Assistant Professor (214) 828-8162 Room: 452 pkramer@bcd.tamhsc.edu Tissue Grafting, Women’s Hormonal Regulation, and Cardiovascular Diseases

:: Research / Professional Interests

Our lab is interested in three subject areas: the first is the use of mesenchymal stem cells or multipotent adult progenitor cells for repair or replacement of damaged tissues in the oral cavity. Our goal is to determine the stem cell’s potential to differentiate into specific oral cell types and determine the mechanistic processes by which these stem cells transform.

Second, our studies focus at the cellular and molecular level on how low estrogens levels (directly and indirectly) lead to abnormal macrophage activation and estrogen's impact on immune processes occurring through the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis. Varied sources of evidence support the idea that sex hormones regulate the immune response in patients with auto-immune disorders. The mechanism of hormonal action can be direct through hormonal receptors and/or through indirect pathways such as the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis (HPA) or sympathetic nervous system. 

Sex steroids such as estrogen and androgens cause the HPA axis and sympathetic nerves to alter the amount of CRH, cortisol and catecholamines released. These hormonally regulated chemicals alter gene regulation and responsiveness of immune cells such as T cells and macrophages.  Our goal is to maintain normal immune responses in an altered hormonal environment by regulating genes within immune cells. 

Thirdly, our lab focuses on targeting specific pathways by which low estrogen leads to arterial plaque build-up and potentially the disease atherosclerosis. Our goal is to determine the genes involved in plaque build-up and develop targeted methods for regulating this process.

:: Education

National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
Postdoctoral Fellowship (1997-2001) Neuroendocrinology
Texas A&M University, IBT, Houston , Texas
Postdoctoral Fellowship (1996-1997) Molecular Biology
Texas A&M University, IBT, Houston , Texas
Ph.D (1996) Biochemistry
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn.
B.S. (1991) Biochemistry/Cell Biology

:: Career History

:: Teaching Responsibilities

Physiology (dental), Physiology (dental hygiene), and Cellular and Molecular Biology (graduate).

:: Recent Grants

• Estrogenic Regulation of Inflammation Related to TMJD. NIH-NIDCR R01 DE015372-01, 2003-2007.
• Estrogenic LXR Alpha Response/Cholesterol Homeostasis.   NIA R03 AG022196-01, 2002-2003.

:: Recent Publications

1. Sigalas, E., Regan, J.D., Kramer, P.R., Witherspoon, D.E., Opperman, L.A. (2004) Survival of human periodontal ligament cells in media proposed for transport of avulsed teeth, Dental Traumatology, 20 (1); 21-28.
2. Guan G., Bellinger, L.L., Wellman, P.J., Kramer, P.R. (2004) Intermittent nicotine administration modulates food intake in rats by acting on nicotine receptors localized in brainstem, Life Sciences, 74 (22); 2725-2737
3. Kerins, C.A., Carlson, D.S., Hinton, R.J., Hutchins, R.J., Grogan, D.M., Marr, K., Kramer, P.R., Spears, R.D., Bellinger, L.L. (2004) Specificity of meal pattern analysis as an animal model of determining temporomandibular joint inflammation/pain, International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, In Press.
4. Kramer, P. R., Kramer, S. F., Guan, G. (2004) 17 β-estradiol regulates cytokine release through modulation of CD16 expression in monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages, Arthritis and Rheumatism, 50 (6); 1967-75.
5. Larry L. Bellinger, Paul J. Wellman, Antonio Cepeda-Benito, Phillip R. Kramer, Guoqiang Guan, Connie M. Tillberg, Priscilla R. Gillaspie and E. Gerald Hill, Meal patterns in female rats during and after intermittent nicotine administration, Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, In Press.Kramer, P.R., and Wray, S. Novel gene expressed in nasal region influences outgrowth of olfactory axons and migration of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) neurons. (File Size: 5.53MB) Gene & Development 14:1824-1834. 2000.
6. Kramer, P.R. cDNA library construction from single cells. (File Size: 421KB) present Protocols in Neuroscience. 2000
7. Kramer, P.R., and Wray, S. Nasal embryonic LHRH factor (NELF) expression within the CNS and PNS of the rodent. (File Size: 511KB) Gene Expression Patterns 1. 2001.
8. Kramer, P.R., and Wray, S. Depletion of 17-b-estradiol in human macrophages regulates auto-antigen and cytokine transcripts. (File Size: 440KB) J. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biol. 81: 2002.
9. Tonelli L, Kramer P.R., Wray S., Listwak S. and Sternberg E. Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Estrogen Receptor Regulation in the Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus of Lewis and Fischer Rats. (File Size: 318KB) Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 2002.