Samuel Evans Adunyah, Ph.D.
Professor & Chairman
Department of Cancer Biology,
Department of Biomedical Sciences

(615) 327-6345
WBS Room 2104
1005 Dr. D.B. Todd Boulevard
Nashville, TN  37208

sadunyah@mmc.edu

Lab URL

CV or Bio (PDF)

PhD in Biochemistry Degree from the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department at the University of Louisville School of Medicine in 1987. 
Postdoctoral research training in cancer biology at the Cancer Research & Treatment Center of the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque (2 years)
UAB Cancer Center in Birmingham as a Senior Research Associate in 1989.  In 1990, he was promoted to a faculty level as a Research Instructor. 

The research in Dr. Adunyah’s laboratory focuses on molecular mechanisms of signal transduction of hematopoietic growth factors, including cytokines and differentiation agents, that regulate cell growth and differentiation.  Their goal is to understand the role of cytokines in the immune system and the impact of these agents on cancer susceptibility and progression.  Human Interleukin-17 is a novel cytokine produced by activated T cells which induces T cell proliferation, leading to the stimulated production of other cytokines, such as IL-1, -6, -8 and TNF and colony stimulating factors, such as GM-CSF and G-CSF.  Because of the ability of hIL-7 to stimulate IL-8 production and regulate hematopoiesis, IL-7 may be future clinical tool for the management of acute myeloid leukemia, erythroleukemia, and bone marrow suppression.  Despite its known functional roles, molecular details about how IL-7 transduces its signal to the nucleus leading to growth regulation and cytokine production are lacking.  Currently, Dr. Adunyah and his colleagues are exploring the roles of PI-3 Kinase and PKC in IL-17 actions by a variety of complementary experimental strategies including signal kinase assays, transduction arrays, transcriptional arrays and cytokine arrays.

Boadi WY, Iyere PA, Adunyah SE.  In vitro exposure to quercetin and genistein alters lipid peroxides and prevents the loss of glutathione in human progenitor mononuclear (U937) cells. J Appl Toxicol. 2005:82-8

Boadi WY, Iyere PA, Adunyah SE.  Effect of quercetin and genistein on copper- and iron-induced lipid peroxidation in methyl linolenate. J Appl Toxicol. 2003:363-9.

Iyamu EW, Adunyah SE, Fasold H, Horiuchi K, Baliga S, Ohene-Frempong K, Turner EA, Asakura T.  Combined use of nonmyelosuppressive nitrosourea analogues with hydroxyurea in the induction of F-cell production in a human erythroleukemic cell line. Exp Hematol. 2003:592-600.

Iyamu, W.E., Adunyah, S.E., Fasold, H., Horiuchi, K., Elford, H.L., Asakura, T., and Turner, E.A. Enhancement of hemoglobin and F-cell production by targeting growth inhibition and differentiation of K562 cells with ribonucleutide reductase inhibitors (Didox and Trimidox) in combination with treptozotocin.  Amer. Jour. Hematology, 63, 176-193, 2000