Subodh Kumar | Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

Subodh Kumar

Picture of Subodh Kumar

Subodh Kumar, PhD

Research Assistant Professor

 

I did my masters in Biotechnology from Choudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut and Ph.D. from Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India. My Ph.D. thesis research was on liver-specific microRNA-122 (miR-122) and hepatitis C virus infection. I studied several aspects of miR-122 in relation to hepatitis C - i) expression of circulating miR-122 in Hepatitis C patients’ serum and its correlation with disease severity, ii) role of miR-122 in hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication and propagation using in vitro cell culture system, iii) role of miR-122 in hepatocellular and tumor suppression. MicroRNAs (MiRNAs) are the class of small non-coding RNA molecules regulating gene expression by binding with the 3’-UTR of their specific target mRNAs and implicated in various human diseases including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, liver diseases, viral infection, diabetes and in neurodegenerative disorders. MiRNAs also participate in inter-and-intracellular communication and are transported from cells/tissues to the extracellular spaces and bio-fluids. In the diseased state, endogenous levels of miRNAs change in disease-infected tissues and occasionally are released into the peripheral system. My long-term goal is to build up my research carrier in miRNA biology and to understand the biomarker and therapeutic impacts of miRNAs in human diseases.

I joined Dr. Reddy’s lab as a postdoctoral research associate in 2015. Dr. Reddy’s lab is working on several aspects of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) such as APP processing, Aβ pathology, Tau/p-Tau pathology, synaptic dysfunction, mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial dynamics, and mouse models of aging and neurodegenerative diseases. In Dr. Reddy’s lab, my research project was to investigate the peripheral circulating miRNAs as biomarkers for AD. We performed the global Affymetrix microarray analysis of serum samples collected from AD patients, Mild cognitive impairment individuals (MCI) and healthy controls. We identified several miRNAs which were deregulated in AD vs MCI vs healthy subjects. Our careful validation analysis of potential miRNAs on large number of AD serum samples, AD postmortem brains, AD Fibroblasts, AD B-lymphocytes, AD mouse model (Tg2576) and AD cell lines identified microRNA-455-3p (miR-455-3p) as potential biomarker for AD. Our lab was the first to discover the role of miR-455-3p in AD. Further, we investigated the molecular mechanism of miR-455-3p in AD progression and pathogenesis. We unveiled the protective role of miR-455-3p in APP processing, Aβ pathology, mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial dynamics and synaptic activity. 

  • Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) from National Institute of Aging, National Institute of Health in Sep 2020.
  • Presented a poster on “Impact of lifestyle factors on cognitive function      in Alzheimer’s Disease animal models” Morton H, Kshirsagar S, Kumar S, and Reddy PH at 33rd Annual Student Research Week 2021, on March 10, TTUSHC, Lubbock Texas
  • Presented a poster on “Mitochondrial division Inhibitor 1 improves endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondrial contacts in Huntington’s disease”, Neha Sawant, Subodh Kumar, Murali Vijayan, Bhagwati Ramasubramanian, Pradeepkiran Jangampalli Adi, P. Hemachandra Reddy at Annual Student Research Week 2020 on March 10-13, TTUHSC, Lubbock, Texas
  • Presented a poster on “MicroRNA-455-3p as an emerging peripheral biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease”, Subodh Kumar, Murali Vijayan, Neha Sawant, P. Hemachandra Reddy at Texas Alzheimer's Research and Care Consortium (TARCC) 2020 Symposium on January 30th, Austin, Texas, USA
  • Presented a poster on “Emerging roles of microRNAs in ischemic stroke and vascular dementia: possible diagnostic and therapeutic targets”, Murali Vijayan, Subodh Kumar, Neha Sawant, P. Hemachandra Reddy at Texas Alzheimer's Research and Care Consortium (TARCC) 2020 Symposium on January 30th, Austin, Texas, USA
  • Poster presentation on “Novel MicroRNA-455-3p and its protective effects against abnormal APP processing and amyloid beta toxicity in Alzheimer's disease”. Subodh Kumar, Arubala Reddy, Xiangling Yin, P.H. Reddy. Society of Neuroscience 2019, October 19-23, 2019, Chicago, IL, USA
  • Present a talk on “MicroRNA-455-3p and Alzheimer’s disease”, Subodh Kumar, at Alzheimer's Disease Research Seminar series at Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center held on May 21, 2019, Lubbock, Texas, USA
  • Oral presentation on “MicroRNA-455-3p: a potential biomarker and therapeutic candidate for Alzheimer’s disease”, Subodh Kumar, P. Hemachandra Reddy. Regional Healthy Aging and Dementia Research Symposium Organized by Garrison Institute on Aging of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center held on 24-25th October, 2018, Lubbock, Texas, USA.
  • Presented a poster on “MicroRNA-455-3p regulates amyloid precursor protein processing, mitochondrial biogenesis and synaptic events in Alzheimer’s disease”, Kumar S, Vijayan M, Reddy AP, Yin X, Reddy PH. Regional Healthy Aging and Dementia Research Symposium Organized by Garrison Institute on Aging of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center held on 24-25th October, 2018, Lubbock, Texas, USA. 
  • Presented a poster on “Expression Level of Novel Mirna Pc-5P-12969 in Two Different in vivo Stroke Models”. Vijayan M, Kumar S, Cengiz P, Karamyan VT, Reddy PH. Regional Healthy Aging and Dementia Research Symposium Organized by Garrison Institute on Aging of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center held on 24-25th October, 2018, Lubbock, Texas, USA.
  • Poster presentation on “Reduced Dynamin-Related Protein 1 Mitigates Mitochondrial Fragmentation, Elevates Spatial Learning and Memory Functions and Elevates Dendritic Spines in App Transgenic Mice”. Maria Manczak, Ramesh Kandimalla, Xiangling Yin, Murali Vijayan, Chandra Sekhar Kuruva, Subodh Kumar, P. Hemachandra Reddy. Regional Healthy Aging and Dementia Research Symposium Organized by Garrison Institute on Aging of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center held on 24-25th October, 2018, Lubbock, Texas, USA.
  • Poster presentation on “Age- and Gender-Based MicroRNA Levels in C57BL6/J mice”. Christopher Hornback, Subodh Kumar, Murali Vijayan, C. Breann Williams, Pratibha Kottapalli, Rao Kottapalli, P. Hemachandra Reddy. Regional Healthy Aging and Dementia Research Symposium Organized by Garrison Institute on Aging of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center held on 24-25th October, 2018, Lubbock, Texas, USA.
  • Poster presentation on “Protective role of Citalopram against amyloid-beta induced mitochondrial, autophagy and synaptic toxicities in Alzheimer’s disease”. X. Yin, AP Reddy, S. Kumar, P.H. Reddy P. Hemachandra Reddy. Regional Healthy Aging and Dementia Research Symposium Organized by Garrison Institute on Aging of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center held on 24-25th October, 2018, Lubbock, Texas, USA.
  • Oral presentation on “Improvement in risk factors implicated in Alzheimer’s Disease Pathogenesis”. Hegde V, Vijayan M, Peddibhotla S, Kumar S, Dhurandhar NV, and Reddy H. American Society for Nutrition 2018, June 9-12, 2018.
  • Poster presentation on “Identification of novel circulatory microRNA signatures linked to patients with stroke”.  M. Vijayan, S. Kumar, P.H. Reddy. Neuroscience 2017, November 11-15, 2017.
  • Poster presentation on “MicroRNA-455-3p as a potential peripheral biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease”. S. Kumar, M. Vijayan, P.H. Reddy. Neuroscience 2017, November 11-15, 2017.
  • Poster presentation on “Reduced dynamin-related protein 1 mitigates mitochondrial fragmentation, elevates spatial learning and memory functions and elevates dendritic spines in app transgenic mice”. M. Manczak, R. Kandimalla, M. Vijayan, X. Yin, C. Kuruva, S. Kumar, P.H. Reddy. Neuroscience 2017, November 11-15, 2017.
  • Poster presentation on “A partial loss of dynamin-related protein 1 enhances dendritic spines, reduces fragmented mitochondria and increases hippocampal based cognitive function in mutant Tau mice”. R. Kandimalla, M. Manczak, X. Yin, C. S. Kuruva, M. Vijayan, S. Kumar, P.H. Reddy. Neuroscience 2017, November 11-15, 2017.
  • Poster presentation on “MicroRNA-455-3p as a potential peripheral biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease”. Kumar S, Vijayan M, Reddy PH. Symposium of the Center of Excellence for Translational Neuroscience and Therapeutics, April 27, 2017.
  • Poster presentation on “Differential expression of microRNAs in the skeletal muscles of mice with aging”. Williams J, Smith F, Kumar S, Vijayan M, Reddy PH. 29th Annual Student Research Week - Molecular Neurosciences & Systems: From Nucleotides to Networks, March 7-10, 2017.
  • Poster presentation on “Up regulation of microRNAs in the brains of mice with aging”. Smith F, Williams J, Kumar S, Vijayan M, Reddy PH. 29th Annual Student Research Week - Molecular Neurosciences & Systems: From Nucleotides to Networks, March 7-10, 2017.

