Thomas H. Fischer, PhD: Associate Professor  
 

Thomas H. Fischer, PhD

Associate Professor
 
Office: 919-966-3274
E-mail: thomas_fischer@med.unc.edu
 
 
 
 
Research Interests
 

Atherogenesis — Intracellular signaling events that underlie atherosclerotic plaque development and the development of gene therapies for reducing smooth muscle proliferation and migration.

Platelets for amplification of coagulation — Basic mechanisms of signaling in platelets for increased understanding of the coordinated in vivo functions that underlie hemostasis.

For more information, please check out the Francis Owen Blood Research Center.

 
Selected Publications
 
Fischer, T., Merricks, E., Bellinger, D., Hayes, P. Smith, R., Raymer, R., Read, M., Nichols, T. and Bode, A. (2001) Splenic clearance mechanisms of rehydrated, lyophilized platelets. Art. Cell. Blood Subs. Imm. Biotech. 29, 439-451.

Nichols, T., Fischer, T., Beliagyris, E and Baldwin, A. (2001) Role of NF-kB in Inflammation, Periodontitis and Atherogenesis. Endodonics 6, 20-20.

Fischer, T., Merricks, E., Russell, K., Raymer, R., White, G., Bode, A., Nichols, T. and Read, M. (2000) Intracellular Signalling in Rehydrated, Lyophilized Platelets. Brit. J. Haem. 111, 167-175.

Smith CJ, Fischer TH, Heavner DL, Rumple MM, Bowman DL, Brown BG, Morton MJ, Doolittle DJ. (2000) Urinary thromboxane, prostacyclin, cortisol and 8-hydroxy-2’ deoxyguanosine in nonsmokers exposed and not exposed to environmental tobacco smoke. Toxicological Sciences 59, 316-323.

Cline, M., Dungworth, D., Fischer, T., Gardner, D., Pryor, W., Slaga, T., and Wagner, B. (2000) A Safer cigarette? A Comparative Study. A Consensus Report. Inhalation Toxicology 12, 1-58.

Herzog, R., Arruda, V., Fischer, T., Read, M., Nichols, T. and High, K. (2000) Absence of circulating factor IX antigen in hemophilia B dogs of the UNC-Chapel Hill Colony. Thrombosis and Hemostasis 84, 352-354.

Smith, C., Fischer, T. and Sears, S. (2000) Environmental Tobacco Smoke, Cardiovascular Disease and the Nonlinear Dose-Response Hypothesis. Toxicological Sciences 54, 462-472.

Smith, C., Steichen, T. and Fischer, T. (1998) Platelet aggregation in cigarette smokers: A meta-analysis. Inhalation Toxicology 10, 765-793.

White, G., Duffy, C. and Fischer, T. (1998) Rap1B and Glycoproteins IIb - IIIa are not Associated in Resting Platelets. Thrombosis and Haemostasis 79, 832-836.

Smith, C., Fischer, T., Morgan, W., McKarns, S., Rupport, T., Scherer, G. and Doolittle, D. (1998) Urinary Thromboxane and Prostacyclin are not Altered in Nonsmokers Living with Smokers. Inhalation Toxicology 10, 431-441.

Peterson, S., Trabalzini, L., Bartva, T., Fischer, T., Altschuler, D., Der, C., Lapetina, E. and White, G. (1996) Identification of a Novel RalGDS-Related Protein as a Candidate Effector for Ras and Rap 1. J. Biol. Chem. 271, 29,903-29,908.

Banes, A., Tsuzaki, M., Hu, P., Brigman, B., Brown, T., Almekinders, L., Lawrence, W. and Fischer, T. (1995) PDGF-BB, IGF-1 and Mechanical Load Stimulate DNA Synthesis in Avian Tendon Fibroblasts In Vitro. J. Biomechanics. 27,599-27,605.

Banes, A., Tsuzaki, M., Yamamoto, J., Fischer, T., Brigman, B., Brown, T. and Miller, L. (1995) Mechanoreception at the Cellular Level: The Detection, Interpretation, and Diversity of Responses to Mechanical Signals. Biochemistry and Cell Biol. 73, 349-365.

