:http://www.uh.edu/news-events/stories/2010articles/April2010/0409PostersHill.php
- Sarraj, N., Taneja M., Chugh C. Hovatta I and Salim, S. Treadmill Exercise Prevents Oxidative Stress-Induced Anxiety-Like Behavior in Rats. Selected for “Posters on the Hill”, National Council for Undergraduate Research (CUR), Capitol Hill, Washington D.C., April 13, 2010. Mentor and Mentee Travel Award
- Special citation on SFN publication, "Why exercise makes you less anxious?" New York Times, Nov. 18, 2009
- Special citation of the publication “Salim, S. and Eikenburg, D.C. (2007) Role of Hsp90 and Protein Degradation in Regulating Neuronal Levels of GRK3. J. Phamacol. Exptl. Ther. 320: 1106-1112” featured in the Nascent Transcripts (Emerging concepts from the recent literature), Molecular Interventions, Volume 7, Issue 1, February 2007.
- Travel award, RGS Protein Colloquium, Experimental Biology, San Diego, CA, April 4-5, 2007
- Best Oral Presentation Award in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Retreat. Feb. 2003, Camp Allen, TX, USA.
- Wenner Gren Foundation Fellowship, Stockholm, Sweden.
- A.M. University fellowship for M.Phil. and Ph.D.
- PCOL 7350 Cellular Pharmacology
- PCOL 6370 Advanced Pharmacology II
- PHAR 4301 Cellular Life Sciences II
- PHAR 4400 Cellular Life Sciences I
Salim S, Asghar M, Taneja M, Hovatta I, Chugh G, Vollert C, Vu A. Potential Contribution of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation to Anxiety and Hypertension. Brain Res. 2011 Aug 2;1404:63-71. Epub 2011 Jun 16. PubMed PMID: 21704983.
Salim S, Asghar M, Taneja M, Hovatta I, Wu YL, Saha K, Sarraj N, Hite B. Novel role of RGS2 in regulation of antioxidant homeostasis in neuronal cells. FEBS Lett. 2011 May 6;585(9):1375-81. Epub 2011 Apr 16. PubMed PMID: 21510939; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3108258.
Vollert C, Zagaar M, Hovatta I, Taneja M, Vu A, Dao A, Levine A, Alkadhi K, Salim S. Exercise prevents sleep deprivation-associated anxiety-like behavior in rats: potential role of oxidative stress mechanisms. Behav Brain Res. 2011 Oct 31;224(2):233-40.
Salim S, Asghar M, Taneja M, Hovatta I, Chugh G, Vollert C, Vu A. Potential contribution of oxidative stress and inflammation to anxiety and hypertension. Brain Res. 2011 Aug 2;1404:63-71.
Zoladz PR, Park CR, Halonen JD, Salim S, Alzoubi KH, Srivareerat M, Fleshner M, Alkadhi KA, Diamond DM. Differential expression of molecular markers of synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and amygdala in response to spatial learning, predator exposure, and stress-induced amnesia. Hippocampus. 2011 May 2. doi: 10.1002/hipo.20922.
Taneja M, Salim S, Saha K, Happe HK, Qutna N, Petty F, Bylund DB, Eikenburg DC. Differential effects of inescapable stress on locus coeruleus GRK3, alpha2-adrenoceptor and CRF1 receptor levels in learned helpless and non-helpless rats: a potential link to stress resilience. Behav Brain Res. 2011 Aug 1;221(1):25-33.
Salim S, Sarraj N, Taneja M, Saha K, Tejada-Simon MV, Chugh G. Moderate treadmill exercise prevents oxidative stress-induced anxiety-like behavior in rats. Behav Brain Res. 2010 Apr 2;208(2):545-52
Salim S, Asghar M, Chugh G, Taneja M, Xia Z, Saha K. Oxidative stress: a potential recipe for anxiety, hypertension and insulin resistance. Brain Res. 2010 Nov 4;1359:178-85.
Salim S, Desai AN, Taneja M, Eikenburg DC. Chronic adrenaline treatment fails to down-regulate the Del301-303-alpha2B-adrenoceptor in neuronal cells. Br J Pharmacol. 2009 Sep;158(1):314-27. (Themed Issue)
Srivareerat, M., Tran, T., Salim S, Aleissa, AM., and Alkadhi, KA. Chronic nicotine restores normal A-beta levels and prevents short term memory and E-LTP impairment in A-beta rat model of Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Aging 2011 May;32(5):834-44.
