Jose F Abisambra

Jose F Abisambra,

Associate Professor Of Neuroscience And CTRND, Deputy Director BRAIN Center, Assistant Dean For Health Care Excellence, Community And Belonging

Department: Department of Neuroscience
Business Email: j.abisambra@ufl.edu

About Jose F Abisambra

Dr. Abisambra is an Associate Professor of Neuroscience and Assistant Dean of Diversity & Health Equity at the University of Florida College of Medicine. He received his PhD in Medical Sciences/Molecular Medicine in 2010 from the University of South Florida and went on to complete a Postdoctoral Fellowship (2010-2012) at his alma mater. The overarching goal of his research program is to investigate the molecular mechanisms linking tau and ER dysfunction with neurodegeneration. This focus creates an opportunity to investigate the integration of essential cellular functions for development, aging, and disease by targeting one organelle. Ultimately, this work can aid in the identification of therapeutic targets for more than 30 million people currently suffering from tauopathies worldwide.

Teaching Profile

Courses Taught
2019-2024
GMS6757 Introduction to Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias: Clinical and Mechanistic Principles
2019-2024
GMS7794 Neuroscience Seminar
2019
GMS6705 Functional Human Neuroanatomy
2022
GMS7979 Advanced Research

Research Profile

Dr. Abisambra’s research pertains to investigating fundamental biological processes critical to neuronal function that converge with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) proteins. His lab’s currently supported projects focus on the impact of the Unfolded Protein Response on neurodegenerative processes in Alzheimer’s and related proteinopathies. His work explores protein synthesis (Meier et al., 2016), trafficking (mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, plasma membrane, etc.) (Jinwal et al., 2010), folding (Abisambra et al., 2012; Abisambra et al., 2013a), and clearance (proteasome and autophagy) (Abisambra et al., 2013b) as fundamental processes during brain development, aging, and stress. He further investigates the impact of the ER on calcium homeostasis and lipid/carbohydrate metabolism (Abisambra et al., 2010) in the context of whole neuronal function. Alterations to these processes are linked to the pathogenesis of 25 known neurodegenerative disorders that share a common pathological hallmark: intracellular aggregation of tau. These tauopathies include Alzheimer’s disease (AD), chronic traumatic encephalopathy/traumatic brain injury (CTE/TBI; reviewed in (Abisambra and Scheff, 2014), and fronto-temporal degeneration with tau inclusions (FTD-tau).

Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID)

