Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
Dr. Patricia McLaughlin’s research focuses on the Opioid Growth Factor (OGF) – OGF receptor (OGFr) pathway and mechanisms of action in homeostasis and disease. Early collaborative work with Dr. Ian Zagon resulted in the identification of [Met5]-enkephalin as the endogenous ligand for the OGF-OGFr pathway. Subsequently, a new nuclear-associated receptor was identified and termed OGFr. One group in the laboratory has characterized and cloned the OGFr gene in human, mouse and rat. Protein chemistry studies, along with structural biology, determined that the OGFr is a uniquely unstructured nuclear receptor. The mechanism of action was determined to involve inhibition of DNA synthesis with the specific mechanistic pathway involving upregulation of cyclin-dependent inhibitory kinases p16 and p21. OGF action is receptor-mediated, reversible, and not associated with apoptosis/necrosis. OGF is tissue non-specific and has been identified in proliferating cells and tissues derived from all 3 dermal layers.
Currently, the lab’s work is translational, focusing on disease-based pathways that are characterized by a perturbation in the OGF-OGFr axis. Consequences of receptor blockade of the OGF-OGFr axis are being studied with an emphasis on the etiology and treatment of complications (e.g., delayed wound healing, dry eye, impaired bone composition) arising from long-term diabetes (Type 1 or Type 2). These investigations (humans and animal models) focus on treatment options and utilize confocal microscopy, animal surgery, immunohistochemistry and tissue culture.
In another series of studies, the lab is testing the hypothesis that down-regulation of the inhibitory OGF peptide plays a role in multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases. The lab is also currently validating serum biomarkers and cytokine expression profiles that correspond to changes in behavior and MRI imaging that may be related to disease progression and response to therapy. The clinical and animal research is both qualitative and quantitative in design and is supported by NIH, ADA, TSF (PA) and foundations.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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Projects
- 1 Finished
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ENDOGENOUS OPIOID SYSTEMS AND HEART DEVELOPMENT
McLaughlin, P. (PI)
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
1/1/94 → 12/31/00
Project: Research project
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A Phase I Study of the Naturally Occurring Bioactive, Opioid Growth Factor, in Patients with Unresectable Hepatocellular Cancer
Kimchi, E. T., Kaifi, J. T., Jiang, Y., Li, G., Avella, D. M., Gusani, N. J., Schreibman, I., Waybill, P., McLaughlin, P., Zagon, I. S., Smith, J. P. & Staveley-O’Carroll, K. F., 2025, In: Cancer Investigation. 43, 3, p. 224-235 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Diabetes Differentially Alters Glial Cells in Different Brain Regions
Kumari, R., Willing, L. & McLaughlin, P., Mar 2025, In: Diabetology. 6, 3, 16.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Exploring the relationships of physical, mental, and emotional symptoms and serum biomarkers of angiogenesis in multiple sclerosis
Odom, L. B., Thomas, G., Zachariah, J., Zagon, I. S. & McLaughlin, P., Apr 1 2025, In: Multiple Sclerosis Journal - Experimental, Translational and Clinical. 11, 2Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Reversal of Diabetic Dry Eye by Topical Opioid Receptor Blockade Follows Dual Pathways