Publications via PubMed

  1. Gowda P, Hemachandra Reddy P, Kumar S. Deregulated mitochondrial microRNAs in Alzheimer's disease: Focus on synapse and mitochondria. Ageing Res Rev. 2021 Nov 20:101529. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2021.101529.
  2. Kumar S, Morton H, Sawant N, Orlov E, Bunquin LE, Pradeepkiran JA, Alvir R, Reddy PH. MicroRNA-455-3p improves synaptic, cognitive functions and extends lifespan: Relevance to Alzheimer's disease. Redox Biol. 2021 Nov 9;48:102182. doi: 10.1016/j.redox.2021.102182.
  3. Morton H, Kshirsagar S, Orlov E, Bunquin LE, Sawant N, Boleng L, George M, Basu T, Ramasubramanian B, Pradeepkiran JA, Kumar S, Vijayan M, Reddy AP, Reddy PH. Defective mitophagy and synaptic degeneration in Alzheimer's disease: Focus on aging, mitochondria and synapse. Free Radic Biol Med. 2021 Aug 20;172:652-667. 
  4. Bhatti JS, Tamarai K, Kandimalla R, Manczak M, Yin X, Ramasubramanian B, Sawant N, Pradeepkiran JA, Vijayan M, Kumar S, Reddy PH (2021). Protective effects of a mitochondria-targeted small peptide SS31 against hyperglycemia-induced mitochondrial abnormalities in the liver tissues of diabetic mice, Tallyho/JngJ mice. Mitochondrion. 2021 Feb 25;58:49-58. doi: 10.1016/j.mito.2021.02.007.
  5. Kumar S, Reddy PH (2021). Elevated levels of MicroRNA-455-3p in the cerebrospinal fluid of Alzheimer's patients: A potential biomarker for Alzheimer's disease. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis. 2021 Apr 1;1867(4):166052. doi: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2020.166052.
  6. Bhatti JS, Thamarai K, Kandimalla R, Manczak M, Yin X, Kumar S, Vijayan M, Reddy PH (2021). Mitochondria-Targeted Small Peptide, SS31 Ameliorates Diabetes Induced Mitochondrial Dynamics in Male TallyHO/JngJ Mice. Mol Neurobiol. 2021 Feb;58(2):795-808. doi: 10.1007/s12035-020-02142-7.
  7. Kumar S, Reddy PH (2020). The role of synaptic microRNAs in Alzheimer's disease. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis. 2020 Dec 1;1866(12):165937. doi: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2020.165937.
  8. Kumar S, Reddy AP, Yin X, Reddy PH. Novel MicroRNA-455-3p and its protective effects against abnormal APP processing and amyloid beta toxicity in Alzheimer's disease. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis. 2019 Sep 1;1865(9):2428-2440. doi: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2019.06.006. Epub 2019 Jun 8. PubMed PMID: 31181293; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6688505.
  9. Hegde V, Vijayan M, Kumar S, Akheruzzaman M, Sawant N, Dhurandhar NV, Reddy PH. Adenovirus 36 improves glycemic control and markers of Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis. 2019 Aug 6;1865(11):165531. doi: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2019.08.007. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31398466.
  10. Reddy PH, Swerdlow RH, Culberson J, Kang D, Mitchell TL, Smith Q, Suneja S, Ory MG, Kumar S, Vijayan M, Morsy A, Arandia G, Lawrence JJ, George E, Oliver D, Pradeepkiran JA, Yin X, Reddy AP, Manczak M, Cengiz P, Karamyan VT, Kandimalla R, Kuruva CS, Willms J, Ramasubramanian B, Sawant N, Burugu D, Boles AN, Lopez V, Carrasco R, Aguirre C, Thompson S, Blackmon J, Ament C, Wang R, Stephens ER, Hoang B, Bass K, Trippier PC, Hornback C, Kottapalli P, Kottapalli KR, Oddo S. Current Status of Healthy Aging and Dementia Research: A Symposium Summary. J Alzheimers Dis. 2019 May 17;. doi: 10.3233/JAD-190252. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31104030.
  11. Reddy PH, Yin X, Manczak M, Kumar S, Pradeepkiran JA, Vijayan M, Reddy AP. Mutant APP and amyloid beta-induced defective autophagy, mitophagy, mitochondrial structural and functional changes and synaptic damage in hippocampal neurons from Alzheimer's disease. Hum Mol Genet. 2018 Jul 15;27(14):2502-2516. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddy154. PubMed PMID: 29701781; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6031001.
  12. Vijayan M, Kumar S, Yin X, Zafer D, Chanana V, Cengiz P, Reddy PH. Identification of novel circulatory microRNA signatures linked to patients with ischemic stroke. Hum Mol Genet. 2018 Jul 1;27(13):2318-2329. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddy136. PubMed PMID: 29701837; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6005038.