0000-0001-6341-679X

Publications

2024
Age dictates brain functional connectivity and axonal integrity following repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries.
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology. [DOI] 10.1101/2024.01.25.577316. [PMID] 38328104.
2024
Targeted brain-specific tauopathy compromises peripheral skeletal muscle integrity and function
Aging Brain. 5 [DOI] 10.1016/j.nbas.2024.100110. [PMID] 38419621.
2023
Big tau aggregation disrupts microtubule tyrosination and causes myocardial diastolic dysfunction: from discovery to therapy
European Heart Journal. 44(17):1560-1570 [DOI] 10.1093/eurheartj/ehad205. [PMID] 37122097.
2023
Fixed Time-Point Analysis Reveals Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Effects on Resting State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Connectivity and Neuro-Spatial Protein Profiles.
Journal of neurotrauma. 40(19-20):2037-2049 [DOI] 10.1089/neu.2022.0464. [PMID] 37051703.
2023
Paired associates learning is disrupted after unilateral parietal lobe controlled cortical impact in rats: A trial-by-trial behavioral analysis.
Behavioural brain research. 437 [DOI] 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.114106. [PMID] 36089100.
2023
Spatial Metabolome Lipidome and Glycome from a Single brain Section.
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology. [DOI] 10.1101/2023.07.22.550155. [PMID] 37546843.
2023
Targeted brain-specific tauopathy compromises peripheral skeletal muscle integrity and function.
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology. [DOI] 10.1101/2023.11.17.567586. [PMID] 38014109.
2022
Association between single moderate to severe traumatic brain injury and long-term tauopathy in humans and preclinical animal models: a systematic narrative review of the literature
Acta Neuropathologica Communications. 10(1) [DOI] 10.1186/s40478-022-01311-0. [PMID] 35101132.
2021
Broad Kinase Inhibition Mitigates Early Neuronal Dysfunction in Tauopathy
International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 22(3) [DOI] 10.3390/ijms22031186. [PMID] 33530349.
2021
Chronic PERK induction promotes Alzheimer-like neuropathology in Down syndrome: Insights for therapeutic intervention.
Progress in neurobiology. 196 [DOI] 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2020.101892. [PMID] 32795489.
2021
Effects of altered tau expression on dentate granule cell excitability in mice.
Experimental neurology. 343 [DOI] 10.1016/j.expneurol.2021.113766. [PMID] 34029610.
2021
Interaction of tau with HNRNPA2B1 and N6-methyladenosine RNA mediates the progression of tauopathy.
Molecular cell. 81(20):4209-4227.e12 [DOI] 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.07.038. [PMID] 34453888.
2021
Pro-inflammatory interleukin-6 signaling links cognitive impairments and peripheral metabolic alterations in Alzheimer’s disease.
Translational psychiatry. 11(1) [DOI] 10.1038/s41398-021-01349-z. [PMID] 33911072.
2021
Q134R: Small chemical compound with NFAT inhibitory properties improves behavioral performance and synapse function in mouse models of amyloid pathology
Aging Cell. 20(7) [DOI] 10.1111/acel.13416. [PMID] 34117818.
2020
Tau-mediated dysregulation of RNA: Evidence for a common molecular mechanism of toxicity in frontotemporal dementia and other tauopathies.
Neurobiology of disease. 141 [DOI] 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.104939. [PMID] 32413399.
2020
The effects of mild closed head injuries on tauopathy and cognitive deficits in rodents: Primary results in wild type and rTg4510 mice, and a systematic review.
Experimental neurology. 326 [DOI] 10.1016/j.expneurol.2020.113180. [PMID] 31930992.
2019
Exercise-linked FNDC5/irisin rescues synaptic plasticity and memory defects in Alzheimer’s models
Nature Medicine. 25(1):165-175 [DOI] 10.1038/s41591-018-0275-4. [PMID] 30617325.
2019
Proteomic Techniques to Examine Neuronal Translational Dynamics
International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 20(14) [DOI] 10.3390/ijms20143524. [PMID] 31323794.
2019
Tau drives translational selectivity by interacting with ribosomal proteins
Acta Neuropathologica. 137(4):571-583 [DOI] 10.1007/s00401-019-01970-9. [PMID] 30759285.
2018
Early and Selective Activation and Subsequent Alterations to the Unfolded Protein Response in Down Syndrome Mouse Models.
Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD. 62(1):347-359 [DOI] 10.3233/JAD-170617. [PMID] 29439332.
2018
Male-specific epistasis between WWC1 and TLN2 genes is associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
Neurobiology of aging. 72:188.e3-188.e12 [DOI] 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2018.08.001. [PMID] 30201328.
2018
Manganese-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Overview and Central Nervous System Applications With a Focus on Neurodegeneration.
Frontiers in aging neuroscience. 10 [DOI] 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00403. [PMID] 30618710.
2018
Non-invasive detection of adeno-associated viral gene transfer using a genetically encoded CEST-MRI reporter gene in the murine heart.
Scientific reports. 8(1) [DOI] 10.1038/s41598-018-22993-4. [PMID] 29545551.
2018
RNA binding proteins co-localize with small tau inclusions in tauopathy.
Acta neuropathologica communications. 6(1) [DOI] 10.1186/s40478-018-0574-5. [PMID] 30068389.
2017
A new opportunity for MEMRI.
Aging. 9(8):1855-1856 [DOI] 10.18632/aging.101283. [PMID] 28854148.
2017
Cerebral Microvascular Accumulation of Tau Oligomers in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Tauopathies.
Aging and disease. 8(3):257-266 [DOI] 10.14336/AD.2017.0112. [PMID] 28580182.
