Jennifer Blackburn
Associate Research Scientist in PsychiatryCards
About
Research
Publications
2025
The Dissociation of Latrophilin Fragments by Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) Inhibits LTXN4C-Induced Neurotransmitter Release
Petitto E, Blackburn J, Rahman M, Ushkaryov Y. The Dissociation of Latrophilin Fragments by Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) Inhibits LTXN4C-Induced Neurotransmitter Release. Toxins 2025, 17: 359. PMID: 40711170, PMCID: PMC12300799, DOI: 10.3390/toxins17070359.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsC-terminal fragmentN-terminal fragmentNeurotransmitter releaseCell surface proteinsLatrophilin-1Cell surfaceToxin actionNeuroblastoma cellsPore formationFragmentsConcentration-dependent mannerMouse neuromuscular junctionNeuromuscular junctionType L1BindingCellsReceptorsProteinMembrane poresAcidLow concentrationsα-Latrotoxin Actions in the Absence of Extracellular Ca2+ Require Release of Stored Ca2+
Blackburn J, Islam Q, Benlaouer O, Tonevitskaya S, Petitto E, Ushkaryov Y. α-Latrotoxin Actions in the Absence of Extracellular Ca2+ Require Release of Stored Ca2+. Toxins 2025, 17: 73. PMID: 39998090, PMCID: PMC11860464, DOI: 10.3390/toxins17020073.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAbsence of extracellular Ca2+ anRelease of stored Ca2+Store-operated Ca2+ entryExtracellular Ca2+Absence of extracellular Ca2Nerve terminalsCytosolic Ca2+Neurotransmitter releaseOpening of Ca2+ channelsControl of neurotransmitter releaseRelease of neurotransmittersIntracellular storesExtracellular Ca2BAPTA-AMG protein-coupled receptorsMouse neuromuscular junctionCation ionophoreSensitive to inhibitorsCa2+Neuromuscular junctionNerveNeurotransmitterPhysiological controlReleaseInflux
2023
Age-associated sex difference in the expression of mitochondria-based redox sensitive proteins and effect of pioglitazone in nonhuman primate brain
Jamwal S, Blackburn J, Elsworth J. Age-associated sex difference in the expression of mitochondria-based redox sensitive proteins and effect of pioglitazone in nonhuman primate brain. Biology Of Sex Differences 2023, 14: 65. PMID: 37770961, PMCID: PMC10540392, DOI: 10.1186/s13293-023-00551-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSubstantia nigraSex-dependent expressionPrimate brainAdult male monkeysCerebrospinal fluidMale monkeysPeroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonistProliferator-activated receptor gamma agonistsEffect of pioglitazoneWeeks of treatmentReceptor gamma agonistsGreater expressionAdult female monkeysNonhuman primate brainNovel neuroprotective treatmentAfrican green monkeysSex-based differencesOral pioglitazoneNeuroprotective treatmentPIO treatmentRisk factorsCNS disordersGamma agonistsPreclinical studiesParkinson's disease
2021
Expression of PON2 isoforms varies among brain regions in male and female African green monkeys
Jamwal S, Blackburn JK, Elsworth JD. Expression of PON2 isoforms varies among brain regions in male and female African green monkeys. Free Radical Biology And Medicine 2021, 178: 215-218. PMID: 34890766, PMCID: PMC8760629, DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2021.12.005.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAfrican green monkeysParkinson's diseaseBrain regionsParaoxonase 2Different brain regionsFemale monkeysGreen monkeysPON2 expressionOxidative stress-related neurodegenerative disordersFemale African green monkeysNeurodegenerative disordersMale African green monkeysOxidative stressPON2 protein expressionAnti-inflammatory propertiesExpression levelsSignificant differencesBrain tissue samplesDorsolateral prefrontal cortexNeuroprotective strategiesWestern blotting techniquesDopaminergic neuronsPON2 proteinPrimate brainProtective rolePioglitazone transiently stimulates paraoxonase-2 expression in male nonhuman primate brain: Implications for sex-specific therapeutics in neurodegenerative disorders
Blackburn JK, Jamwal S, Wang W, Elsworth JD. Pioglitazone transiently stimulates paraoxonase-2 expression in male nonhuman primate brain: Implications for sex-specific therapeutics in neurodegenerative disorders. Neurochemistry International 2021, 152: 105222. PMID: 34767873, PMCID: PMC8712400, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2021.105222.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPON2 expressionParkinson's diseaseParaoxonase 2Male African green monkeysShort-term animal modelsOxidative stressPeroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gammaEffect of pioglitazoneWeeks of treatmentProliferator-activated receptor gammaNonhuman primate brainParaoxonase-2 expressionRegion-dependent expressionSex-specific therapeuticsAnti-diabetic drug pioglitazoneAfrican green monkeysDorsolateral prefrontal cortexOral pioglitazonePreclinical evidenceSubstantia nigraClinical trialsPON2 mRNAAnimal modelsPioglitazonePrimate brainSex-based disparity in paraoxonase-2 expression in the brains of African green monkeys