  13. Kumar S, Reddy PH. MicroRNA-455-3p as a Potential Biomarker for Alzheimer's Disease: An Update. Front Aging Neurosci. 2018;10:41. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00041. eCollection 2018. PubMed PMID: 29527164; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5829054.
  14. Reddy PH, Manczak M, Yin X, Grady MC, Mitchell A, Tonk S, Kuruva CS, Bhatti JS, Kandimalla R, Vijayan M, Kumar S, Wang R, Pradeepkiran JA, Ogunmokun G, Thamarai K, Quesada K, Boles A, Reddy AP. Protective Effects of Indian Spice Curcumin Against Amyloid-β in Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis. 2018;61(3):843-866. doi: 10.3233/JAD-170512. Review. PubMed PMID: 29332042; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5796761.
  15. Kumar S, Vijayan M, Reddy PH. MicroRNA-455-3p as a potential peripheral biomarker for Alzheimer's disease. Hum Mol Genet. 2017 Oct 1;26(19):3808-3822. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddx267. PubMed PMID: 28934394; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6075184.
  16. Williams J, Smith F, Kumar S, Vijayan M, Reddy PH. Are microRNAs true sensors of ageing and cellular senescence?. Ageing Res Rev. 2017 May;35:350-363. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2016.11.008. Epub 2016 Nov 27. Review. PubMed PMID: 27903442; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5357446.
  17. Reddy PH, Tonk S, Kumar S, Vijayan M, Kandimalla R, Kuruva CS, Reddy AP. A critical evaluation of neuroprotective and neurodegenerative MicroRNAs in Alzheimer's disease. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2017 Feb 19;483(4):1156-1165. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.08.067. Epub 2016 Aug 12. Review. PubMed PMID: 27524239; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5343756.
  18. Kumar S, Vijayan M, Bhatti JS, Reddy PH. MicroRNAs as Peripheral Biomarkers in Aging and Age-Related Diseases. Prog Mol Biol Transl Sci. 2017;146:47-94. doi: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2016.12.013. Epub 2017 Feb 8. Review. PubMed PMID: 28253991.
  19. Reddy PH, Williams J, Smith F, Bhatti JS, Kumar S, Vijayan M, Kandimalla R, Kuruva CS, Wang R, Manczak M, Yin X, Reddy AP. MicroRNAs, Aging, Cellular Senescence, and Alzheimer's Disease. Prog Mol Biol Transl Sci. 2017;146:127-171. doi: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2016.12.009. Epub 2017 Feb 2. Review. PubMed PMID: 28253983.
  20. Vijayan M, Kumar S, Bhatti JS, Reddy PH. Molecular Links and Biomarkers of Stroke, Vascular Dementia, and Alzheimer's Disease. Prog Mol Biol Transl Sci. 2017;146:95-126. doi: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2016.12.014. Epub 2017 Feb 1. Review. PubMed PMID: 28253992.
  21. Kumar S, Batra A, Kanthaje S, Ghosh S, Chakraborti A. Crosstalk between microRNA-122 and FOX family genes in HepG2 cells. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2017 Feb;242(4):436-440. doi: 10.1177/1535370216681548. Epub 2016 Nov 28. PubMed PMID: 27895094; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5298543.
  22. Bhatti JS, Kumar S, Vijayan M, Bhatti GK, Reddy PH. Therapeutic Strategies for Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Oxidative Stress in Age-Related Metabolic Disorders. Prog Mol Biol Transl Sci. 2017;146:13-46. doi: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2016.12.012. Epub 2017 Feb 1. Review. PubMed PMID: 28253984.
  23. Kumar S, Reddy PH. Are circulating microRNAs peripheral biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease?Biochim Biophys Acta.2016 Sep;1862(9):1617-27. doi: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2016.06.001. Epub 2016 Jun 2. Review. PubMed PMID: 27264337; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5343750.
  24. Kumar S, Chawla YK, Ghosh S, Chakraborti A. Severity of hepatitis C virus (genotype-3) infection positively correlates with circulating microRNA-122 in patients sera. Dis Markers. 2014;2014:435476. doi: 10.1155/2014/435476. Epub 2014 Feb 18. PubMed PMID: 24696531; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3948614.
  25. kumar S. OVER-EXPRESSION OF MICRORNA-122 (MIR-122) INDUCES APOPTOSIS BY TARGETING CYCLING1 AND BCL-W GENES IN VITRO. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hepatology. 2012;