Diaz, D., Sassani, J. W., Zagon, I. S. & McLaughlin, P. J., Mar 2025, In: Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. 66, 3, 24.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Topical naltrexone increases aquaporin 5 production in the lacrimal gland and restores tear production in diabetic rats
Diaz, D., Sassani, J. P., Zagon, I. S. & McLaughlin, P. J., 2024, In: Experimental Biology and Medicine. 249, 10175.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access1 Scopus citations
Prizes
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Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching
Aprile, B. (Recipient), Aumiller, B. B. (Recipient), Berkey, F. (Recipient), Bonavia, A. (Recipient), Booth, J. (Recipient), Brennan, K. (Recipient), Browning, K. (Recipient), Buchkovich, N. (Recipient), Butt, F. K. (Recipient), Carrel, L. (Recipient), Choe, A. (Recipient), Clarke, S. (Recipient), Coleman, M. (Recipient), Dalke, K. (Recipient), Devaraj, T. (Recipient), Duryea, S. (Recipient), Enama, J. (Recipient), Evey, L. (Recipient), Finch, E. (Recipient), Fischer, M. (Recipient), Gallo, R. (Recipient), Gavigan, P. (Recipient), Ghaffari, G. (Recipient), Go, P. (Recipient), Grana, J. (Recipient), Greensmith, J. (Recipient), Grogan, J. (Recipient), Hajnal, A. (Recipient), Helm, M. (Recipient), Hempel, N. (Recipient), Imamura, F. (Recipient), Jain, R. (Recipient), Jeganathan, N. (Recipient), Kelle, A. (Recipient), Kumar, A. (Recipient), Kwun, H. J. (Recipient), Lang, C. (Recipient), Lutzkanin, A. (Recipient), Martin, K. (Recipient), McGarrity, T. (Recipient), McHale, K. (Recipient), McLaughlin, P. (Recipient), Mormando, C. (Recipient), Nguyen, J. (Recipient), Nickolich, M. (Recipient), Ouyang, T. (Recipient), Pachuski, J. (Recipient), Polimera, H. (Recipient), Potochny, E. (Recipient), Rakszawski, K. L. (Recipient), Reyes, L. (Recipient), Sankoorikal, B.-J. (Recipient), Shantz, L. (Recipient), Singh, M. (Recipient), Songdej, N. (Recipient), Spotts, R. (Recipient), Swigart, A. (Recipient), Varner, M. (Recipient), Verma, N. (Recipient), Walter, V. (Recipient), Wang, C.-Y. (Recipient), Warfield, D. (Recipient), Wilson, M. N. (Recipient) & Hussein, R. (Recipient), 2021
Prize
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Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching
McAlevy, M. (Recipient), Bonavia, A. (Recipient), Malhotra, A. (Recipient), Weller, G. E. (Recipient), Waning, D. (Recipient), Lanza, M. (Recipient), Ken, K. (Recipient), McCarver, S. (Recipient), Glasser, J. (Recipient), Schooler, J. (Recipient), Lewis, S. (Recipient), Onks, C. (Recipient), Rao, R. (Recipient), Nickolich, S. (Recipient), Helm, L. (Recipient), Critchfield, L. (Recipient), Myers, K. (Recipient), Green, M. (Recipient), Songdej, N. (Recipient), Narayana, S. (Recipient), Razjouyan, H. (Recipient), Duca, N. (Recipient), Casas, R. (Recipient), Cooper, J. (Recipient), Wright, R. (Recipient), Karasinski, A. (Recipient), Probolus, J. A. (Recipient), Madara, J. (Recipient), Guck, D. (Recipient), Ingram, D. (Recipient), De Obaldia, A. (Recipient), Hussein, R. (Recipient), McGillen, B. (Recipient), Chapman, T. (Recipient), Munyon, R. (Recipient), Kinard, S. R. (Recipient), Banks, S. (Recipient), Genao, I. (Recipient), McShane, M. (Recipient), Allie, S. R. (Recipient), Silberman, Y. (Recipient), Evey, L. (Recipient), McLaughlin, P. (Recipient), Grogan, J. (Recipient), Nguyen, J. (Recipient), Donato, H. (Recipient), Fox, E. (Recipient), Gniady, J. (Recipient), Oladipo, O. (Recipient), Abendroth, C. (Recipient), Keefer, L. (Recipient), Massare, B. (Recipient), Undar, A. (Recipient), Mondal, P. (Recipient), Mainali, G. (Recipient), Jhaveri, P. (Recipient), Freiberg, A. (Recipient), Levenson, R. (Recipient), Mailman, R. (Recipient), Boodoo, R. (Recipient), Francis, A. (Recipient), Hameed, U. (Recipient), Yadav, S. (Recipient), Calo, W. (Recipient), Pinto, C. (Recipient), Cooper, A. (Recipient), Kulaylat, A. (Recipient), Scow, J. (Recipient), Roberts, J. (Recipient), Winder, J. (Recipient), Aminsharifi, A. (Recipient), Adams, N. (Recipient) & van Riggelen, J. (Recipient), 2023
