Dan R. Halm, Ph.D.

Department:
NeuroScience Cell Bio Physio-COSM
Title:
Associate Professor, Neuroscience Cell Biology, & Physiology
Address:
Biological Sciences Bldg II 149, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy, Dayton, OH 45435-0001

Education History

Ph.D., University of Iowa, 1981

Research Statement

Epithelial Physiology

Current research interests in my lab focus on the response of intestinal epithelial cells to stimulation from neural and hormonal stimuli [4]. Epithelial tissues form the barrier between the body interior and the external environment; and during digestion, intestinal epithelial cells secrete fluid to promote luminal enzyme action and motility, followed by reabsorption of this fluid to limit water loss from the body. Cells making up the epithelium produce fluid by secreting ions, such as Cl-, K+ and H+, into the lumen [15]. Macromolecular secretions amend the composition of this fluid by adding digestive enzymes, mucus, immunoglobulins and other molecules that support the health of the digestive tract [13]. Ion secretory mechanisms involve the action of specific ion transport proteins, such as Na+/K+-ATPase, Na+/K+/2Cl--cotransporter, K+ channels, and Cl- channels, which guide flow from the interstitium into the lumen.  Regulation of these transport proteins allows for an orderly production of fluid as circumstances change during the day.

Measurement of ion flow is a central activity in the lab, including patch-clamp recording of currents in epithelial cells as well as transepithelial currents. Biochemical assays complement these physiologic measurements by allowing detection of ion channel expression with RT-PCR, immunoblot and immunohistologic methods as well as quantifying changes in signaling molecules of specific regulatory pathways. In addition, imaging of epithelial structures permits visualization of morphological changes occurring during secretion, with incorporation of fluorescent dyes permitting detection of cellular ion composition (pH, Ca++, Cl-) during the time course of secretory activation. Together these techniques contribute to understanding the normal and pathophysiologic operation of epithelia.

Regulation of ion channels is key to controlling the rate of secretion, and physiologic signals lead both to activation and inhibition. Recent results indicate that sympathetic input activates sustained K+ secretion via b1 and b2-adrenergic receptors on the epithelial cells in addition to a transient Cl- secretory event [45]. Divergent intracellular signaling via cAMP production allows these cells to differentially promote the two ion secretory events [3]. Most dramatically, the release of neuropeptide-Y (NPY) by sympathetic nerves leads to a severe blunting of the Cl- secretory component without altering the rate of sustained K+ secretion. Enteroendocrine cells release a related peptide, PYY, such that inhibition of Cl- secretion can be initiated through two distinct pathways. Both NPY and PYY act via the Y2-neuropeptide receptor present on epithelial cells, apparently by suppressing cAMP levels. The cAMP signaling producing the transient and sustained components of the b-adrenergic response is effectively compartmentalized by trafficking of receptor complexes in a manner promoting each secretory action.

Regulatory isolation allows the epithelial cells to activate groups of ion channels supporting each of the b-adrenergic secretory components. The transient Cl- secretion requires apical membrane Cl- channels and basolateral membrane K+ channels, whereas sustained K+ secretion operates via apical membrane K+ channels [1] and basolateral membrane Cl- channels [281011]. Other secretagogs produce higher and more sustained rates of Cl- secretion, with each secretagog using different types of K+ channels to support the secretory events [16712]. Clinically, inappropriate regulation of secretion hinders digestion by either restricted or excessive flow. Whereas restricted flow contributes to cystic fibrosis symptoms, excessive fluid secretion contributes toinflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome. A greater understanding of secretory regulation will lead to better therapeutic solutions to these and other gastrointestional disorders.

Publications

Halm ST, Bottomley M, Almutairi MM, Di Fulvio M, Halm DR.  Survival and growth of C57BL/6J mice lacking the BK channel, Kcnma1:lower adult body weight occurs together with higher body fat.  Physiol Reports 5(4):e13137, 2017.  http://physreports.physiology.org/content/physreports/5/4/e13137.full.pdf

Halm DR.  Physiologic influences of transepithelial K+ secretion.  Ion Channels and Transporters of Epithelia in Health and Disease.  Hamilton KL, Devor DC, Harvey BJ, eds.  Springer:  New York, 2016.  https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/bfm%3A978-1-4939-3366-2%2F1.pdf

