Leukocyte Signalling & Gene Expression

BIOGRAPHY

Ana Olivera is an Associate Faculty Member who works with Juan Rivera to evaluate the literature relevant to their research interests.

ACADEMIC POSITION:
Staff Scientist: Molecular Immunology Section, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health

EDUCATION:
Dr Olivera received her Doctor of Philosophy degree from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain, in 1990 on the signaling mechanisms that mediate the contraction of glomerular mesangial cells induced by adenosine. In 1990, Dr Olivera joined the laboratory of Dr Sarah Spiegel as a postdoctoral fellow in the department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Georgetown University. In 1995, she became a Research Assistant Professor in the same department. Her research at Georgetown University was focused on the role of breakdown products of sphingolipids (ceramide, sphingosine, and sphingosine-1-phosphate) and sphingosine kinase (the enzyme that phosphorylates sphingosine to sphingosine-1-phosphate) in signal transduction and their involvement in cellular proliferation, apoptosis, and cell motility.

RESEARCH INTERESTS:
In the laboratory of Dr Juan Rivera, Dr Olivera will study the mechanisms of regulation of sphingolipid metabolites by the FceRI. Activation of sphingosine kinase by FceRI and the consequent increase in sphingosine-1-phosphate levels have been described as a previously unrecognized signaling pathway involved in calcium mobilization. The relative balance between sphingosine and sphingosine-1-phosphate levels has also been reported to determine the allergic responsiveness of mast cells. However, the signaling cascades involved in the activation of sphingosine kinase and other enzymes of the sphingolipid pathway after cross-linking of Fc receptors have not been described. In addition, the mechanisms of action of sphingosine and sphingosine-1-phosphate in mast cells and their involvement in mast cell function have not been studied in detail.