Profiles

Simon Kaja, PhD

Research Interests

• Alzheimer's Disease
• Channelopathies
• Drug Delivery
• Eye Diseases
• Glaucoma
• Mathematical Modeling
• Neurodegenerative Diseases
• Pharmacotherapy

Selected Publications

• Hariani HN, Ghosh AK, Rosen SM, Tso HY, Kessinger C, Zhang C, Jones WK, Sappington RM, Mitchell CH, Stubbs EB Jr, Rao VR, Kaja S. Lysyl oxidase like-1 deficiency in optic nerve head astrocytes elicits reactive astrocytosis and alters functional effects of astrocyte derived exosomes. Exp Eye Res. 2024 Feb 6;240:109813. doi: 10.1016/j.exer.2024.109813. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38331016. This is the result of a multi-institution collaboration spearheaded by Kaja lab with the Jones lab, UPenn, and Wake Forest investigating exosome mediated neuron glia signaling in ophthalmic neurodegenerative disease. 
• Manikandan SK, Logan A, Cerrada-Gimenez M, Fitzhenry L, Coffey L, Kaja S, Rani S. Immune System, Inflammation and Autoantigens in Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Pathological Significance and Therapeutic Importance. Life (Basel). 2023 Nov 21;13(12):2236. doi: 10.3390/life13122236. PMID: 38137838; PMCID: PMC10744676.
• Hakkarainen,J. J.; Reinisalo,M.; Ragauskas,S.; Seppanen,A.; Kaja,S.; Kalesnykas,G.Acute cytotoxic effects of marketed ophthalmic formulations on human corneal epithelial cells International journal of pharmaceutics 2016 ;511(1):73-78
• Richter,F.; Koulen,P.; Kaja,S.N-Palmitoylethanolamine Prevents the Run-down of Amplitudes in Cortical Spreading Depression Possibly Implicating Proinflammatory Cytokine Release Scientific reports 2016 ;6:23481
• Means,J. C.; Gerdes,B. C.; Kaja,S.; Sumien,N.; Payne,A. J.; Stark,D. A.; Borden,P. K.; Price,J. L.; Koulen,P.Caspase-3-Dependent Proteolytic Cleavage of Tau Causes Neurofibrillary Tangles and Results in Cognitive Impairment During Normal Aging Neurochemical research 2016 ;41(9):2278-2288
• Kaja,S.; Shah,A. A.; Haji,S. A.; Patel,K. B.; Naumchuk,Y.; Zabaneh,A.; Gerdes,B. C.; Kunjukunju,N.; Sabates,N. R.; Cassell,M. A.; Lord,R. K.; Pikey,K. P.; Poulose,A.; Koulen,P.Nampt/PBEF/visfatin serum levels: a new biomarker for retinal blood vessel occlusions Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) 2015 ;9:611-618
• Kaja,S.; Sumien,N.; Shah,V. V.; Puthawala,I.; Maynard,A. N.; Khullar,N.; Payne,A. J.; Forster,M. J.; Koulen,P.Loss of Spatial Memory, Learning, and Motor Function During Normal Aging Is Accompanied by Changes in Brain Presenilin 1 and 2 Expression Levels Molecular neurobiology 2015 ;52(1):545-554
• Rao,V. R.; Perez-Neut,M.; Kaja,S.; Gentile,S.Voltage-gated ion channels in cancer cell proliferation Cancers 2015 ;7(2):849-875
• Kaja,S.; Payne,A. J.; Naumchuk,Y.; Levy,D.; Zaidi,D. H.; Altman,A. M.; Nawazish,S.; Ghuman,J. K.; Gerdes,B. C.; Moore,M. A.; Koulen,P.Plate reader-based cell viability assays for glioprotection using primary rat optic nerve head astrocytes Experimental eye research 2015 ;138:159-166
• Kaja,S.; Payne,A. J.; Nielsen,E. O.; Thompson,C. L.; van den Maagdenberg,A. M.; Koulen,P.; Snutch,T. P.Differential cerebellar GABAA receptor expression in mice with mutations in CaV2.1 (P/Q-type) calcium channels Neuroscience 2015 ;304:198-208
• Kaja,S.; Payne,A. J.; Patel,K. R.; Naumchuk,Y.; Koulen,P.Differential subcellular Ca2+ signaling in a highly specialized subpopulation of astrocytes Experimental neurology 2015 ;265:59-68
• Kaja,S.; Payne,A. J.; Singh,T.; Ghuman,J. K.; Sieck,E. G.; Koulen,P.An optimized lactate dehydrogenase release assay for screening of drug candidates in neuroscience Journal of pharmacological and toxicological methods 2015 ;73:1-6
• Payne,A. J.; Kaja,S.; Koulen,P.Regulation of ryanodine receptor-mediated calcium signaling by presenilins Receptors & clinical investigation 2015 ;2(1):e449
• Kaja,S.; Naumchuk,Y.; Grillo,S. L.; Borden,P. K.; Koulen,P.Differential up-regulation of Vesl-1/Homer 1 protein isoforms associated with decline in visual performance in a preclinical glaucoma model Vision research 2014 ;94:16-23
• Payne,A. J.; Kaja,S.; Naumchuk,Y.; Kunjukunju,N.; Koulen,P.Antioxidant drug therapy approaches for neuroprotection in chronic diseases of the retina International journal of molecular sciences 2014 ;15(2):1865-1886