Prize
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Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching
Hussein, R. (Recipient), Stredny, E. (Recipient), Whitley, M. (Recipient), Mnatsakanyan, N. (Recipient), Raimundo, N. (Recipient), Zarnescu, D. (Recipient), Adams, N. (Recipient), Lanza, M. (Recipient), Kowalczyk, A. (Recipient), Travelute, C. (Recipient), Marco, C. (Recipient), Tondt, J. (Recipient), Anderson, A. (Recipient), Heron, C. (Recipient), Newman, R. (Recipient), Richard, D. (Recipient), Scartozzi, C. (Recipient), Dellasega, C. (Recipient), Akhtar, N. (Recipient), Albano-Aluquin, S. (Recipient), Chisty, A. (Recipient), Crook, T. (Recipient), Federici, E. H. (Recipient), Ingram, D. (Recipient), Lakshmanan, P. (Recipient), Mathew, A. (Recipient), Narayana, S. (Recipient), Prokop, A. (Recipient), Razjouyan, H. (Recipient), Tariq, A. (Recipient), Thompson, B. (Recipient), Thompson, E. (Recipient), Trivedi, N. (Recipient), Van Scoy, L. (Recipient), Wong, J. (Recipient), Allie, S. R. (Recipient), Browning, K. (Recipient), Evey, L. (Recipient), McLaughlin, P. (Recipient), Mamarabadi, M. (Recipient), Shankar, L. (Recipient), Bowie, E. (Recipient), Petfield, J. (Recipient), Whitaker, M. (Recipient), Aynardi, J. (Recipient), Allen, N. (Recipient), Cunningham, B. (Recipient), Gandhi, C. (Recipient), Jairath, B. (Recipient), Lutzkanin, K. M. (Recipient), Kerris, E. (Recipient), Nelson, A. (Recipient), Shook, J. (Recipient), Proctor, E. A. (Recipient), Raup-Konsavage, W. (Recipient), Romanoski, N. (Recipient), Graziane, J. (Recipient), Llorente, A. (Recipient), Nutting, S. (Recipient), Pinto, C. (Recipient), Yingst, J. (Recipient), Zhou, S. (Recipient), Mahase, S. (Recipient), Brian, P. (Recipient), Goldman, E. (Recipient), Maffie, J. (Recipient), Brahmbhatt, R. (Recipient), Fahy, A. (Recipient), Gish, J. (Recipient), Reed, M. F. (Recipient) & Tomasko, J. (Recipient), 2024
Prize
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Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching
Hollins, L. C. (Recipient), Nisnevitch-Savarese, Z. (Recipient), Read, S. (Recipient), Rossi, J. (Recipient), Royo, M. (Recipient), Sarraf, E. (Recipient), Shah, B. (Recipient), Moldovan, G.-L. (Recipient), van Riggelen, J. (Recipient), Shantz, L. (Recipient), Yengo, C. (Recipient), Booth, J. (Recipient), Bates, E. (Recipient), Schuster, A. (Recipient), Clebak, K. (Recipient), Daniels, E. W. (Recipient), Hays, A. (Recipient), Hemerly, N. (Recipient), Thompson, A. (Recipient), George, D. (Recipient), Evey, L. (Recipient), McLaughlin, P. (Recipient), Acharya, J. (Recipient), De Jesus, S. (Recipient), O'Leary, A. (Recipient), Wright, T. (Recipient), Cantore, W. (Recipient), Pantanelli, S. (Recipient), Millard, R. (Recipient), Updegrove, G. F. (Recipient), Choi, K. (Recipient), Darowish, C. (Recipient), Dooley, A. (Recipient), Hackman, N. (Recipient), Krawiec, C. (Recipient), Oji-Mmuo, C. (Recipient), Ryan, S. (Recipient), Shedlock, A. (Recipient), Tunks, R. (Recipient), Critchfield, L. (Recipient), Bellon, A. (Recipient), Dougherty, K. (Recipient), Lagman, J. (Recipient), Mahgoub, Y. (Recipient), Dreibelbis, T. (Recipient), Richie, J. (Recipient), Wang, L. (Recipient), Methratta, S. (Recipient), Chauvin, N. (Recipient), Deutsch, M. (Recipient), Kulaylat, A. (Recipient), Paulishak, M. (Recipient), Staszak, R. (Recipient) & MacDonald, S. (Recipient), 2022
Prize