2017
Identification of changes in neuronal function as a consequence of aging and tauopathic neurodegeneration using a novel and sensitive magnetic resonance imaging approach.
Neurobiology of aging. 56:78-86 [DOI] 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2017.04.007. [PMID] 28500878.
2016
Interaction of tau with the RNA-Binding Protein TIA1 Regulates tau Pathophysiology and Toxicity.
Cell reports. 15(7):1455-1466 [DOI] 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.04.045. [PMID] 27160897.
2016
MW151 Inhibited IL-1β Levels after Traumatic Brain Injury with No Effect on Microglia Physiological Responses.
PloS one. 11(2) [DOI] 10.1371/journal.pone.0149451. [PMID] 26871438.
2016
Pathological Tau Promotes Neuronal Damage by Impairing Ribosomal Function and Decreasing Protein Synthesis
The Journal of Neuroscience. 36(3):1001-1007 [DOI] 10.1523/jneurosci.3029-15.2016.
2016
Pathological Tau Promotes Neuronal Damage by Impairing Ribosomal Function and Decreasing Protein Synthesis
The Journal of Neuroscience. 36(3):1001-1007 [DOI] 10.1523/jneurosci.3029-15.2016.
2016
PERK-opathies: An Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Mechanism Underlying Neurodegeneration.
Current Alzheimer research. 13(2):150-63 [PMID] 26679859.
2015
Identification of Novel Tau Interactions with Endoplasmic Reticulum Proteins in Alzheimer’s Disease Brain.
Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD. 48(3):687-702 [DOI] 10.3233/JAD-150298. [PMID] 26402096.
2014
Brain injury in the context of tauopathies.
Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD. 40(3):495-518 [DOI] 10.3233/JAD-131019. [PMID] 24496078.
2014
Primary age-related tauopathy (PART): a common pathology associated with human aging.
Acta neuropathologica. 128(6):755-66 [DOI] 10.1007/s00401-014-1349-0. [PMID] 25348064.
2013
Allosteric heat shock protein 70 inhibitors rapidly rescue synaptic plasticity deficits by reducing aberrant tau.
Biological psychiatry. 74(5):367-74 [DOI] 10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.02.027. [PMID] 23607970.
2013
Imbalance of Hsp70 family variants fosters tau accumulation.
FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 27(4):1450-9 [DOI] 10.1096/fj.12-220889. [PMID] 23271055.
2013
Tau accumulation activates the unfolded protein response by impairing endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation.
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience. 33(22):9498-507 [DOI] 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5397-12.2013. [PMID] 23719816.
2012
Cdc37/Hsp90 protein complex disruption triggers an autophagic clearance cascade for TDP-43 protein.
The Journal of biological chemistry. 287(29):24814-20 [DOI] 10.1074/jbc.M112.367268. [PMID] 22674575.
2012
DnaJA1 antagonizes constitutive Hsp70-mediated stabilization of tau.
Journal of molecular biology. 421(4-5):653-61 [DOI] 10.1016/j.jmb.2012.02.003. [PMID] 22343013.
2012
Glucose-regulated protein 94 triage of mutant myocilin through endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation subverts a more efficient autophagic clearance mechanism.
The Journal of biological chemistry. 287(48):40661-9 [DOI] 10.1074/jbc.M112.384800. [PMID] 23035116.
2011
ApoER2 function in the establishment and maintenance of retinal synaptic connectivity.
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience. 31(40):14413-23 [DOI] 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3135-11.2011. [PMID] 21976526.
2011
Exploiting the diversity of the heat-shock protein family for primary and secondary tauopathy therapeutics.
Current neuropharmacology. 9(4):623-31 [DOI] 10.2174/157015911798376226. [PMID] 22654720.
2011
The diarylheptanoid (+)-aR,11S-myricanol and two flavones from bayberry (Myrica cerifera) destabilize the microtubule-associated protein tau.
Journal of natural products. 74(1):38-44 [DOI] 10.1021/np100572z. [PMID] 21141876.
2011
The Hsp90 kinase co-chaperone Cdc37 regulates tau stability and phosphorylation dynamics.
The Journal of biological chemistry. 286(19):16976-83 [DOI] 10.1074/jbc.M110.182493. [PMID] 21367866.
2010
Facilitating Akt clearance via manipulation of Hsp70 activity and levels.
The Journal of biological chemistry. 285(4):2498-505 [DOI] 10.1074/jbc.M109.057208. [PMID] 19889640.
2010
Hsc70 rapidly engages tau after microtubule destabilization.
The Journal of biological chemistry. 285(22):16798-805 [DOI] 10.1074/jbc.M110.113753. [PMID] 20308058.
2010
Hsp70 ATPase Modulators as Therapeutics for Alzheimer’s and other Neurodegenerative Diseases.
Molecular and cellular pharmacology. 2(2):43-46 [PMID] 20523917.
2010
LDLR expression and localization are altered in mouse and human cell culture models of Alzheimer’s disease.
PloS one. 5(1) [DOI] 10.1371/journal.pone.0008556. [PMID] 20049331.
2010
Phenothiazine-mediated rescue of cognition in tau transgenic mice requires neuroprotection and reduced soluble tau burden.
Molecular neurodegeneration. 5 [DOI] 10.1186/1750-1326-5-45. [PMID] 21040568.
2010
Phosphorylation dynamics regulate Hsp27-mediated rescue of neuronal plasticity deficits in tau transgenic mice.
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience. 30(46):15374-82 [DOI] 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3155-10.2010. [PMID] 21084594.
2010
The Hsp90 cochaperone, FKBP51, increases Tau stability and polymerizes microtubules.
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience. 30(2):591-9 [DOI] 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4815-09.2010. [PMID] 20071522.
Broad kinase inhibition mitigates early neuronal dysfunction and cognitive deficits in tauopathy
. [DOI] 10.1101/2020.07.31.229583.

