Indiana University
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Fredrick Pavalko, Ph.D.

Professor

Department of Cellular & Integrative Physiology
Indiana University School of Medicine
635 Barnhill Drive, Room MS 346A
Indianapolis, Indiana 46202-5122

E-mail: fpavalko @ iupui.edu
Phone: 317-274-3140
Lab phone: 317-278-1844
Facsimile: 317-274-3318


Education / Training

  • 1982, B.S. in Biology, Guilford College, Greensboro, North Carolina
  • 1987, Ph.D. in Cell Biology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
  • 1987-1991, Postdoctoral Fellowship, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC

Research

Cell function is affected by a large variety of signals from the extracellular environment. Our research is focused on understanding the role of the actin cytoskeleton and actin filament interactions with integrins in transducing those signals into changes in cell physiology. For example, fluid shear stress provides a mechanical stimulus to endothelial cells in blood vessels and osteoblasts in bone canaliculi. We are testing the hypothesis that the actin cytoskeleton plays a role in transducing fluid shear-induced mechanical signals into appropriate physiologic responses such as nitric oxide production and prostaglandin release. Through a better understanding of the function of the actin cytoskeleton, we hope to learn more about how cells respond to signals from the extracellular environment.

Selected Recent Publications

2001 

Sawyer SJ, Norvell SM, Ponik SM, and Pavalko FM.  Regulation of PGE2 and PGI2 release from human umbilical vein endothelial cells by actin cytoskeleton.
American Journal of Physiology: Cell Physiology 281:C1038-1045, 2001.

Knepler JL Jr, Taber LN, Gupta MP, Patterson C, Pavalko FM, Ober MD, and Hart CM.  Peroxynitrite causes endothelial cell monolayer barrier dysfunction.
American Journal of Physiology: Cell Physiology 281:C1064-1075, 2001.

2002

Torrungruang K, Shah R, Alvarez M, Bowen DK, Gerard R, Pavalko FM, Elmendorf JS, Charoonpatrapong K, Hock J, Rhodes SJ, and Bidwell JP. Osteoblast intracellular localization of Nmp4 proteins.
Bone, 30(6):931-6. 2002. PubMed, ScienceDirect

Pavalko FM, Gerard RL, Ponik SM, Gallagher PJ, Jin Y, and Norvell SM.  Fluid Shear Stress Inhibits TNF-alpha-Induced Apoptosis in Osteoblasts: A Role for Fluid Shear Stress-Induced Activation of PI3-Kinase and Inhibition of Caspase-3.
Journal of Cellular Physiology, 194:194-205, 2002. Wiley Interscience

2003

Pavalko FM, Norvell SM, Burr D, Turner CH, Duncan RL, and Bidwell JP.  A Model for Mechanotransduction in Bone Cells: The Load-Bearing Mechanosomes.
Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, 88:104-112, 2003. Wiley Interscience

Chen NX, Geist DJ, Genetos DC, Pavalko FM, and Duncan RL.  Fluid shear-induced NF{kappa}B translocation in osteoblasts is mediated by intracellular calcium release.
Bone, 33:399-410, 2003. PubMed, ScienceDirect

2004

Norvell SM, Ponik SM, Bowen DK, Gerard RL, and Pavalko FM.  Fluid shear stress induction of COX-2 protein and prostaglandin release in cultured MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts does not require intact microfilaments or microtubules.
J Appl Physiol 96:957-966, 2004.

Woods AM, Rodenberg EJ, Hiles MC, and Pavalko FM.  Improved biocompatibility of small intestinal submucosa (SIS) following conditioning by human endothelial cells.
Biomaterials, 25:515-525, 2004. PubMed, ScienceDirect

Ponik SM and Pavalko FM.  Formation of focal adhesions on fibronectin promotes fluid shear stress induction of COX-2 and PGE2 release in MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts.
J Appl Physiol 97:135-142, 2004.