Salim S, Standifer, KM and Eikenburg, DC. ERK1/2 Mediated Transcriptional Regulation of GRK3 Expression In Neuronal Cells. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2007 Jan 25.
Salim S, Hite, B., and Eikenburg, DC. Activation of CRF-1 receptor causes ERK1/2 mediated increase in GRK3 expression in CATH.a cells. FEBS Lett. 2007 Jul 10;581(17):3204-10.
Gu, S, Anton, A., Salim S, Blumer, K.J., Dessauer, C.W., and Heximer, S.P. Alternative translation initiation of human RGS2 yields a set of functionally distinct proteins. Mol Pharmacol. 2008 Jan;73(1):1-11.
Salim S., Farooq, N., Priyamvada, S., Asghar, M., Khundmiri, S J., Khan, S., Khan, F., and Ahad Noor Khan Yusufi. Influence of Ramadan-type fasting on carbohydrate metabolism, brush border membrane enzymes and phosphate transport transport in rat kidney used as a model. British Journal of Nutrition, 2007.
Salim S and Eikenburg, DC. Role of Hsp90 and Protein Degradation in Regulating Neuronal Levels of GRK3. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2006 Dec 19
Desai, A., Salim S., Standifer, K.M. and Eikenburg, D.C. Involvement of GRK3 and GRK2 in Downregulation of the alpha2B-Adrenoceptor. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2006 Jun; 317 (3):1027-35.
N. Farooq, Privamvada S, Arivarasu NA, Salim S., Khan F, Yusufi AN.Influence of Ramadan-type fasting on enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism and brush border membrane in small intestine and liver of rat used as a model. Br J Nutr. 2006 Dec;96(6):1087-94.
Khundmiri SJ, Levi MYusufi AN. Effect of ischemia reperfusion on sodium-dependent phosphate transport in renal brush border membranes. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2005 Oct 1;1716 (1):19-28.
Principles of Drug Action, Edited by Aditi Marwaha, Thomas Lemke and Samina Salim, Cognella Pub., University Readers Inc. USA
Sarraj, N., Taneja M., Chugh C. Hovatta I and Salim, S. Moderate Treadmill Exercise Prevents Oxidative Stress-Induced Anxiety in Rats. Travel award to present poster at the “Posters on the Hill”, Council for Undergraduate Research (CUR). Washington, D.C. April 13, 2010. Travel Award.
Samina Salim, Manish Taneja, Gaurav Chugh, Kaustuv Saha, Nada Sarraj, Craig Vollert, MariVi. Tejada-Simon, Douglas C. Eikenburg and Iiris Hovatta. A potential protective role of RGS2 in oxidative stress mediated anxious behavior in rats. Experimental Biology New Orleans, LA, April 17-22, 2009.
Samina Salim, Nada Sarraj, M.F. Lokhandwala, Manish Taneja, Gaurav Chugh, Kasutuv Saha, Douglas C. Eikenburg and Iiris Hovatta. Treadmill exercise reduces oxidative stress-mediated anxious behavior of rats. Society For Neuroscience meeting, Chicago, IL, October, 17-20, 2009.
Douglas C. Eikenburg, Samina Salim, Manish Taneja. An SNP in the Human GRK3 Gene Promoter-Luciferase Construct Eliminates Hormone-Induced Activation of GRK3 Transcription. Experimental Biology, New Orleans, LA, April 17-22, 2009.
Samina Salim, Manish Taneja, Gaurav Chugh, Kaustuv Saha, Nada Sarraj, Craig Vollert, MariVi Tejada-Simon, Douglas C Eikenburg and Iris Hoavatta. A potential protective role of RGS2 in oxidative stress mediated anxious behavior in rats. Experimental Biology, April 17-22, New Orleans, LA, 2009.
Samina Salim, Douglas C. Eikenburg, Carmen W. Dessauer and Brian Hite. Oxidative stress increases RGS2 expression which suppresses increased cAMP accumulation in response to CRF activation in CATH.a cells. Experimental Biology, San Diego, CA, April 5-9, 2008.
