Dr. Nader H. Moniri

Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Dr. Nader H. MoniriEducation

  • B.S., Biological Sciences, Georgia State University
  • Ph.D., Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Pharmacology, Duke University Medical Center

Research Background and Interests

Dr. Moniri’s training has focused on molecular pharmacology, signal transduction of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR), and the design and development of novel agents which modulate GPCR function.

Current research interests include signal transduction, alternative signaling, and the design of functionally selective modulators of the prototypical GPCR, the beta-2-adrenergic receptor. Specifically, this work seeks to characterize mechanisms of beta-2-adrenergic mediated generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species, the formation of which we have recently shown to be indispensable for receptor function.

Dr. Moniri’s laboratory is also interested in the characterization of neuro-endocrine GPCRs which are involved in glucagon/insulin homeostasis, food intake, and satiety, as well as the development of novel anti-diabetic agents which target these GPCRs.

Courses

  • PHA329 Pharmacy Fundamentals
  • PHA467 Endocrine Pharmacotherapy
  • PHA468 Infectious Diseases Pharmacotherapy
  • PHA547 Nervous System Pharmacotherapy
  • PHA548/549 Project Development/Introduction to Research
  • PHA537 Gastrointestinal & Musculoskeletal Pharmacotherapy
  • PHA799 Thesis Research
  • PHA899 Doctoral Research

News

Pharmacy researcher receives NIH grant to study how inhaled asthma medications fail over time

