The Zea lab primarily focuses on TumorMicroenvironment and secondly on Mycobacterial Infections. In kidney and colon cancer, Dr. Zea studies mechanisms by which L-Arginine and L-Glutamine regulate tumor growth and inhibition, immune responses, and tumor resistance. This work is helping us to understand these mechanisms that will lead to developing new therapeutic strategies to control tumor growth, prevent metastases, and possibly reach complete tumor eradication. Since tumor resistance to therapy in cancer have numerous factors, the aim of our research is to define micro-environmental factors such as a) tumor burden, b) tumor growth and metastases, and c) tumor heterogeneity and their effect on the immune system. We are currently studying the role of L-Arginine, L-Glutamine, and L-Citrulline in the expression of NOS2(inducible nitric oxide synthase) a key element in tumor progression and inhibition.
Degrees
Ph. D, Immunology, University of Antioquia, School of Medicine,Medellin, Colombia, 2001.
MS, Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Valle, Cali, 1986
Research Interest
Tumor Immunology, Tumor Microenvironment, Immune Responses and Tumor Resistance in Renal and Colon Cancer.
Modulation of L-arginine, L-Glutamine and L-Citrulline in controlling tumor growth and tumor resistance.
Administrative Responsibilities
Louisiana Cancer Research Center (LCRC), Co-Director 2008-present
The mission of the Biospecimen Core is to provide investigators from LSUHSC Tulane and Xavier University with quality specimens from patients with cancer and HIV to perform scientific and translational research.
LSUHSC - IBC Chairman 2012-present
The mission of the IBC is to assure that the Institution is in compliance with all state and federal regulatory agency bio-safety requirements, e.g. rDNA research as described in the NIH Guidelines. To review projects for use of “Select Agents” under the Select Agents Program of DHHS andUSDA and/or “Dual use items” under export control
regulations of the Department of Commerce. To protect individuals and research animals from potential dangers in the use of or exposure to such things as pathogens, organs or tissues of biological origin, genetic therapy products, transgenic genes, bacteria, viruses, prions and chemicals and toxins that may affect health.
LSUHSC-COVID19 Biorepository, Director 2020-present
The mission of the COVID19 Biorepository is to collect quality samples from Covid19 patients at the time of diagnosis and follow upsamples collected during 3, 6, and 9 months after diagnosis. Collected samples will be provided to LSUHSC investigators performing biological-research onCovid19.
LSUHSC- Alcohol Research Center Core Labs- Director 2013-2019
The mission of the CARC Core laboratory is to give scientific support to the researches conducting research in alcohol related research. The director is responsible for administration and direction of the project, oversee of all details of the CARC research proposal including coordinating the design and conduction of experiments, analyzing data, interpretation of results, and preparation of manuscripts for publication. TheCenter is directed toward building upon existing strength, expanding and elevating our reputation in substance-abuse research, treatment and prevention.
Selected Publications(referred, last 10 years out of 64)
1. Bedoya, AM., Jaramillo, R., Baena, A.,Castaño, J., Olaya, N., Zea, AH.,Herrero, R., Sánchez GI. Location and density of immune cells in precursor lesions and cervical cancer. Cancer Microenviron. 6: 69-77. 2013
2. Tate DR., Patterson JR., Velasco-Gonzalez C., Carroll EN., Trinh J., Edwards D., Aiyar A., Finkel-Jimenez B., Zea AH. Interferon-gamma-induced nitric oxide inhibits the proliferation of murine renal cell carcinoma cells. Int. J. Biol. Sci. 8: 1109-20. 2012
