in Environmental Exposures and Health
Jennifer J. Schlezinger, Ph.D.
Jennifer Schlezinger came to the department for post-doctoral training in 1998 after completion of her doctoral work in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint Program in Biological Oceanography. Her Ph.D. research was based on investigating mechanisms of PCB toxicity in marine fish models. Dr. Schlezinger joined the BUSPH faculty in 2005 and is developing a research program based on her interests in immunotoxicology and environmental contaminants. In particular, she is interested in mapping the molecular pathways through which environmental chemicals suppress the development of bone marrow B cells and how understanding of these mechanisms may aid not only in reversing chemical-induced immunosuppression but also in development of chemotherapeutics for currently untreatable B cell cancers. Two particular types of chemicals are studied, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that activate the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (e.g. chemicals in cigarette smoke) and phthalates that activate the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (e.g. contaminants in plastics). In addition, Dr. Schlezinger is developing an assay to assess human and wildlife exposure to PCBs and dioxins and testing the relationship of human exposure levels to those required to induce immunotoxic effects in an animal model. Dr. Schlezinger is a principal investigator in the Superfund Basic Research Program.
Publications
Schlezinger, J. J., J. K. Emberley, D. H. Sherr. 2006. Activation of multiple MAP kinases in pro/pre-B cells by GW7845, a PPARg agonist, and their contribution to GW7845-induced apoptosis. Toxicol. Sciences. In press. Abstract
Schlezinger, J. J., W. D. J. Struntz, J. Goldstone, J. J. Stegeman. 2006. Uncoupling of cytochrome P450 1A and stimulation of reactive oxygen species production by co-planar polychlorinated biphenyl congeners. Aquatic Toxicol. In press. Abstract
Allan, L. L., J. J. Schlezinger, M. Shansab, D. H. Sherr. 2006. CYP1A1 in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-induced B lymphocyte growth suppression. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 342(1): 227-35. Abstract
Ryu, H.-Y., J. K. Emberley, J. J. Schlezinger, L.L. Allan, S. Na, D. Sherr. 2005. Environmental chemical-induced bone marrow B cell apoptosis: death receptor-independent activation of a caspase-3 to caspase-8 pathway. Mol. Pharmacol. 68(4): 1087-96. Abstract
Schaefer, K. L., S. Denevich, C. Ma, S. R. Cooley, A. Nakajima, K. Wada, J. Schlezinger, D. Sherr, L. J. Saubermann. 2004. Intestinal anti-inflammatory effects of thiazolidenedione PPARg ligands on Th1 chemokine regulation include non-transcriptional control mechanisms. Inflamm. Bowel Dis. 11(3): 244-252.
Schlezinger, J. J. , G. Howard, C. Hurst, D. J. Waxman, T. Webster, D. H. Sherr. 2004. Environmental and endogenous PPARg agonists induce bone marrow B cell growth arrest and apoptosis: interactions between mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, 9-cis-retinoic acid, and 15-deoxy-D12,14-prostaglandin J2. J. Immunol. 173(5): 3165-3177. Abstract
Jensen, B. A., R. J. Leeman, J. J. Schlezinger, D. H. Sherr. 2003. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonists suppress interleukin-6 expression by bone marrow stromal cells. Environ. Health. J. 2: 16. Abstract
Allen, L. L., K. K. Mann, R. A. Matulka, H.-Y. Ryu, J. J. Schlezinger, D. H. Sherr. 2003. Bone marrow stromal-B cell interactions in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-induced pro/pre-B cell apoptosis. Toxicol. Sci. 76: 357-365. Abstract
Ryu, H.-Y., K. K. Mann, J. J. Schlezinger, B. Jensen, D. H. Sherr. 2003. Environmental chemical-induced pr/pre-B cell apoptosis: analysis of c-myc, p27Kip1, and p21WAF1 reveals a death pathway distinct from clonal deletion. J. Immunol. 170: 4897-4904. Abstract