Selected Publications

  • Singh K, Teyani RL, Moniri NH. Agonists and hydrogen peroxide mediate hyperoxidation of β2-adrenergic receptor in airway epithelial cells: Implications for tachyphylaxis to β2-agonists in constrictive airway disorders. Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy, 168:115763, 1-13, 2023. PMID: 37865997
  • Teyani R and Moniri NH. Gut feelings in the islets: The role of the gut microbiome and the FFA2 and FFA3 receptors for short chain fatty acids on β-cell function and metabolic regulation. British Journal of Pharmacology, Commissioned Review, 1-7, 2023. PMID: 37620991
  • Swanson SM, Birnbaum A, Brackett C, Lipscomb J, Moniri NH, Swaan PW, Lei W, Farrell D. The Report of the 2022-2023 AACP Research and Graduate Affairs Committee. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. 87(8):100556, 1-4, 2023. PMID 37442437
  • Menon SN, Daniel ML, Zerin F, Ezewudo E, Simon NP, Green AJ, Pandey A, Mackay CE, Hafez S, Moniri NH, Hasan R. Neflamapimod inhibits endothelial cell activation, adhesion molecule expression and leukocyte attachment by inhibiting p38 MAPKα and NF-κB signaling. Biochemical Pharmacology. 214:115683, 1-14, 2023. PMID: 37429422
  • Karmokar PF and Moniri NH. Free-fatty acid receptor-1 (FFA1/GPR40) promotes papillary RCC proliferation and tumor growth via Src/PI3K/AKT/NF-κB but suppresses migration by inhibition of EGFR, ERK1/2, STAT3 and EMT. Cancer Cell International, 23:126, 1-19, 2023. PMID: 37355607
  • Thurston MM, Moniri NH, Bowen JP, Winkles CL, Miller SW. Managing the “Three Cs” of Academic Literature Authorship: Contributions, Credit, and Conflict. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. 87: 100009, 1-4, 2023. PMID: 37288678
  • Karmokar PF and Moniri NH. Free-Fatty Acid Receptor-4 (FFA4/GPR120) differentially regulates migration, invasion, proliferation and tumor growth of papillary renal cell carcinoma cells. Biochemical Pharmacology. 213:115590, 1-13, 2023. PMID: 37201877
  • Rizzo AR and Moniri NH. Omadacycline for management of Mycobacterium abscessus infections: A review of its effectiveness, place in therapy, and considerations for use. BMC Infectious Diseases. 22(1):874, 1-11, 2022. PMID: 36419143
  • Karmokar PF and Moniri NH. Oncogenic signaling of the Free-Fatty Acid Receptors FFA1 and FFA4 in human breast carcinoma cells. Biochemical Pharmacology. 206:115308, 1-10, 2022. PMID: 36309079
  • Singh K, Senatorov IS, Cheshmehkani A, Karmokar PF, Moniri NH.  The skeletal muscle relaxer cyclobenzaprine is a potent non-competitive antagonist of histamine H1 receptors.  Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 380(3):202-209, 2022.  PMID:  34992159
  • Moniri NH and Farah Q. Short-chain free-fatty acid G protein-coupled receptors in colon cancer. Biochemical Pharmacology.186:114483, 2021
  • Rambacher KM and Moniri NH. Cysteine redox state regulates human β2-adrenergic receptor binding and function. Scientific Reports, 10:2934, 1-15, 2020.
  • Senatorov IS, Cheshmehkani A, Burns RN, Singh, K, Moniri NH.  Carboxy-terminal phosphoregulation of the long splice isoform of Free-Fatty Acid Receptor-4 mediates β-arrestin recruitment and signaling to ERK1/2.  Mol. Pharmacol.  97:304-313, 2020.
  • Moniri NH. Reintroduction of quazepam: an update on comparative hypnotic and adverse effects. Intl. Clin. Psychopharmacol. 34:275-285, 2019.
  • Murnane KS, Guner OF, Bowen JP, Rambacher KM, Moniri NH, Murphy TJ, Daphney CM, Oppong-Damoah A, Rice KC. The adrenergic receptor antagonist carvedilol interacts with serotonin 2A receptors both in vitro and in vivo. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 181:37-45, 2019.
  • Moniri NH, Momary KM, McMahon TJ, Nayee E. Statin-associated Achilles tendon rupture and reproducible bilateral tendinopathy upon repeated exposure. Mayo Clin Proc. 93(10):1530-1532, 2018.
  • Senatorov IS and Moniri NH. The role of free-fatty acid receptor-4 (FFA4) in human cancers and cancer cell lines. Biochem Pharmacol. 150:170-180, 2018.
  • Cheshmehkani A, Senatorov IS, Dhuguru J, Ghoneim O, Moniri NH. Free-fatty acid receptor-4 (FFA4) modulates ROS generation and COX-2 expression via the C-terminal β-arrestin phosphosensor in Raw264.7 macrophages. Biochemical Pharmacol. 146:139-150, 2017.
  • Moniri NH. Free-fatty acid receptor-4 (GPR120): cellular and molecular function and its role in metabolic disorders. Biochemical Pharmacol. 110-111:1-15, 2016.
  • Cheshmehkani A, Senatorov IS, Kandi P, Singh M, Britt A, Hayslett R, Moniri NH. Fish oil and flax seed oil-supplemented diets increase FFAR4 expression in the rat colon. Inflamm Res. 2015 Oct;64(10):809-15.
  • Singh M and Moniri NH. Reactive oxygen species as ß2-adrenergic receptor signal transducers. J. Pharmaceu Pharmacol. 2(1): 8-15, 2014.
  • Burns RN, Singh M, Senatorov IS, Moniri NH. Mechanisms of homologous and heterologous phosphorylation of FFA receptor 4 (GPR120): GRK6 and PKC mediate phosphorylation of Thr347, Ser350, and Ser357 in the C-terminal tail. Biochem Pharmacol, 87:650-659, 2014.
  • Ryan GJ, Moniri NH., Smiley DD. Clinical effects of once-weekly exenatide for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Am J Health Syst Pharm, 70(13):1123-1131, 2013.
  • Gleason BL, Siracuse MV, Moniri NH, Birnie CR, Okamoto CT, Crouch MA. Evolution of Preprofessional Pharmacy Curricula. Am J Pharm Educ. 77(5):95; 1-8, 2013.
  • Singh M., and Moniri NH. Reactive oxygen species are required for ß2 adrenergic receptor-ß-arrestin interactions and signaling to ERK1/2. Biochem Pharmacol. 84(5):661-669, 2012.
  • Burns RN and Moniri NH. Agonist- and H2O2- mediated oxidation of the ß2 adrenergic receptor: evidence of receptor S-sulfenation as detected by a modified biotin switch assay. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 339(3):914-921, 2011.
  • Wang Z, Humphrey C, Frilot N, Wang G., Nie Z, Moniri NH, Daaka Y. Dynamin2- and endothelial nitric oxide synthase-regulated invasion of bladder epithelial cells by uropathogenic Escherichia coli. J Cell Biol. 10;192(1):101-10, 2011.
  • Burns RN and Moniri NH. Agonism with the omega-3 fatty acids alpha-linolenic acid and docosahexaenoic acid mediates phosphorylation of both the short and long isoforms of the human GPR120 receptor. Biochem Biophys Res Commun., 396: 1030-1035, 2010.

Contact Dr. Nader H. Moniri

(678) 547-6246
moniri_nh@mercer.edu