Jamwal S, Blackburn JK, Elsworth JD. Sex-based disparity in paraoxonase-2 expression in the brains of African green monkeys. Free Radical Biology And Medicine 2021, 167: 201-204. PMID: 33722626, PMCID: PMC8096713, DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2021.03.003.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAfrican green monkeysParaoxonase 2Parkinson's diseaseBrain regionsGreen monkeysOxidative stressReactive oxygen speciesAnti-inflammatory propertiesSex-based disparitiesParaoxonase-2 expressionDifferent brain regionsNigrostriatal systemPON2 expressionDevelopment of therapeuticsNeurodegenerative disordersDiseaseProtein levelsROS levelsLower ROS levelsMitochondrial performanceSex-based variationDisordersMonkeysOxygen speciesMales
2020
PPARγ/PGC1α signaling as a potential therapeutic target for mitochondrial biogenesis in neurodegenerative disorders
Jamwal S, Blackburn J, Elsworth JD. PPARγ/PGC1α signaling as a potential therapeutic target for mitochondrial biogenesis in neurodegenerative disorders. Pharmacology & Therapeutics 2020, 219: 107705. PMID: 33039420, PMCID: PMC7887032, DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2020.107705.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNeurodegenerative disordersParkinson's diseaseAlzheimer's diseaseParaoxonase 2Mitochondrial biogenesisNeurodegenerative diseasesHuntington's diseasePeroxisome proliferator-activated receptorProliferator-activated receptorPotential therapeutic targetDevastating neurological disorderFunction of neuronsPeroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator-1 alphaPharmacological-based therapiesSymptomatic treatmentCurrent therapiesClinical trialsLigand-inducible transcription factorsTherapeutic targetNeurological disordersDiseasePPARγ modulatorsProgressive lossMitochondrial dysfunctionPromising targetPioglitazone activates paraoxonase-2 in the brain: A novel neuroprotective mechanism
Blackburn JK, Curry DW, Thomsen AN, Roth RH, Elsworth JD. Pioglitazone activates paraoxonase-2 in the brain: A novel neuroprotective mechanism. Experimental Neurology 2020, 327: 113234. PMID: 32044330, PMCID: PMC7089823, DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2020.113234.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsParaoxonase 2Novel neuroprotective mechanismParaoxonase-2 expressionAnti-diabetic drug pioglitazoneReactive oxygen species productionNeuroprotective strategiesNeuroprotective mechanismsBrain traumaMouse striatumOxygen species productionParkinson's diseaseAlzheimer's diseaseTherapeutic potentialPioglitazoneDiseaseOxidative stressDrug pioglitazoneSpecies productionBrainNeuroprotectionIschemiaStriatumExpressionPathologyTrauma
2019
C‐terminal phosphorylation of latrophilin‐1/ADGRL1 affects the interaction between its fragments
Rahman M, Manser C, Benlaouer O, Suckling J, Blackburn J, Silva J, Ushkaryov Y. C‐terminal phosphorylation of latrophilin‐1/ADGRL1 affects the interaction between its fragments. Annals Of The New York Academy Of Sciences 2019, 1456: 122-143. PMID: 31553068, DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14242.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsN-terminal fragmentG protein-coupled receptorsC-terminal fragmentLatrophilin-1Protein-coupled receptorsAdhesion G protein-coupled receptorsProtein tyrosine phosphatase σG protein-mediated signalingProtein-mediated signalingPhosphorylated C-terminal fragmentsTerminal phosphorylationIndependent proteinsPlasma membraneSeparate proteinsΑ-latrotoxinAffinity columnProteinEndocrine cellsFragmentsHigh affinityLow affinityMultiple sitesCopurifiesDephosphorylationComplexes
2018
Proteolytically released Lasso/teneurin-2 induces axonal attraction by interacting with latrophilin-1 on axonal growth cones
Vysokov NV, Silva JP, Lelianova VG, Suckling J, Cassidy J, Blackburn JK, Yankova N, Djamgoz MB, Kozlov SV, Tonevitsky AG, Ushkaryov YA. Proteolytically released Lasso/teneurin-2 induces axonal attraction by interacting with latrophilin-1 on axonal growth cones. ELife 2018, 7: e37935. PMID: 30457553, PMCID: PMC6245728, DOI: 10.7554/elife.37935.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLatrophilin-1Axonal growth conesAxonal attractionAdhesion G protein-coupled receptorsPostsynaptic transmembrane proteinsG protein-coupled receptorsGrowth conesTrans-synaptic interactionsGrowth cone steeringRegulated proteolysisTransmembrane proteinDownstream signalingAxonal pathfindingNeuronal developmentEnhanced exocytosisNovel mechanismSynapse formationNeurite outgrowthTeneurinsIntercellular spacesCytosolic calciumStable gradientSynaptogenesisExocytosisSignaling