Zhang J, Halm ST, Halm DR.  Role of the BK channel (KCa1.1) during activation of electrogenic K+ secretion in guinea pig distal colon.  Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 303:G1322-G1334, 2012.  http://ajpgi.physiology.org/content/ajpgi/303/12/G1322.full.pdf 

He Q, Halm ST, Zhang J, Halm DR. Activation of the basolateral membrane Cl- conductance essential for electrogenic K+ secretion suppresses electrogenic Cl- secretion. Exp Physiol 96:305-316, 2011.http://ep.physoc.org/content/96/3/305.full.pdf+html

Halm ST, Zhang J, Halm DR. b-adrenergic activation of K+ and Cl- secretion in guinea pig distal colonic epithelium proceeds via separate cAMP signaling pathways. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 299:G81-G95, 2010. http://ajpgi.physiology.org/cgi/reprint/299/1/G81

Zhang J, Halm ST, Halm DR. Adrenergic activation of electrogenic K+ secretion in guinea pig distal colonic epithelium: desensitization via the Y2-neuropeptide receptor. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 297:G278-G291, 2009.  http://ajpgi.physiology.org/cgi/reprint/297/2/G278

Zhang J, Halm ST, Halm DR.  Adrenergic activation of K+ secretion in guinea pig distal colonic epithelium: involvement of b1 and b2 adrenergic receptors. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 297:G269-G277, 2009. http://ajpgi.physiology.org/cgi/reprint/297/2/G269

Halm ST, Liao T, Halm DR. Distinct K+ conductive pathways are required for Cl- and K+ secretion across distal colonic epithelium. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 291:C636-C648, 2006.http://ajpcell.physiology.org/cgi/reprint/291/4/C636

Liao T, Wang L, Halm ST, Lu L, Fyffe REW, Halm DR. The K+ channel KVLQT (Kcnq1) located in the basolateral membrane of distal colonic epithelium is not essential for activating Cl- secretion. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 289:C564-C575, 2005. http://ajpcell.physiology.org/cgi/reprint/289/3/C564

Halm DR. Secretory control of basolateral membrane potassium and chloride channels in colonic crypt cells.Cell Volume and Signaling, edited by Lauf PK, Adragna NC. New York: Springer, 2004, p. 119-129.http://ebooks.ohiolink.edu/xtf-ebc/view?docId=tei/sv/0387237526/0387237526.xml;chunk.id=ch11;toc.depth=1;toc.id=part3;brand=default

Michail SK, Halm DR, Abernathy F. Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli: Stimulating neutrophil migration across a cultured intestinal epithelium without altering transepithelial conductance. J Ped Gastroenterol Nutr 36:253-260, 2003. http://journals.lww.com/jpgn/pages/articleviewer.aspx?year=2003&issue=02000&article=00018&type=abstract

Li Y, Halm ST, Halm DR. Secretory activation of basolateral membrane Cl- channels in guinea pig distal colonic crypts. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 284:C918-C933, 2003.http://ajpcell.physiology.org/cgi/reprint/284/4/C918

Li Y, Halm DR. Secretory modulation of basolateral membrane inwardly rectified K+ channel in guinea pig distal colonic crypts. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 282:C719-C735, 2002.http://ajpcell.physiology.org/cgi/reprint/282/4/C719

Halm DR, Halm ST. Prostanoids stimulate K+ secretion and Cl- secretion in guinea pig distal colon via distinct pathways. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 281:G984-G996, 2001.http://ajpgi.physiology.org/cgi/reprint/281/4/G984

Halm DR, Halm ST. Secretagogue response of goblet cells and columnar cells in human colonic crypts. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 277:C501-C522, 1999 (Corrigenda 278:C212-C233, 2000).http://ajpcell.physiology.org/cgi/reprint/278/1/C212

Halm DR. Identifying swelling-activated channels from ion selectivity patterns. J Gen Physiol 112:369-371, 1998. http://jgp.rupress.org/cgi/content/full/112/3/369

Rechkemmer G, Frizzell RA, Halm DR. Active K+ transport across guinea pig distal colon: action of secretagogues. J Physiol 493:485-502, 1996. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/picrender.fcgi?artid=1158932&blobtype=pdf

Halm DR, Halm ST. Aldosterone stimulates K+ secretion prior to onset of Na+ absorption in guinea pig distal colon. Am. J. Physiol., Cell Physiol. 266:C552-C558, 1994. http://ajpcell.physiology.org/cgi/reprint/266/2/C552

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