Division of Gastroenterology - Liver Research Center 















Piero Biancani, Ph.D.

Professor of Medicine

Address:

Rhode Island Hospital
GI Motility Research Lab
593 Eddy Street
Providence, RI 02903
phone: 401-444-5629
fax: 401-444-5890
E-mail:Piero_Biancani@Brown.Edu

Research Interests:

Our research interests include the mechanisms mediating contraction of the smooth muscle in the esophagus and Lower Esophageal Sphincter. Disorders of esophageal motor function and Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) competence, for instance gastroesophageal reflux disease, affect more than one in ten adults over 40 and one in four adults over 60 years of age.

The LES separates the stomach from the esophagus and prevents reflux of gastric acid into the esophagus by maintaining a sustained tonic contraction. The mechanisms responsible for maintenance of the contraction are not understood. Understanding these mechanisms may be useful to understand normal function, and some of the changes associated with esophageal disease.

Signal Transduction Pathway in Esophageal Muscle
We have recently discovered that a Phospholipase A2, an enzyme similar to a lipid digesting enzyme secreted by the pancreas, is present in the circular muscle layer of the LES and produces arachidonic acid, presumably by digesting selected phospholipids from the muscle cell membrane. Arachidonic acid metabolites, such as prostaglandin F2a and thromboxane A2, contribute to maintaining LES tone by binding to selective receptors on the cell membrane. These signal transduction pathways are altered by inflammation, as it occurs in gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Our research is focused on identifying the phospholipase A2 present in the LES, understanding the mechanisms regulating its production and activity, and defining inflammation-induced changes in this signal transduction pathway.

Selected Publications:

Cheng L, Cao W, Fiocchi C, Behar J, Biancani P, Harnett KM. HCl-Induced Inflammatory Mediators in Cat Esophageal Mucosa and Inflammatory Mediators in Esophageal Circular Muscle in an In Vitro Model of Esophagitis. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2006 Jan 26;

Xiao ZL, Cao W, Biancani P, Behar J. Non-Genomic Effects of Progesterone on the Contraction of Muscle Cells from Guinea Pig Colon. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2006 Jan 6;

Cheng L, Harnett KM, Cao W, Liu F, Behar J, Fiocchi C, Biancani P. Hydrogen peroxide reduces lower esophageal sphincter tone in human esophagitis. Gastroenterology. 2005 Nov;129(5):1675-85.

Cheng L, Cao W, Fiocchi C, Behar J, Biancani P, Harnett KM. In vitro model of acute esophagitis in the cat. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2005 Nov;289(5):G860-9. Epub 2005 Jul 21.

Xiao ZL, Pricolo V, Biancani P, Behar J. Role of progesterone signaling in the regulation of G-protein levels in female chronic constipation. Gastroenterology. 2005 Mar;128(3):667-75.

Harnett KM, Cao W, Biancani P. Signal-transduction pathways that regulate smooth muscle function I. Signal transduction in phasic (esophageal) and tonic (gastroesophageal sphincter) smooth muscles. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2005 Mar;288(3):G407-16. 

Cheng L, Cao W, Behar J, Biancani P, Harnett KM.  Inflammation induced changes in arachidonic acid metabolism in cat LES circular muscle. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2005 Apr;288(4):G787-97. Epub 2004 Nov 18.

Cao W, Cheng L, Behar J, Fiocchi C, Biancani P, Harnett KM. Proinflammatory cytokines alter/reduce esophageal circular muscle contraction in experimental cat esophagitis. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2004 Dec;287(6):G1131-9. Epub 2004 Jul 22.

Kim N, Cao W, Song IS, Kim CY, Harnett KM, Cheng L, Walsh MP, Biancani P. Distinct kinases are involved in contraction of cat esophageal and lower esophageal sphincter smooth muscles. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2004 Aug;287(2):C384-94. Epub 2004 May 5.

 

 

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