Takai, Y., J. Canning, G. I. Perez, J. K. Pru, J. J. Schlezinger, D. H. Sherr, R. N. Kolesnick, J. Yuan, R. A. Flavell, S. J. Korsmeyer, J. L. Tilly. 2003. Bax, caspase-2, and caspase-3 are required for ovarian follicle loss caused by 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide exposure of female mice in vivo. Endocrinology. 144: 69-74. Abstract
Schlezinger, J. J., B. A. Jensen, K. K. Mann, H.-Y. Ryu, D. H. Sherr, 2002. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-g-mediated NF-kB activation and apoptosis in pre-B cells. J. Immunol. 169: 6831-6841. Abstract
Mann, K. K., S. Doerre, J. J. Schlezinger, D. H. Sherr, S. Quadri. 2001. The role of NF-kB as a survival factor in environmental chemical-induced pre-B cell apoptosis. Mol. Pharmacol. 59: 302-309. Abstract
Matikainen, T., G. I. Perez, A. Juriscova, J. K. Pru, J. J. Schlezinger, H.-Y. Ryu, J. Laine, T. Sakai, S. J. Korsmeyer, R. F. Casper, D. H. Sherr, J. L. Tilly. 2001. Aromatic hydrocarbon receptor-driven bax gene expression is required for premature ovarian failure caused by biohazardous environmental chemicals. Nat.Genet. 28: 355-360. Abstract
Schlezinger, J. J., J. J. Stegeman. 2001. Inactivation and suppression of cytochrome P450 1A by 3,3’,4,4’,5-pentachlorobiphenyl and its potential relationship to oxidative stress in the marine fish scup (Stenotomus chrysops). Aquatic Toxicol. 52: 101-115.
Stegeman, J. J., J. J. Schlezinger, J. E. Craddock, D. E. Tillitt. 2001. Cytochrome P450 1A expression in midwater fishes: potential effects of chemical contaminants in remote oceanic zones. Environ. Sci. Technol. 35: 54-62. Abstract
Schlezinger, J. J., C. E. Blickarz, K. K. Mann, J. J. Stegeman. 2000. Identification of NF-kB in the marine fish Stenotomus chrysops and its activation by an aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonist. Chem. Biol. Interact. 126: 137-157. Abstract
Schlezinger, J. J., J. J. Stegeman. 2000. Induction of cytochrome P450 1A in the American Eel by model halogenated and non-halogenated aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonists. Aquat. Toxicol. 50: 375-386. Abstract
Schlezinger, J. J., J. Keller, L. A. Verbrugge, J. J. Stegeman. 2000. 3,3’,4,4’-Tetrachlorobiphenyl metabolism in fish, bird and reptile species: Relationship to cytochrome P450 1A inactivation and reactive oxygen production. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. C 125: 273-286. Abstract
Schlezinger, J. J., J. J. Stegeman. 2000. Dose and inducer-dependent induction of cytochrome P450 1A in endothelia of the eel, including in the swimbladder rete mirabile, a model microvascular structure. Drug Metab. Dispo. 28: 701-708. Abstract
White, R. D., Shea, D., J. J. Schlezinger, J. J. Stegeman. 2000. In vitro metabolism of polychlorinated biphenyl congeners by beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) and pilot whale (Globicephala melas), and its relationship to cytochrome P450 expression. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 126: 267-284. Abstract
Schlezinger, J. J., R. D. White, J. J. Stegeman. 1999. Oxidative inactivation of cytochrome P450 1A stimulated by 3,3’,4,4’-tetrachlorobiphenyl: Production of reactive oxygen by vertebrate CYP1As. Mol. Pharmacol. 56: 588-597 Abstract
Schlezinger, J. J., C. Parker, D. C. Zeldin, J. J. Stegeman. 1998. Arachidonic acid metabolism in the marine fish Stenotomus chrysops (scup) and the effects of cytochrome P450 1A inducers. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 353: 265-275. Abstract
Cantrell, S. M., J. Joy-Schlezinger, J. J. Stegeman, D. E. Tillit, M. Hannink. 1998. Correlation of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin apoptotic cell death in the embryonic vasculature with embryotoxicity. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 148: 24-34. Abstract
Stegeman, J. J., M. E. Hahn, R. Weisbrod, B. R. Woodin, J. S. Joy, S. Najibi, R. A. Cohen. 1995. Induction of cytochrome P4501A1 by aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonists in porcine aorta endothelial cells in culture and CYP1A1 activity in intact cells. Mol. Pharmacol. 47: 296-306. Abstract