3. Wilk, A, Waligórski, P, Lassak, A, Vashistha, H, Lirette, D, Tate, D, Zea, AH., Koochekpour, S, Rodriguez, P, Meggs, LG., Estrada, JJ,, Ochoa, A,Reiss, K. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons - induced ROS accumulation enhances mutagenic potential of T-antigen from human polyomavirus JC. J. Cell. Physiol. 228:2127-38. 2013
4. Asakrah, S., Nieves, W., Mahdi, Z., Zea, AH., Roy, CJ., Morici, LA. Post-exposureTherapeutic Efficacy of COX-2 inhibition against burkholderia pseudomallei. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 7(5): e2212. 2013
5. Perez Alamino R, Espinoza LR, Zea AH. The great mimicker IgG4-relateddisease. Clin Reumatol. 32:1267-73.2013
6. Aiyar, A., Quayle, AJ., Buckner, LR., Sherchand, SP., Chang, TL., Zea, AH.,Martin, DH., Belland, RJ. Influence of the tryptophan-indole-IFNγ axis on human genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection: role of vaginal co-infections. Front. Cell Infect. Microbiol. 4:72.2014
7. Lewis, ME., Belland, RJ., Abdel Rahman,YM., Beatty, WL., Aiyar, AA., Zea, AH.,Greene, SJ., Marrero, L., Buckner, LR., Tate, DJ., McGowin, CL., Kozlowski,PA., O'Brien, M., Lillis, RA., Martin, DH., Quayle, AJ. Morphologic and molecular evaluation of Chlamydia trachomatis growth in human endocervix reveals distinct growth patterns. Front.Cell Infect. Microbiol. 4:71. 2014
8. Bedoya AM, Tate, DJ, Baena, A, Córdoba, CM, Borrero, M, Pareja, R, Rojas F, Patterson, JR, Herrero, R, Zea, AH, Sanchez GI. Immunosuppressionin cervical cancer with special reference to arginase activity. Gynecol. Oncol. 135:74-80. 2014 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ygyno.2014.07.096
9. Zea,AH., Aiyar, A., Tate, D. Dual effect of interferon (IFNγ)-induced nitricoxide on tumorigenesis and intracellular bacteria. Vitam. Horm. 96:299-321. 2014
10. Cuchacovich, R., Perez-Alamino, R., Zea, AH., Espinoza, LR. Distinct genetic profile in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of psoriatic arthritis patients treated with methotrexate and TNF-inhibitors. Clin. Rheumatol. 33: 1815-1821. 2014
11. Ghonim, MA., Pyakurel, K., Ibba, SV.,Wang, J., Rodriguez, P., Al-Khami, A., Lammi, M., Kim, H., Zea, AH., Davis, CJ., Okpechi, S., Wyczechowska, D., Alghareeb, K.,Mansy, M., Ochoa, A., Naura, AS., Boulares, AH. PARP is activated in human asthma and its inhibition by olaparib blocks house dust mite-induced disease in mice. Clin Sci (Lond).129(11):951-62. 2015
12. Kadri, F, LaPlante, A, De Luca, M, DoyleL, Velasco-Gonzalez, C, Patterson, JR, Molina, PE, Nelson, S, Zea, AH, Parsons, CH, Peruzzi, F.Defining Plasma MicroRNAs Associated With Cognitive Impairment in HIV-InfectedPatients.
J.Cell.Physiol.231(4):829-36. 2016. PMID: 26284581
13. Katz, PS., Siggins, RW., Porretta, C., Armstrong, ML., Zea, AH., Mercante, DE., Parsons, C.,Veazey, RS., Bagby, GJ., Nelson, S., Molina, PE., Welsh, DA.
Chronic alcohol increases CD8+T-cell immunosenescence in simian immunodeficiency virus-infected rhesus macaques. Alcohol. 49(8):759-765.2015 PMID: 26603633
14. Sinha, I., Karagoz, K., Fogle, RL.,Hollenbeak, CS., Zea, AH., Arga,KY., Stanley, AE., Hawkes, WC., Sinha, R. "Omics". of SeleniumBiology: A Prospective Study of Plasma Proteome Network Before and After Selenized-Yeast Supplementation in Healthy Men. OMICS, 20(4):202-13. 2016. PMID: 27027327
15. Zea,AH., Stewart, T., Ascan,i J., Tate, DJ., Finkel-Jimenez, B., Wilk, A.,Reiss, K., Smoyer, WE., Aviles, DH. Activation of the IL-2 Receptor in Podocytes: A Potential Mechanism for Podocyte Injury in Idiopathic NephroticSyndrome?. Plos One. 11(7):e0157907.2016. PMID: 27389192. PMCID: PMC4936730