Douglas C. Eikenburg, Samina Salim, Aarti Gokhale and Manish Taneja. Chronic Epinephrine treatment fails to down-regulate the Del (301-303) alpha2B-adrenergic receptor. Experimental Biology, San Diego, CA, April 5-9, 2008.
Manish Taneja, Samina Salim, H. Kevin Happe, Frederick Petty, David B. Bylund and Douglas C. Eikenburg. Changes in GRK3/2 levels in brain regions of learned Helpless and Non-Helpless rats. Experimental Biology, San Diego, CA, April 5-9, 2008.
Samina Salim, Kelly M Standifer and Douglas C Eikenburg. Simultaneous activation of alpha2 and beta2-adrenergic receptor by EPI is required for the ERK1/2 dependent increase in GRK3 transcription in neuronal cells. Experimental Biology, Washington, D.C. April 28-May 3, 2007
Douglas C Eikenburg, Samina Salim, Brian Hite and Munder Zagar. CRF treatment results in ERK1/2 mediated increase in GRK3 expression in CATHa cells. Experimental Biology, Washington, D.C. April 28-May 3, 2007
Douglas C Eikenburg, Samina Salim, Aarti Gokhale and Manish Taneja. Del (301-303) alpha2B-AR, does not down-regulate in response to chronic epinephrine treatment. “G-Protein Mediated Signaling Networks”, June 10-15, 2007, University of New England
Samina Salim, and Douglas C. Eikenburg. Regulation of GRK3 expression via ERK 1/2-Mediated Transcription and Hsp90-Mediated Protein Stabilization. Experimental Biology, Abst. # 6661, 2006. San Francisco, CA.
Eikenburg, D.C. and Samina Salim. Regulation of GRK3 expression via ERK 1/2-Mediated Transcription and Hsp90-Mediated Protein Stabilization. G Protein-Coupled Receptors: Evolving Concepts and New Techniques, February 12 - 17, 2006 Keystone Symposium, CO.
Salim S. Oxidative Stress in Anxiety: Implications for Pharmacotherapy. The American Journal of Integrative Medicine, Vol. 1, No.1, pp.1-2, 2011.
Salim S. Inflammation in Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Advances in Protein Chemistry and Structural Biology. In press, 2011
Zagaar M, Al-Zoubi K, Alhaider A, Salim S and Alkadhi A. Neurobiology of Disordered Sleep Special Issue of NeuroMolecular Medicine. In press, 2011
Basic Medical Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, Calif., Oct. 6, 2011
American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) annual meeting special panel entitled, ”Oxidative Stress in Psychiatric Disorders: Implications for Pathophysiology and Pharmacotherapy”, Miami, FL, Dec. 5-9, 2010
Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, University of Toledo, Ohio, June 16, 2009
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, Calif., April 16, 2009
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisc., January 22, 2008
“Emerging Investigators Symposium,” sponsored by Houston Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Houston, Texas, May 21, 2007.
- Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, USA
- Clinical and Experimental Hypertension, USA
- Brain Research Bulletin
- European Neuropsychopharmacology
- Behavioural Brain Research
- Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
- BMC Biochemistry
- Journal of Toxicology
- Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
- Advances in Pharmacological Sciences
- American Heart Association, Western States Affiliate (WSA) Innovative Science award committee, 2012
- National Science Foundation (NSF), 2011
- University of Houston, Grants to Enhance and Advance Research (GEAR), 2010
- American Heart Association (AHA), Brain/Stroke Experimental Models and In vitro Studies (Brain EMIVS3) Committee, 2009 - present
- American Heart Association (AHA), Unified Peer Review, 2008
- Society For Neuroscience (SFN), 2007 - present
- American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET), 2004 - present
- Association of Scientists of Indian Origin in America (ASIO), 2007 - present
Positions are available in the laboratory for (1) research technician and (1) post-doctoral fellow to work on an NIMH funded project investigating role of oxidative stress in anxiety-like behavior in rats using molecular, biochemical, cellular and rodent behavioral approaches. Experience in fluorescent microscopy, brain histochemistry, animal models of anxiety, depression, stress and molecular biology is preferred.
Please send a CV, a brief statement of research interests, and contact information to: Samina Salim at email@example.com.