Richard L. Hébert, B.A., B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine
Kidney Research Centre, Rm. 2514
Faculty of Medicine University of Ottawa
451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5
Tel.: (613) 562-5800 (8616)
FAX: (613) 562-5487
Email: rlhebert@uottawa.ca

The main focus of my research program is to elucidate the role of COX-1 and -2 and prostaglandins (PGE2, PGI2) signaling in Diabetic Nephropathy. To study the role of NSAIDs in kidney dysfunction. And finally to characterize by Molecular, Biochemical and Functional studies how the 5-lipoxygenase products (LTs namely LTB4, LTC4 and LTD4) signal in the kidney.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

Nasrallah, R., Zimpelmann, J., Singh, S., HEBERT, R.L. Molecular and Biochemical charac-terization of Prostacyclin (IP) receptors in the rat kidney. Am. J. Physiol. Vol. 280: F266 – F277, 2001.
Nasrallah, R., Laneuville, O., Ferguson, S., HEBERT, R.L. Effect of the COX-2 inhibitor, NS-398, on the expression of PGE 2 receptor subtypes in M-1 mouse cortical collecting duct cells. Am. J. Physiol. Vol. 281: F123 – F132, 2001.
Kleine, L., Liu, G., Leblanc, N., HEBERT, R.L. Bradykinin stimulates ceramide production by activating the specific BK-B 1 receptor in rat small artery. Am. J. Physiol. Vol. 282: H175 – H183, 2002.
Nasrallah, R., Nusing, R., HEBERT, R.L. Localization of IP receptors in the rabbit kidney and functional role of the PGI 2/IP system in rabbit cortical collecting duct. Am. J. Physiol. Vol. 283: F689 – F698, 2002.
Nasrallah,R.,Singh, S., Landry, A., Sklepowicz , M., HEBERT, R.L. Increased expression of cyclooxygenases 1 - 2 in the diabetic rat renal medulla. Am. J. Physiol. Vol. 285: F1068 - F1077, 2003.
Nasrallah, R. , HEBERT, R.L. Reduced IP receptors in streptozotonin-induced rats diabetic kidneys and high-glucose treated mesangial cells. Am. J. Physiol. Vol. 287: F673 – F681, 2004.
Nasrallah, R. , HEBERT, R.L. Prostacyclin signaling in the kidney: implications for health and disease. Am. J. Physiol. Vol. 289: F235 – F246, 2005.
HEBERT, R.L., Carmosino, M., Saito, O., Yang, G., Jackson, C., Qi, Z., Breyer, R.M., Natarajan, C., Zhang, Hata, A.N., Y., Guan, Y., Breyer, M.D. Characterization of the rabbit PGF 2α (FP) receptor exhibiting G i-restricted signaling and that inhibits water absorption in the collecting duct. J. Biol. Chem. Vol. 280 (41): pp. 35208 – 35037, 2005.
Nasrallah, R., Xiong, H., HEBERT, R.L. PGE 2 receptor (EP) expression profile is altered in B6-Ins2 Akita and streptozotocin-diabetic mouse kidney. Am. J. Physiol., Vol. 292: F278 – F284, 2007 .
Kennedy, C.R.J., Xiong, H., Rahal, S., Vanderluit, J., Slack, R., Zhang, Y., Guan, Y., Breyer, M.D., HEBERT, R.L. Urine concentrating defect in prostaglandin EP 1-Deficient mice. Am. J. Physiol., Vol. 292: F868 – F875, 2007.
Nasrallah, R., Clark, J., HEBERT, R.L. Prostaglandins in the kidney — Developments since Y2K. Clinical Science. Vol. 113 (7): pp. 297 - 311, 2007.
Nasrallah, R., Dougherty, M., Franks, D., Xiong, H., HEBERT, R.L. High glucose increases caspase-dependent apoptosis which is independent of PGE2 in rat inner medullary collecting duct cells. Recent Research Developments in Physiology. Vol. 4. pp. 27 – 44, 2007.
Cherney, D.Z.I., Miller, J.A., Scholey, J.W., Bradley, T.J., Slorach, C., Curtis, J.R., Dekker M.G., Nasrallah,R., HEBERT, R.L., Sochett, E.B. The effect of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition on renal hemo-dynamic function in humans with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Diabetes. Vol.57: pp.688 – 695, 2008.
Chen, J., Zhao, M., He, W., Milne, G.L., Howard, J.R.H., Morrow, J., HEBERT, R.L., Breyer, R.M., Hao C-M. Renal medullary PGE2 which is induced following a high salt diet increases sodium excretion via the EP2 Receptor. Am. J. Physiol., Vol. 295: F818 – F825, 2008.
Cherney, D.Z.I., Scholey, J.W., Nasrallah, R., Dekker, M.G., Slorach, C., Bradley, T.J., HEBERT, R.L., Sochett, E.B., Miller. J.A. The renal hemodynamic effect of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition in young men and women with uncomplicated type 1 diabetes mellitus. Am. J. Physiol., Vol. 294: F1336 – F1341, 2008.
Seedek, M., HEBERT, R.L., Kennedy, C.R., Burns, K.D., Touyz, R.M. Molecular mechanisms of hypertension – role of Nox-family NADPH oxidase. Current Opinion in Nephrology and Hypertension. Vol. 18 (2), pp. 122 – 127, 2009.
Nasrallah, R., Robertson, S., HEBERT, R.L. Chronic COX inhibition reduces diabetes induced hyperfiltration, proteinuria, and renal pathological markers in 36 week B6-Ins2Akita mice. Am. J. Nephrol. Vol. 30 (4), pp. 346 – 353, 2009.
Clark, J., Nasrallah, R., HEBERT, R.L. The role of PPARd ligand on growth and apoptosis in mice inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD-K2) cells. PPAR Research. Vol. 2009; 706283. March 4, 2009, doi:10.1155/2009/706283.
Miura, P., Chakkalakal, J.V., Boudreault, L., Bélanger, G., HEBERT, R.L., Renaud, J-M., Jasmin, B.J. Pharmacological activation of PPARβ/δ stimulates utrophin A expression in skeletal muscle and restores sarcolemmal integrity in mature mdx mice. Hum. Mol. Gen. Vol. 18, pp. 4640 – 4649, 2009.
Nasrallah, R., Clark, J., Corinaldi, J., Paris, G., Miura, P., Jasmin, B.J., HEBERT, R.L. Thizaolidinediones alter growth and epithelial cell integrity, independent of PPAR and MAPK acti-vation in mouse M1 Cortical Collecting Duct Cells. Am. J. Physiol., Vol. 298: F1105 – F1112, 2010.
Cherney, D.Z.I., Miller, J.A., Scholey, J.W., Nasrallah, R., HEBERT, R.L., Dekker, M.G., Slorach, C., Sochett, E.B., Bradley, T.J. Renal hyperfiltration is a determinant of endothelial function responses to cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition in type 1 diabetes. Diabetes Care, Vol. 33: pp. 1344 – 1346, 2010.
Sedeek, M., Callera, G., Montezano, A., Gutsol, A., Heitz, F., Szyndralewiez, C., Page, P., Kennedy, C., Burns, K.D., Touyz, R.M., HEBERT, R.L. Critical role of Nox4-based NADPH oxidase in glucose-induced oxidative stress in the kidney – implications in type 2 diabetic nephropathy. Am. J. Physiol., (July 14, 2010. doi:10.1152/ajprenal.00028.2010).