Possible Rotation Projects:
- Impact of sensory nerve ablation of tumor draining lymph node on immunity and tumor growth
- Role of neuronal PDL1 on cancer or cancer pain
- Targeting NRP1 as a novel therapeutic for pain management
Catecholamine signaling in pancreas cells
Training Technologies Used:
- Neural tracing
- Anatomy
- Animal behavior
- 0ptogenetics/chemogenetics
- Behavior
- Flow cytometry
- Immunohistochemistry
- Tissue clearing
- RNAseq
- In situ hybridization
- Cell culture
- Multiplex ELISA
- Calcium fluorometry
- Patient-reported outcomes/clinical data
- Boston University, BA, 2006
- University of Maryland, Baltimore, PhD, 2012
Ablation of sensory neurons in a genetic model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma slows initiation and progression of tumorigenesis. PNAS. 2016 Mar 15; 113(11): 3078-3083. PMID: 26929329. PMCID: PMC4801275.
Saloman JL*, Singhi AD, Hartman DJ, Normolle DP, Albers KM, Davis BM. Systemic depletion of nerve growth factor inhibits disease progression in a genetically engineered model of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Pancreas 2018 Aug; 47(7):856-863. PMID: 29975347. PMCID: PMC6044729.
§Meerschaert KA, Edwards BS, Epouhe AY, Jefferson B, Friedman R, Babyok OL, Moy JK, Kehinde F, Liu C, Workman CJ, Vignali DAA, Albers KM, Koerber HR, Gold MS, Davis BM, Scheff NN, Saloman JL*. Neuronally expressed PDL1, but not PD1, suppresses acute nociception. Brain Behavior & Immunity. 2022 Sep 8;106:233-246. PMID: 6089217. PMCID: PMC10343937.
Saloman JL*, Conwell DL, Fogel E, Vege SS, Liang L, Shuang L, Andersen DK, Fisher WE, Forsmark CE, Hart PA, Pandol SJ, Park WG, Phillips AE, Topazian M, Van Den Eeden SK, Serrano J, Yadav D, on behalf of the Consortium for the Study of Chronic Pancreatitis, Diabetes and Pancreatic Cancer. Characterizing mechanism-based pain phenotypes in patients with chronic pancreatitis: a cross-sectional analysis of the PROCEED study. Pain. 2023 Feb 1;164(2):375-384. PMID: 36149018. PMCID: PMC9726990.
Saloman JL*, Li Y, Stello K, Li W, Li S, Phillips AE, Hall K, Fogel EL, Vege SS, Liang L, Andersen DK, Fisher WE, Forsmark CE, Hart PA, Pandol SJ, Park WG, Topazian M, Van Den Eeden SK, Serrano J, Yadav D, on behalf of the Consortium for the Study of Chronic Pancreatitis, Diabetes and Pancreatic Cancer. Serum Biomarkers of Nociceptive and Neuropathic Pain in Chronic Pancreatitis. J Pain. 2023 Dec;24(12):2199-2210. PMID: 37451493. PMCID: PMC10787046.
Xiao S, Allen HN, Babyok OL, Loya-López S, Fulton SA, Nelson TS, Khanna R, Saloman JL*. Neuropilin-1 in CGRP Afferents Is Required for VEGFA-Driven Pain and Baseline Nociceptive Sensitivity. Under review bioRxiv https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.05.06.723195
The Saloman lab utilizes a bidirectional approach shifting between cell/animal models and human studies to investigate the role of the nervous system in organ function during homeostasis and disease. We are particularly interested in the how peripheral and central components of the nervous system communicate with the pancreas. We have several projects focused on understanding how the sensory and autonomic arms control tumorigenesis, immune responses, and pain. Additionally, we have recognized that many canonical neurotransmitters and their receptors are expressed on pancreas cells. We are beginning to investigate how pancreas cells utilize these signaling pathways normally and under disease conditions.
In an effort to curb pancreas cancer pain, one of the most painful cancers, we ablated sensory nerves. However, we discovered that this denervation actually slowed the tumor development in a genetically engineered mouse model. Thus, the lab has a project focused on understanding the underlying mechanisms. We have observed significant shifts in the immune response associated with loss of sensory nerves. We currently have several anatomical and transcriptome studies on going to characterize changes in the innervation of both the tumor and the associated lymph node across the course of disease development which will lead to novel hypotheses for future testing. One of the primary observations we have made, thus far, is that peripheral neurons (sensory and sympathetic) express membrane-bound proteins that are known to function as immune checkpoints such as PDL1 and NRP1. We are currently investigating how the neuronally expressed checkpoints mediate pain, tumor growth, and anti-tumor immunity.
Pancreatitis is an extremely painful disease without any curative interventions and it can present in an acute, recurrent, or chronic form. Our lab is combining data from animal models and human studies that involve clinical data, biospecimens, behavior profiling, and biological specimens to identify and validate diagnostic, predictive, and therapeutic biomarkers. In multiple phase 1 biomarker studies, we have identified MMP9 as a leading target to distinguish recurrent and chronic pancreatitis. In a series of studies, we identified gp130 as a potential therapeutic target for chronic pain and are currently testing this in animal models. Additionally, many pain conditions present with robust sex-dependent phenotypes. We are currently investigating sex in the context of pancreatitis pain mechanisms.
