PhD Thesis research:
My PhD work centered on endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxation mechanisms in rat basilar artery after subarachnoid hemorrhage using the rat single injection model.

Smooth muscle membrane potential modulates endothelium-dependent relaxation of rat basilar artery via myo-endothelial gap junctions. (2002) J. Physiol. (Lond.) PDF
    We showed for the first time that the effect of 4-AP can be blocked by a gap junction blocker, suggesting a novel mechanism for action of this compound. We suggest that the smooth muscle depolarization induced by block of KdR is transmitted to the endothelium via myoendothelial gap junctions, thus inhibiting eNOS activity and NO production.

Postdoctoral research:
My work is focused on the Cav3.x (T-type) class of calcium channels that are comprised of three distinct subunits: Cav3.1 (G), Cav3.2 (H), and Cav3.3 (I). I am studying the kinetic properties of these subunits when expressed in HEK cells in the context of their function in cerebellar Purkinje and cerebellar deep nuclear neurons.

A Cav3-Kv4 signaling complex regulates A type current and neuronal activity
   A-type potassium channels of the Kv4 family regulate the latency and frequency of spike output in numerous CNS cells. Kv4 channels complex with Potassium Channel Interacting Proteins (KChIPs), a family of calcium sensor proteins that should confer calcium sensitivity. However, neither the physiological source for calcium nor its effects on A-type current were known. Here we show that T-type (Cav3) calcium channels associate with the Kv4 complex to selectively modulate Kv4 inactivation and establish function in a physiological range. See Anderson et al. (2010).

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Uluitu, M, Chris, R. and Iftinca, M. (1999) Influence of acceleration over the hydroelectrolytic homeostasis in audiogenic seizuure-prone rats to normoexcitable rats. Rom. J. Physiology 36 (1-2): 11-27. Pub-Med Link

Iftinca, M., Waldron, G.J., Triggle, C.R. and Cole, W.C. (2001) State-dependent block of rabbit vascular smooth muscle delayed rectifier and Kv 1.5 channels by inhibitors of cytochrome P 450-dependent enzymes. J. Pharmacology Exp. Ther. 298 (2): 718-728. PDF

Allen, T., Iftinca, M., Cole, W.C. and Plane, F. (2002) Smooth muscle membrane potential modulates endothelium-dependent relaxation of rat basilar artery via myo-endothelial gap junctions. J. Physiology (Lond) 545 (Pt 3): 975-986. PDF

Iftinca, M., McKay, B.E., Snutch, T.P., McRory, J.E., Turner, R.W. and Zamponi, G.W. (2006) Temperature dependence of T-type calcium channel gating. Neuroscience 142 (4):1031-1042. PDF

Iftinca, M., Hamid, J., Chen, L., Varela, D., Tadayonnejad, R., Altier, C., Turner, R.W. and Zamponi, G.W. (2007) Regulation of T-type calcium channels by Rho-associated kinase. Nature Neuroscience 10 (7): 854-860. PDF

Kisilevsky, A.E., Mulligan, S.J., Altier, C., Iftinca, M., Varela, D., Tai, C., Chen, L., Hameed, S., Hamid, J., Macvicar, B.A. and Zamponi, G.W. (2008) D1 receptors physically interact with N-type calcium channels to regulate channel distribution and dendritic calcium entry. Neuron 58(4): 557-70. PDF

Ifinca, M. and Zamponi, G.W. Regulation of neuronal T-type calcium channels. Trends Pharmacol Sci. (2009) 30(1): 32-40.

Anderson, D.M., Mehaffey, W.H., Iftinca, M., Rehak, R., Engbers, J.D.T., Hameed, S., Zamponi, G.W. and Turner, R.W.  (2010) Regulation of neuronal activity by Cav3-Kv4 channel signaling complexes.  Nature Neuroscience, In Press. Link

Key Abstracts
Waldron GJ, Iftinca M, Clement-Chomienne O, Triggle CR and Cole WC. Direct block of voltage-gated K + current of vascular myocytes by clotrimazole not involving inhibition of cytochrome P 450. Biophys. J . 76: A188, 1999.

Iftinca M, and Cole WC. Cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage: a wire myograph study.Pharmacologist . 44(2-Suppl. 1): A212, 2002.

Iftinca M, McKay, B.E., McRory, J.E., Turner, R.W. and Zamponi, G.W. Temperature dependence of Cav3 (T-type) calcium channel gating. Biophys. Soc. 2005.

Iftinca, M., Hamid, J., Tadayonnejad, R., Turner, R.W. and Zamponi, G.W. ROCK-mediated inhibition of T-type calcium channels. Biophys Soc. 2007.

Iftinca, M., Anderson, D.M., Rehak, R., Molineux, M.L., Zamponi, G.W. and Turner, R.W. T type calcium channels provide calcium-dependent modulation of A type potassium currents. Can. Assoc. Neurosci. 2008.