Fischer, T., Gatling, M., McCormick, F., Duffy, C. and White, G. (1994) Incorporation of Rap 1b into the Platelet Cytoskeleton is Dependent on Thrombin Activation and Extracellular Calcium. J. Biol. Chem. 296, 17,257-17,261.

Fischer, T., Collins, J., Gatling, M. and White, G. (1991) The Localization of the cAMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Phosphorylation Site in the Platelet Ras Protein, Rap 1B. FEBS Lett. 283, 173-176.

Fischer, T., Barton, D., Gatling, M., Lacal, J. and White, G. (1990) Rap 1B, a Low Molecular Weight GTP-Binding Protein and cAMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Substrate, Associates with the Platelet Cytoskeleton. J. Biol. Chem. 265, 19,405-19,408.

Fischer, T. and White, G.C. (1990) The Development of a High Order Taylor Expansion Solution to the Chemical Rate Equation for the Simulation of Complex Biochemical Systems. Computer Applications in the Biol. Sci. 6, 173-177.

White, T., Lacal, J., Reep, B., Fischer, T., Lapetina, E., and White, G. (1990) Thrombolamban, the 22 Kilodalton Platelet Substrate of cAMP-Dependent Protein Kinase, is Immunologically Homologous with the Ras Family of GTP-Binding Proteins. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 87, 758-762.

Fischer, T., Griffin, A., Barton, D. and White, G. (1990) Kinetic Evidence that Arachidonate Induced Calcium Efflux from Platelet Microsomes Involves a Carrier-Type Ionophoric Mechanism. Biochim. Biopphys. Acta 1022, 215-228.

White, G, Barton, D., White, E., and Fischer, T. (1989) Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Does Not Increase Calcium Transport in Platelet Microsomes. Thrombosis Res. 56, 575-581.

Fischer, T., Barton, D., Krause, K., White, T., Campbell, K., and White, G.C. (1989) The Identification of Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Terminal Cisternae Proteins in Platelets. Biochemical J. 263, 605-608.

Fischer, T. and White, G. (1989) cAMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Substrates in Platelets- Evidence that Thrombolamban, a 22,000 Dalton Substrate, and the Ca++-ATPase are not Associated Proteins. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 159, 644-650.

Fischer, T., and White, G. (1987) Partial Purification and Characterization of Thrombolamban, A 22,000 Dalton cAMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Substrate in Platelets. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 149, 700-706.

Fischer, T., Campbell, K. and White, G. (1987) An Investigation of Functional Similarities Between the Sarcoplasmic Reticulum and Platelet Calcium-ATPases with the Inhibitors Quercetin and Calmidozolium. Biochemistry 26, 8024-8030.

Fischer, T., Campbell, K. and White, G. (1985) Evidence that Platelet and Skeletal Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium-ATPases are Structurally Distinct. J. Biol. Chem. 260, 8996-9001.

Fischer, T. and Lasic, D. (1984) A Detergent Depletion Technique for the Preparation of Small Vesicles. Molecular Crystal Liquid Crystal 102, 141-145.

Fischer, T. and Williams, T. (1984) Selectivity in Rhodopsin-Phospholipid Interactions. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 234, 394-404.

Fischer, T. (1983) The Effect of Sodium and Potassium on Thermal Denaturation of the Sodium and Potassium -Dependent ATPase. Biochemical J. 211, 771-774.

Fischer, T. (1983) The Effect of Micellularization on Octylglucoside Spin-Lattice Relaxation. Molecular Crystal Liquid Crystal 92, 7-13.

Fischer, T. and Williams, T. (1983) The Effect of Phospholipid Structure on the Thermal Stability of Rhodopsin Biochim. Biophys. Acta 707, 273-279.

Fischer, T. and Williams, T. (1982) Effect of Hydrogen Ion Concentration on Rhodopsin-Lipid Interactions. Biochemistry 21, 5101
5105.

Fischer, T. and Levy, G. (1981) Electron and Proton Magnetic Resonance Studies of the Effect of Rhodopsin Incorporation on Molecular Motion in Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine Bilayers. Chemistry and Physics of Lipids 28, 7-23.