Anasuya Sarkar, PhD

The Ohio State University
515 Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute
473W 12th Avenue,
Columbus, Ohio-43210
Office Tel: 614-292-1351
Cell phone: 614-657-8395
Email: Anasuya.Sarkar@osumc.edu

Biography

Dr. Sarkar is an Associate Professor at The Ohio State University (OSU) in the Department of Internal Medicine where she leads a research program focused on host immune responses in sepsis and sepsis induced acute lung injury. Dr. Sarkar received her PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology in India. She then perused her postdoctoral training at OSU where she later joined as a faculty member. Her research program has been continuously supported by extramural and intramural grants. Dr. Sarkar is an ad-hoc reviewer of multiple study sections (American Thoracic Society, Alpha-1 Foundation and NIH). In addition to her research program, Dr. Sarkar is also extremely passionate career development, mentoring and teaching the next generation scientists. She is the Graduate Faculty Liaison, Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program (BSGP), OSU, College of Medicine (Physiology and Cellular Biology Emphasis Area) for BSGP graduate program. She is also currently involved in physiology and grantsmanship training courses for Human Physiology and Diseases (PHYSIO 3100) and BSGP programs. She is an active member of FAME and WIMS involved in academic development of junior faculty and women in scientific career pathways.

Research Interests

Dr. Sarkar is a PhD trained basic scientist pursuing translational research with a long-term goal to develop a new class of therapeutics to combat vascular injury in pulmonary infections, sepsis and acute lung injury. The underlying tenet of her research program is focused on regulation of monocyte/macrophage function and host immune responses, cellular mechanisms and metabolic changes regulating inflammasome function, exosome biology and immunology to uncover strategies to exploit the immune system for the benefit of human health.

Current Research

Investigating the role of monocyte released extracellular vesicles (EVs) in endothelial dysfunction.
Regulation of cell fate by monocyte derived EVs
Regulation of inflammasome by monocytes and macrophages in sepsis and ALI
Role of monocyte and mesenchymal cell interaction in pulmonary fibrosis.

Active Funding

NIH R01 R01HL60947
Title: GasderminD regulation of Acute Lung Injury.
Principal Investigator: Anasuya Sarkar, PhD.

Education and Training

Postdoctoral Research: Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Ph.D: CSIR Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Jadavpur University, India. (Molecular and Cellular Biology)
Masters in Science: (University of Kolkata, India (Rank: 1st) (Zoology)
Bachelors in Science.: (University of Kolkata, India (Rank: 3rd) (Zoology)

Honors

Rising Star Award, Department of Internal Medicine, OSU College of Medicine, The Ohio State University.2 022
FAME Career Development Award for Researchers, Center for faculty Mentoring and Engagement, OSU College of Medicine. 2020
ARDS scholar award, American Lung Association, USA. 2010
ARDS Scholar Award, 2010 - 2011
American Thoracic Society (ATS) Travel Award, ATS 2008, Toronto, Canada, 2008
Best Poster Award, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, 2008
Best Oral Presentation Award, Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, 2007
Distinguished Post Doctoral Award, Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, 2006 - 2007
Best Poster Award, fifth annual OSUWMC Graduate and Postgraduate Research Day, The Ohio State University, 2006
Best Poster Award, Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, 2006
NIH Post Doctoral Travel Scholarship, NIH Post Doctoral Travel Scholarship and Keystone Symposium, 2005
Best Poster Award, International Conference on Natural Antioxidants and Free Radicals in Human Health and Radiation Biology NFHR, 2001
Senior research fellow, Center of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), 2000 - 2002
Best Poster Award, Society of Biological Chemists (India), 1999
Junior Research Fellowship, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), 1998 - 2000
Gold medal, University of Calcutta, 1998
Outstanding student, University of Calcutta, 1996
National level merit award, University of Calcutta, 1993

Professional Activities

Judge, The Ohio State University, 2011 - present
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society - Capital City Half Marathon, 2009 - present

Select Publications (list of high impact pubs)

