test

John P Geibel DSc, MD, MSc

Professor of Surgery (Gastrointestinal) and of Cellular and Molecular Physiology; Vice Chair, Surgery; Director, Surgical Research

Research Interests

Gastric Acid Secretion; Colonic Fluid Transport; Renal Physiology; Intracellular Ion Activity Measurements; Calcium Sensing Receptor; Diarrheal disease, electrophysiology; CFTR; AMPKinase volume regulation

Current Projects

We are focused on 3 main areas; gastric ion transport in health and disease, intestinal ion transport in health and disease, and renal physiology. For gastric ion transport we are focusing on means to modulate acid secretion and reverse erosion. We use a combination of natural products and biochemical modifications to treat acid disease at the cellular level. For studies of intestinal ion transport, we are focusing on how the calcium sensing receptor(CaSR) can modulate fluid transport during toxin induced diarrhea. In addition we are investigating means to prevent ischemic injury by activating ionic pathways using the AMPKinase. Finally we are trying to prevent IBD/IBS associated epithelial injury in the gut by Casr activation . For the renal studies we are interested in acid base homeostasis along the nephron, and are now investigating the role of the CaSR in modulating fluid secretion and renal stone formation.

Research Summary

Our primary focus is on real time monitoring of ion transport mechanisms in epithelia, using high-resolution microscopy. One of the crucial problems facing all epithelial cells is the control of the intracellular milieu. In an effort to maintain ionic homeostasis, epithelial cells have devised a variety of ion channels, transport proteins, and carriers to regulate and maintain the intracellular ionic concentrations. To further understand how ions are transported in epithelial cells, we have developed a variety of optical techniques to continuously monitor intracellular ionic concentrations in real time. Using high-resolution video or confocal microscopy we are presently able to monitor intracellular Ca2+, Na+, K+, Cl-, pH, and membrane potential. We are currently investigating various aspects of renal tubule and gastric tissue ion transport in intact renal tubules and gastric glands. We also are characterizing the secretory and reabsorptive properties of the colonic crypt, with a special focus on diarrheal disease.

Selected Publications

  • Kirchhoff,P, Socrates T, Sidani S, Duffy A, Breidhardt T, Grob C, Viehl CT, Beglinger C, Oertli D, Geibel, JP (2010) “Zinc salts provide a novel, prolonged and rapid inhibition of gastric acid secretion." Am J Gastroenterology Epub ahead of print
  • Kopic, S., Corradini, S.,Sidani, S.,Murek, M.,Vardanyan, A.,Foller, M.,Ritter, M.,Geibel, J. P (2010). "Ethanol inhibits gastric acid secretion in rats through increased AMP-kinase activity." Cell Physiol Biochem 25(2-3): 195-202.
  • Sidani, S., Kopic, S.,Socrates, T.,Kirchhoff, P.,Foller, M.,Murek, M.,Capasso, A.,Geibel, J. P. (2009). "AMP-activated protein kinase: a physiological off switch for murine gastric acid secretion." Pflugers Arch 459(1): 39-46.
  • Geibel, J. P. and S. C. Hebert (2009). "The functions and roles of the extracellular Ca2+-sensing receptor along the gastrointestinal tract." Annu Rev Physiol 71: 205-217.
  • Wagner CA, Loffing-Cueni D, Yan Q, Schulz N, Fakitsas P, Carrel M, Wang T, Verrey F, Geibel JP, Giebisch G, Hebert SC, Loffing J. Mouse model of type II Bartter's syndrome. II. Altered expression of renal sodium- and water-transporting proteins. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol, 294:F1373-80, 2008.
  • Remy C, Kirchhoff P, Hafner P, Busque SM, Mueller MK, Geibel JP, Wagner CA. Stimulatory pathways of the Calcium-sensing receptor on acid secretion in freshly isolated human gastric glands. Cell Physiol Biochem, 19:33-42, 2007.

Edit Profile