George Loo, Ph.D.
Professor
Office: 336-334-5313
email: g_loo@uncg.edu
The broad, long-term research goal of Dr. George Loo is to understand why eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, herbs and other plant products improves overall health. These wholesome foods contain many kinds of phytochemicals or "phytochemical xenobiotics" such as curcumin and specific isothiocyanates. Discovering how phytochemicals and other bioactive food components work at the cellular level is the main objective of ongoing research. Of particular interest is the study of specific genes that safeguard normal cells against stressful events that promote carcinogenesis and certain genes that kill cancer cells.
One line of current research is aimed at determining if a deficiency of certain micronutrients weakens the ability of cells to express cytoprotective genes induced by phytochemicals and other xenobiotics, with the intention of also elucidating at the molecular level any such weakened cellular response. Other research is continuing to better elucidate how phytochemicals kill cancer cells and why the nutritional state of cancer cells may be pivotal for phytochemical-induced cell death.
New findings from the research are expected to contribute to the development of dietary strategies that could help reduce the risk of cancer, but also other health problems associated with oxidative stress and thought to be due to poor nutrition. Thus, the research will contribute to national efforts directed at reducing the incidence of chronic degenerative diseases through proper nutrition.
Education
- Ph.D. (Nutrition), University of Tennessee, 1986
- M.S., University of Tennessee, 1980
- B.S., University of Georgia, 1975
Research Interest
- Elucidation of molecular mechanisms of phytochemicals
- Antioxidants and redox regulation of gene
expression
Current Research
- Effects of phytochemicals on signal transduction, transcription factors,
and expression of genes involved in DNA damage/repair, cell cycle arrest,
and apoptosis in various human cancer cell lines.
- Effect of cellular iron status on redox-sensitive
gene expression.
Dr. Loo's laboratory has been identified as a "major contributor” to the apoptosis research field
and also the free radical research field (please visit the two websites listed below).
http://www.caspases.org/showauthor.php?surname=Loo&initials=G
http://www.freeradicalscience.com/showauthor.php?surname=Loo&initials=G
Selected Publications
- Smith, A.F., Longpre, J. and Loo, G. (2011) Inhibition by zinc of deoxycholate-induced apoptosis in HCT-116 cells.; Journal of Cellular Biochemistry.; DOI: 10.1002/jcb.23394; vol 113, 650-657 (2012)
- Longpre, J.M. and Loo, G. (2011) Inhibition of deoxycholate-induced apoptosis in iron-depleted HCT-116 cells.; Apoptosis.; DOI: 10.1007/s10495-011-0655-4 vol 17, 70-78 (2012)
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Lai C, Loo G. (2011) Cellular iron depletion weakens induction of heme oxygenase-1 by cadmium.; Int J Biochem Cell Biol 43:88-97.
- Longpre, J.M. and Loo, G. (2008) Protection of human colon epithelial cells against deoxycholate by rottlerin. Apoptosis 13, 1162-1171.
- Longpre, J.M. and Loo, G. (2008) Paradoxical effect of diphenyleneiodonium in inducing DNA damage and apoptosis. Free Rad, Res. 42, 533-543.
- Scott, D.W., Longpre, J.M., Loo, G. (2008) Upregulation of GADD153 by butyrate: involvement of MAPK. DNA and Cell Biol. 27, DOI: 10.1089/dna.2008.0773.
- Scott, D.W. and Loo, G. (2007) Curcumin-Induced GADD153 Upregulation: Modulation by Glutathione. J. Cell. Biochem. 101, 307-320.
- Scott, D.W., Mutamba, S., Hopkins, R.G. and Loo, G. (2005) Increased GADD Gene Expression in Human Colon Epithelial Cells Exposed to Deoxycholate. J. Cell. Physiol. 202, 295-303.
- Scott, D.W. and Loo, G. (2004) Curcumin-Induced GADD153 Gene Upregulation in Human Colon Cancer Cells. Carcinogenesis 25, 2155-2164.
- Pan, Y.-J., Hopkins, R.G., and Loo, G. (2004) Increased GADD153 Gene Expression During Iron Chelation-Induced Apoptosis in Jurkat T-Lymphocytes. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1691, 41-50.
- Takahashi, K. and Loo, G. (2004) Disruption of Mitochondria during Tocotrienol-Induced Apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 Human Breast Cancer Cells. Biochem. Pharmacol. 67, 315-324.
- Powolny, A., Takahashi, K., Hopkins, R.G., and Loo, G. (2003) Induction of GADD Gene Expression by Phenethylisothiocyanate in Human Colon Adenocarcinoma Cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 90, 1128-1139.
- Loo, G. (2003) Redox-sensitive mechanisms of phytochemical-mediated inhibition of cancer cell proliferation (Review). J. Nutr. Biochem. 14, 64-73.
- Kelly, M.R., Xu, J., Alexander, K.E., and Loo, G. (2001) Disparate effects of similar phenolic phytochemicals as inhibitors of oxidative damage to cellular DNA. Mutation Res. 485, 309-318.
- Xu, J. and Loo, G. (2001) Different effects of genistein on molecular markers related to apoptosis in phenotypically dissimilar breast cancer cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 82, 78-88.
- Kelly, M.R., Geigerman, C.M., and Loo, G. (2001) Epigallocatechin gallate protects U937 cells against nitric oxide-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. J. Cell. Biochem. 81, 647-658.