Mitra S, Exline M, Habyarimana F, Gavrilin M, Baker P, Masters SL, Wewers MD, Sarkar A.(2018) Microparticulate Caspase-1 Regulates Gasdermin-D and Pulmonary Vascular Endothelial Cell Injury. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. doi: 10.1165/rcmb.2017-0393OC.
Mitra S and Sarkar A (2019) Microparticulate P2X7 and GSDM-D mediated regulation of functional IL-1b release. Purinergic Signaling. 15(1):119-123. doi: 10.1007/s11302-018-9640-5.
Martin BN, Wang C, Zhnag CJ, Kang Z, Gulen MF, Zepp JA, Zhao J, Bian G, Do JS, Min B, Pavicic PG Jr, El-Sanadi C, Fox PL, Akitsu A, Iwakura Y, Sarkar A, Dubyak GR, Li X et. al. T cell-intrinsic ASC critically promotes T(H)17 mediated experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Nat. Immunol. 2016; 17(5):583-92. doi: 10.1038/ni.3389

Chapters in Books
Journal Articles

Sarkar A; Bhaduri A. "Black tea is a powerful chemopreventor of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species: comparison with its individual catechin constituents and green tea.." Biochemical And Biophysical Research Communications. Vol. 284, no. 1. (June 2001.): 173-

Sarkar A; Duncan M; Hart J; Hertlein E; Guttridge DC; Wewers MD. "ASC directs NF-kappaB activation by regulating receptor interacting protein-2 (RIP2) caspase-1 interactions.." Journal Of Immunology (Baltimore, Md.: 1950). Vol. 176, no. 8. (April 2006.): 4979-

Sarkar A; Hall MW; Exline M; Hart J; Knatz N; Gatson NT; Wewers MD. "Caspase-1 regulates Escherichia coli sepsis and splenic B cell apoptosis independently of interleukin-1beta and interleukin-18.." American Journal Of Respiratory And Critical Care Medicine. Vol. 174, no. 9. (November 2006.): 1003-

Fahy RJ, Exline MC, Gavrilin MA, Bhatt NY, Besecker BY, Sarkar A, Hollyfield JL, Duncan MD, Nagaraja HN, Knatz NL, Hall M, Wewers MD. "Inflammasome mRNA expression in human monocytes during early septic shock.." Am J Respir Crit Care Med.. Vol. 9, no. 177. (May 2008.): 983-988

Swaan PW, Bensman T, Bahadduri PM, Hall MW, Sarkar A, Bao S, Khantwal CM, Ekins S and Knoell DL. "Bacterial peptide recognition and immune activation facilitated by human peptide transporter PEPT2.." Am. J Respir. Cell Mol. Biol.. Vol. 5, no. 39. (November 2008.): 536-542

Raices RM, Kannan Y, Sarkar A, Bellamkonda-Athmaram V, Wewers MD. "A synergistic role for IL-1beta and TNFalpha in monocyte derived IFNgamma inducing activity.." Cytokine. Vol. 2, no. 44. (November 2008.): 234-241

Schmittgen TD, Lee FJ, Jiang J, Sarkar A, Yang L, Elton TS and Chen C. "Real-time PCR quantification of precursor and mature microRNA,." Methods. Vol. 1, no. 44. (January 2008.): 31-38

Akhter A, Gavrilin MA, Frantz L, Washington S, Ditty C, Limoli D, Day C, Sarkar A, Newland C, Butchar J, Marsh CB, Wewers MD, Tridandapani S, Kanneganti TD, Amer AO. "Caspase-7 activation by the Nlrc4/Ipaf inflammasome restricts Legionella pneumophila infection.." PLoS Pathog.. Vol. 4, no. 5. (April 2009.): e1000361-

Sarkar A, Mitra S, Mehta S, Raices R, Wewers MD. "Monocyte derived microvesicles deliver a cell death message via encapsulated caspase-1." PLoS One. Vol. 9, no. 4. (September 2009.): e7140-

Wewers MD and Sarkar A. "P2X7 receptor and macrophage function.." Purinergic Signal.. Vol. 2, no. 5. (June 2009.): 189-195

Akhter A, Gavrilin MA, Frantz L, Washington S, Ditty C, Limoli D, Day C, Sarkar A, Newland C, Butchar J, Marsh CB, Wewers MD, Tridandapani S, Kanneganti TD, Amer AO. "Caspase-7 activation by the Nlrc4/Ipaf inflammasome restricts Legionella pneumophila infection.." PLoS Pathogen. no. Apr;5(4):e1000361. (January 2009.): -

Lamkanfi M, Sarkar A, Vande Walle L, Vitari AC, Amer AO, Wewers MD, Tracey KJ, Kanneganti TD, Dixit VM. "Inflammasome dependent release of the Alarmin HMGB1 in endotoxemia.." Journal of Immunology. no. 185(7):4385-92. (January 2010.): -