16. Sherchand SP, Ibana JA, Zea AH, Quayle AJ, Aiyar A. The High-RiskHuman Papillomavirus E6 Oncogene Exacerbates the Negative Effect of TryptophanStarvation on the Development of Chlamydia trachomatis. PLoS One. 2016; 11(9): e0163174. PMID: 27658027 PMCID: PMC5033384
17. Matossian, MD., Burks, HE., Bowles, AC., Elliott,S., Hoang, VT., Sabol, RA., Pashos, NC., O'Donnell, B., Miller, KS., Wahba,BM., Bunnell, BA., Moroz, K., Zea, AH.,Jones, SD., Ochoa, AC., Al-Khami, AA., Hossain, F., Riker AI., Rhodes, LV.,Martin, EC., Miele, L., Burow, ME., Collins-Burow, BM. A novel patient-derived xenograft model for claudin-low triple-negative breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 169(2):381-390.2018. PMID: 29392581
18. Matossian, MD., Giardina, AA., Wright,MK., Elliott, S., Loch, MM., Nguyen, K., Zea, AH., Lau, FH., Moroz, K., Riker,AI., Jones, SD., Martin, EC., Bunnell, BA., Miele, L., Collins-Burow, BM.,Burow, ME. Patient-Derived Xenografts as an Innovative Surrogate Tumor Model for the Investigation of Health Disparities in Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Womens Health Rep. 2020. 24;1(1):383-392. PMID: 33786503
19. Perez-Alamino, R., Cuchacovich, R.,Espinoza, LR., Porretta, CP., Zea, AH. Role of Inflammasome Activation inSystemic Lupus Erythematosus: Are Innate Immune Cells Activated? Reumatol. Clin. 17(4):187-191. 2021. PMID: 31917141
20. Stewart, T., Zea AH., Aviles, DH. Expression of the IL-2R in Human Podocytes and the Effect of Activation on Autophagy and Apoptosis. Fetal Pediatr. Pathol. 40(5):369-377. 2021. PMID: 31971468
21. Perez-Alamino R, Cuchacovich R, EspinozaLR, Porretta CP, Zea AH. Role of Inflammasome Activation in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Are Innate ImmuneCells Activated? Reumatol Clin.17(4):187-191. 2021
22. Lin HY, Tseng TS, Wang X, Fang Z, Zea AH, Wang L, Pow-Sang J, Tangen CM,Goodman PJ, Wolk A, Håkansson N, Kogevinas M, Llorca J, Brenner H, Schöttker B,Castelao JE, Gago-Dominguez M, Gamulin M, Lessel D, Claessens F, Joniau S, ThePractical Consortium, Park JY. Intake Patterns of Specific Alcoholic Beverages by Prostate Cancer Status. Cancers.14(8):1981-2002. 2022. PMID: 35454886 PMCID: PMC9024489
23. Schwartzenburg J, Reed R, Koul H, Zea AH, Shellito J, Miele L, CrabtreeJS, Desai S. IS Gylation is increased in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells derived from symptomatic COVID-19 patients. Exp.Biol. Med. 247(10):842-847.
2022. PMID: 35130743
24. Matossian MD, Chang T, Wright MK, BurksHE, Elliott S, Sabol RA, Wathieu H, Windsor GO, Alzoubi MS, King CT, BursavichJB, Ham AM, Savoie JJ, Nguyen K, Baddoo M, Flemington E, Sirenko O, CromwellEF, Hebert KL, Lau F, Izadpanah R, Brown H, Sinha S, Zabaleta J, Riker AI,Moroz K, Miele L, Zea AH, Ochoa A,Bunnell BA, Collins-Burow BM, Martin EC, Burow ME. In-depth characterization of a new patient-derived xenograft model for metaplastic breast carcinoma to identify viable biologic targets and patterns of matrix evolution within rare tumor types. Clin. Transl. Oncol.24(1):127-144. 2022. PMID: 34370182 PMCID: PMC8732292
25. McCain C., Kemp B., Bishop-Baier M., Zea AH., Sabottke C., Schachner ER., PirtleC., 6, McLean A., Robert Maupin R., Detiege P., Spieler B. A Framework for theVirtual Medical Interview Process: Considerations for the Applicant and theInterviewer. Ochsner J. 22(1):61-70.2022.
26. Sims Z., Cousin L., Suppiah V., StanleyN., Li J., Quinn Q., Martinez M.,
Zea AH., Simmons VN., Meade CD., Tsien F., Gwede CK. Improving Multi-site Interaction ThroughRemote Learning Technology: Report from a Training Program to IncreaseUnderrepresented Undergraduate and Medical Students in Health DisparitiesResearch. J. Cancer. Educ. 37(5):1466-1471. 2022.
PMID: 33860443 PMCID: PMC9157396