Grants

Sep 2023 ACTIVE
Building a system of resource facilitation for all Floridians with brain injury
Role: Other
Funding: ADMIN FOR COMMUNITY LIVING
Sep 2022 ACTIVE
Networking and Expanding Undergraduate Research on the Neurobiology of Aging to Advance Diversity
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NIA
Feb 2022 ACTIVE
Contributions of tau-mediated translational dysregulation to pathogenesis and progression of fronto-temporal dementia
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NIA
Dec 2021 ACTIVE
Establishing the role of PERK activation on the progression of tauopathy
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: ALZHEIMERS ASSO
Sep 2021 ACTIVE
The molecular intersection of tau, TBI, and PERK
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NIA
Sep 2021 ACTIVE
Developing new conditional models to study tauopathy, amyloidosis, and their interaction
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NINDS
Jul 2021 ACTIVE
Tau-ribosome interactions are a fundamental pathogenic event in Alzheimers disease and related tauopathies
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: COINS FOR ALZHEIMERS RESEARCH TRUST
Jul 2021 – Jun 2023
Seven tesla preclinical MRI/S scanner for structural, functional and molecular imaging
Role: Other
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH OD
Sep 2020 – Aug 2023
Twisting tau aggregates by proline isomerization
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: BRIGHTFOCUS FOU
Sep 2019 – Aug 2021
Developing new conditional models to study tauopathy, amyloidosis, and their interaction
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NINDS
Sep 2019 – Aug 2021
Tau-mediated regulation of ribosomes in health and disease
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NINDS
Aug 2019 – Jul 2021
Exosomes from Adipose-derived Stem Cells Modulate Age-dependent Progression of Tauopathies
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: UNIV OF SOUTH FLORIDA via NATL INST OF HLTH NIA
Sep 2018 – Sep 2019
The impact of PERK on Post-traumatic Tauopathy in Alzheimers Disease
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: UNIV OF KENTUCKY via US ARMY MED RES ACQUISITION
Sep 2018 – Jun 2021
PERK as a Central Mediator of Neurotoxicity in Tauopathies
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NINDS
Jul 2018 – May 2021
Elucidating the pathological consequences of tau-ribosome interactions
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NINDS
Jul 2018 – Jun 2019
Myocardial Tauopathy: A New Pathogenesis and Treatment for Heart Disease
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: MEDICAL UNIV OF SOUTH CAROLINA via AMER HEART ASSOCIATION
Dec 2016 ACTIVE
UF PASS: Regulation of exercise transducers
Role: Project Manager
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NIA
Aug 2015 – Jul 2020
Molecular clock and skeletal muscle weakness
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NIAMS

Contact Details

Emails:
Finance & Administrative Specialist:
Addresses:
Business Mailing:
PO Box 100244
GAINESVILLE FL 32610