Miao EA, Leaf IA, Treuting P, Mao DP, Dors M, Sarkar A, Wewers M, Aderem A. "Caspase-1 induced pyroptosis clears intracellular bacteria independent of IL-1Î²/IL-18 in vivo.." Nat Immunol.. no. 11(12):1136-42.. (January 2010.): -

Sarkar A, Exline M, Berhe F, Hollyfield J, Beesecker B and Wewers M. "Circulatory Microvesicular Caspase-1 and Lymphocyte Death in Sepsis." AJRCCM. no. manuscript in preparation. (January 2011.): -
Reference Works
January 2011:
- A Sarkar, F Berhe, S Mitra and M.D. Wewers."IL-1b Release Rrom Intact Microvesicles Is Regulated Extracellularly By ATP Ion Channels"
January 2010:
- M.C. Exline, A. Sarkar, B.Y. Besecker, J.L. Hollyfield, S. Mitra, M.D. Wewers. "Inflammasome Constituents Released Via Microvesicles During Sepsis"
January 2009:
- A Sarkar, S Mitra and M.D. Wewers."Release of caspase-1 and IL-1beta in microvesicles regulated by ATP ion channels"
January 2008:
- Sarkar A, Mitra S, Mehta S, Raices R and Wewers MD."Microvesicular caspase-1 as death messenger to vascular smooth muscle cells."
- Sarkar A, Mitra S, Mehta S, Raices R and Wewers MD."Monocyte derived microvesicles containing caspase-1 mediate smooth muscle cell apoptosis."
January 2007:
- Raices R, Sarkar A and Wewers MD."Interleukin-1β, not Interleukin-18, is the primary product of LPS-stimulated human monocytes required for IFN-γ release by KG-1 cells."
- Sarkar A, Raices R, Hall MW, Mitra S and Wewers MD."Role of tyrosine kinase in regulating LPS priming associated with caspase1 activation and sepsis response."
January 2006:
- Raices R, Sarkar A and Wewers MD."Identification of a monocyte-derived, IL-18-like, IFN-γ inducing factor"
- Raices R, Sarkar A, Bao S, Bensman T, Hart J, Knoell D and Wewers MD."Relative Ability of Lung Epithelial Cells and Monocytes to Sense TLR Ligands."
- Sarkar A, Bao S, Raices R, Bensman T, Wewers MD and Knoell D."NOD like receptor proteins coordinate the inflammasome response in human lung epithelial cells."
- Sarkar A, Duncan M, Hart J, Hertlein E, Guttridge D and Wewers M."ASC direct NF-kappaB activation by regulating RIP2/caspase-1 interactions."
- Sarkar A, Hall M, Exline M, Hart J, Knatz N, Gatso N and Wewers MD."Caspase-1 knockout prevents E.coli induced mortality and splenic cell apoptosis unlike IL-1b knockout and IL-1b/IL-18 double knockout"
January 2005:
- Sarkar A, Hall M, Hart J and Wewers MD."Caspase-1 knockout prevents E.coli induced mortality."
- Sarkar A, Hart J, Hertlein E, Guttridge D and Wewers M."ASC is a dual regulator in caspase-1 mediated inflammation and NF-B activation."
January 2001:
- Sarkar A and Bhaduri A."Black tea and flavonoids."
January 1999:
- Sarkar A and Bhaduri A."Theaflavin in black tea as a powerful chemopreventor."
Presentations

"Inflammasome Constituents Released Via Microvesicles During Sepsis." Presented at ATS 2010, (May 2010)

"Microvesicular Death Messages." Presented at ATS 2011 minisymposium-SENSORS, DANGER SIGNALS, PEPTIDES AND CELL SUICIDE: NEW CONCEPTS OF HOST INFECTION CONTROL, (January 2011)

"IL-1B Release From Intact Microvesicles Is Regulated Extracellularly By ATP Ion Channels." Presented at ATS 2011- PATHOGENESIS OF ACUTE LUNG INJURY, (January 2011)

Associate Professor, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine

Biography

Research Interests

Current Research

Active Funding

Education and Training

Honors

Professional Activities

Select Publications (list of high impact pubs)

Chapters in Books

Journal Articles

Reference Works

Presentations

Helpful Links