Shah R, Alvarez M, Jones DR, Torrungruang K, Watt AJ, Selvamurugan N, Partridge NC, Quinn CO, Pavalko FM, Rhodes SJ, and Bidwell JP.  Nmp4/CIZ regulation of matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13) response to parathyroid hormone in osteoblasts.
Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 287: E289-296, 2004.

Norvell SM, Alvarez M, Bidwell JP, and Pavalko FM.  Fluid shear stress induces ß-catenin signaling in osteoblasts.
Calcified Tissue International, 75:396-404, 2004. PubMed

2005

Triplett JW, Herring BP, and Pavalko FM.  Adenoviral transgene expression enhanced by co-treatment with etoposide in cultured cells.
Biotechniques 39:826-832, 2005.

2006

Charoonpatrapong-Panyayong K, Shah JR, Robling AG, Alvarez M, Clapp DW, Chen S, Kopp RP, Pavalko FM, Yu J, and Bidwell JP.  HMGB1 expression and release by bone cells.
Journal of Cellular Physiology, 207:480-490, 2006. Wiley Interscience

Triplett JW and Pavalko FM.  Disruption of α-actinin-integrin interactions at focal adhesions renders osteoblasts susceptible to apoptosis.
Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 291: C909-C921, 2006. Reprint (pdf)

2007

Ponik SM, Triplett JW, and Pavalko FM.  Osteoblasts and osteocytes respond differently to oscillatory and unidirectional fluid flow profiles.
Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, 100(3):794-807, Feb 2007. Wiley Interscience

Triplett JW, Gerard-O'Riley R, Tekulve K, Norvell SM, and Pavalko FM.  Mechanical loading by fluid shear stress enhances IGF-1 receptor signaling in osteoblasts in a PKCζ-dependent manner.
Molecular and Cellular Biomechanics, 4(1):13-25, Mar 2007. PubMed

Rodenberg EJ and Pavalko FM.  Peptides derived from fibronectin type III connecting segments promote endothelial cell adhesion but not platelet adhesion: implications in tissue-engineered vascular grafts.
Tissue Engineering, 13(11):2653-2666, Nov 2007. Full text document (pdf), PubMed

Charoonpatrapong-Panyayong K, Shah R, Yang J, Alvarez M, Pavalko FM, Gerard-O'Riley R, Robling AG, Templeton E, and Bidwell JP.  Nmp4/CIZ contributes to fluid shear stress induced MMP-13 gene induction in osteoblasts.
Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, 102(5):1202-1213, Dec 2007. Wiley Interscience

2009

Young SR, Gerard-O'Riley R, Kim JB, and Pavalko FM.  Focal Adhesion Kinase is Important for Fluid Shear Stress Induced Mechanotransduction in Osteoblasts.
Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 24(3):411-424, Mar 2009. PubMed

2010

Yang Z, Bidwell JP, Young SR, Gerard-O'Riley R, Wang H, and Pavalko FM.  Nmp4/CIZ inhibits mechanically induced beta-catenin signaling activity in osteoblasts.
J Cell Physiol 223(2):435-441, May 2010. PubMed

Young SR, Gerard-O'Riley R, Harrington M, and Pavalko FM.  Activation of NF-kappaB by fluid shear stress, but not TNF-alpha, requires focal adhesion kinase in osteoblasts.
Bone 47(1):74-82, Jul 2010. PubMed

Wang H, Young SR, Gerard-O'Riley R, Hum JM, Yang Z, Bidwell JP, Pavalko FM.  Blockade of TNFR1 signaling: A role of oscillatory fluid shear stress in osteoblasts.
J Cell Physiol. 2010 Sep 20. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed

Joseph P. Bidwell and Fredrick M. Pavalko,  Mechanosomes Carry a Loaded Message
Sci. Signaling, 21 December 2010, Vol. 3, Issue 153, p. pe51.
Abstract, Reprint, Full Text

2011

Young SR, Hum JM, Rodenberg E, Turner CH, Pavalko FM.  Non-overlapping functions for Pyk2 and FAK in osteoblasts during fluid shear stress-induced mechanotransduction.
PLoS One 25;6(1):e16026 Jan 2011. PubMed


Updated: 3/26/2011