 Nancy A. McNamara, OD, PhD
Assistant Professor, Departments of Anatomy and Ophthalmology
Sjögren's Syndrome International Collaborative Clinical Alliance (SICCA)
Contact Information
513 Parnassus, S334
San Francisco, CA 94143-0412
Phone: 415-476-8132
Education
PhD: University of California, Berkeley
OD: Michigan College of Optometry
Graduate Training: Mayo Clinic, Rochester
Residency: University of California, Berkeley
Research Interests
MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR LABORATORY
Dr. McNamara’s research centers on understanding the role of innate immunity in protecting host epithelial cells from environmental injury. Mucosal epithelium is present at the interface with the environment at all body surfaces, including the eye. Thus, the mucosa is often the first line of defense against environmental injury. Mucosal cells use a general defense strategy and are believed to play a critical role in regulating the more powerful adaptive immune response. Unfortunately, sometimes the immune system can go into overdrive and create a pathological state. Examples of this include ocular allergy, immunologically-based dry eye disease (e.g., Sjögren’s syndrome), bacterial infection and even cancer. In each of these disease entities there is an immunological component that either initiates or enhances the disease state. Dr. McNamara’s work focuses on dissecting the molecular sequence of events that underlies early immune responses. Her research program involves both clinically-based, human studies of the ocular surface as well as both in vivo and in vitro studies of the signaling pathways that lead to the production of innate defense molecules in the pathological state. This work will lead to a better understanding of the molecular patterns that contribute to pathology and suggest new strategies for modulating the response in favor of the host.
Representative Publications
McNamara N, Gallup M, Sucher A, Maltseva I, McKemy D, Basbaum C: AsialoGM1 and TLR5 cooperate in flagellin-induced nucleotide signaling to activate Erk1/2. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol, 34:653-660, 2006.
Dasari V, Gallup M, Lemjabbar H, Maltseva I, McNamara N: EMT in lung cancer: Is tobacco the "smoking gun"? Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol, 35:3-9, 2006.
McNamara NA, Andika R, Kwong M, Sack RA, Fleiszig SM: Interaction of Pseudomonas aeruginosa with human tear fluid components. Curr Eye Res 7:517-525, 2005.
McNamara N, Gallup M, Khong A, Maltseva I, Fahy J, Dolganov G, Basbaum C: Adenosine upregulation of the mucin gene, MUC2, in asthma. FASEB J 18:1770-2, 2004.
McNamara N: Innate Defense of the Ocular Surface. Eye Contact Lens 29: S10-13, 2003.
McNamara N, Basbaum C: Signaling networks controlling mucin production in response to gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Glycoconj J 18: 715-722, 2001.
McNamara N, Khong A, McKemy D, Caterina M, Boyer J, Julius D, Basbaum C: ATP transduces signals from ASGM1, a glycolipid that functions as a bacterial receptor. PNAS 98:9086-9091, 2001.
Belcher CE, Drenkow J, Kehoe B, Gingeras TR, McNamara NA, Lemjabbar H, Basbaum C, and Relman DA: The transcriptional responses of respiratory epithelial cells to Bordetella pertussis reveal host defensive and pathogen counter defensive strategies. PNAS 97:13847-13852, 2000.
McNamara N, Van R, Tuchin O, Fleiszig SMJ: Ocular surface epithelia express mRNA for human beta defensin 2. Exp Eye Res 69:483-490, 1999.
Basbaum C, Lemjabbar H, Longphre M, Li D-Z, Gensch E, McNamara N: Control of mucin transcription by diverse injury-induced signaling pathways. Amer J Respir Crit Care Med 160: S44-S48, 1999.
Lin MC, Graham AD, Polse KA, Mandell RB, McNamara NA: Measurement of post-lens tear thickness. Invest Ophthalmol and Vis Sci,1999; 40:2833-2839.
McNamara N, Polse K, Bonanno J: Fluorophotometry in contact lens research: The next step. Opt Vis Sci 75:316-322, 1998.
McNamara N, Fusaro R, Brand R, Polse K: Epithelial permeability reflects subclinical effects of contact lens wear. British J Ophthalmol 82:376-381, 1998.
McNamara N, Brand R, Polse K, Bourne W: Corneal function during normal and high serum glucose levels in diabetes. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 39:3-18, 1998.
McNamara N, Polse K, Fukunaga S, Maebori J, Suzuki R: Soft lens extended-wear affects epithelial barrier function. Ophthalmology 105:2330-2335, 1998.
McNamara N, Fusaro R, Brand R, Polse K: Measurement of corneal epithelial permeability to fluorescein: A repeatability study. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 38:1830-1839, 1997.
McMahon T, Polse K, McNamara N: Recovery from induced corneal edema and endothelial morphology after long-term PMMA contact lens wear. Opt Vis Sci 73:184-188, 1996.
McNamara N, Polse K, Bonanno J: Stromal acidosis modulates corneal swelling. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 35:846-850, 1994.
Pole J, Dominguez A, McNamara N: Lenticular vs. single-cut for low plus RGP's - The better design for your patients. Contact Lens Spectrum 9:31, 1994.
Book Section
McNamara N, Sack R, Fleiszig SMJ: Mucin-Bacterial Binding Assays. Chapter 35. T. Corfield, ed. Glycoprotein Methods and Protocols, Methods in Molecular Biology. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ, 125:429-437, 1999. |