• Nielsen,E. O.; Kaja,S.GABAA Receptor Expression in the Forebrain of Ataxic Rolling Nagoya Mice Biology and medicine (Aligarh) 2014 ;6(1):1000198
• McCalley,A. E.; Kaja,S.; Payne,A. J.; Koulen,P.Resveratrol and calcium signaling: molecular mechanisms and clinical relevance Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) 2014 ;19(6):7327-7340
• Payne,A. J.; Kaja,S.; Sabates,N. R.; Koulen,P.A case for neuroprotection in ophthalmology: developments in translational research Missouri medicine 2013 ;110(5):429-436
• Kaja,S.; Sumien,N.; Borden,P. K.; Khullar,N.; Iqbal,M.; Collins,J. L.; Forster,M. J.; Koulen,P.Homer-1a immediate early gene expression correlates with better cognitive performance in aging Age (Dordrecht, Netherlands) 2013 ;35(5):1799-1808
• Payne,A. J.; Gerdes,B. C.; Kaja,S.; Koulen,P.Insert sequence length determines transfection efficiency and gene expression levels in bicistronic mammalian expression vectors International journal of biochemistry and molecular biology 2013 ;4(4):201-208
• Payne,A. J.; Gerdes,B. C.; Naumchuk,Y.; McCalley,A. E.; Kaja,S.; Koulen,P.Presenilins regulate the cellular activity of ryanodine receptors differentially through isotype-specific N-terminal cysteines Experimental neurology 2013 ;250:143-150
• Kaja,S.; Goad,D. L.; Ali,F.; Abraham,A.; Rebenitsch,R. L.; Teymoorian,S.; Krishna,R.; Koulen,P.Evaluation of tensile strength of tissue adhesives and sutures for clear corneal incisions using porcine and bovine eyes, with a novel standardized testing platform Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) 2012 ;6:305-309
• Kaja,S.; Hilgenberg,J. D.; Collins,J. L.; Shah,A. A.; Wawro,D.; Zimmerman,S.; Magnusson,R.; Koulen,P.Detection of novel biomarkers for ovarian cancer with an optical nanotechnology detection system enabling label-free diagnostics Journal of Biomedical Optics 2012 ;17(8):081412-081411
• Kaja,S.; Mafe,O. A.; Parikh,R. A.; Kandula,P.; Reddy,C. A.; Gregg,E. V.; Xin,H.; Mitchell,P.; Grillo,M. A.; Koulen,P.Distribution and function of polycystin-2 in mouse retinal ganglion cells Neuroscience 2012 ;202:99-107
• Burroughs,S. L.; Duncan,R. S.; Rayudu,P.; Kandula,P.; Payne,A. J.; Clark,J. L.; Koulen,P.; Kaja,S.Plate reader-based assays for measuring cell viability, neuroprotection and calcium in primary neuronal cultures Journal of neuroscience methods 2012 ;203(1):141-145
• Chhablani,J.; Kaja,S.; Shah,V. A.Smartphones in ophthalmology Indian journal of ophthalmology 2012 ;60(2):127-131
• Romero-Suarez,S.; Mo,C.; Touchberry,C.; Lara,N.; Baker,K.; Craig,R.; Brotto,L.; Andresen,J.; Wacker,M.; Kaja,S.; Abreu,E.; Dillmann,W.; Mestril,R.; Brotto,M.; Nosek,T.Hyperthermia: from diagnostic and treatments to new discoveries Recent patents on biotechnology 2012 ;6(3):172-183
• Burroughs,S. L.; Kaja,S.; Koulen,P.Quantification of deficits in spatial visual function of mouse models for glaucoma Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 2011 ;52(6):3654-3659
• Kaja,S.; Duncan,R. S.; Longoria,S.; Hilgenberg,J. D.; Payne,A. J.; Desai,N. M.; Parikh,R. A.; Burroughs,S. L.; Gregg,E. V.; Goad,D. L.; Koulen,P.Novel mechanism of increased Ca2+ release following oxidative stress in neuronal cells involves type 2 inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors Neuroscience 2011 ;175:281-291
• Kaja,S.; Hilgenberg,J. D.; Everett,E.; Olitsky,S. E.; Gossage,J.; Koulen,P.Effects of dilution and prolonged storage with preservative in a polyethylene container on Bevacizumab (Avastin) for topical delivery as a nasal spray in anti-hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia and related therapies Human antibodies 2011 ;20(3-4):95-101
• Kaja,S.; Hilgenberg,J. D.; Rybalchenko,V.; Medina-Ortiz,W. E.; Gregg,E. V.; Koulen,P.Polycystin-2 expression and function in adult mouse lacrimal acinar cells Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 2011 ;52(8):5605-5611
• Garg,P.; Duncan,R. S.; Kaja,S.; Zabaneh,A.; Chapman,K. D.; Koulen,P.Lauroylethanolamide and linoleoylethanolamide improve functional outcome in a rodent model for stroke Neuroscience letters 2011 ;492(3):134-138
• Kaja,S.; Van de Ven,R. C.; Broos,L. A.; Frants,R. R.; Ferrari,M. D.; Van den Maagdenberg,A. M.; Plomp,J. J.Severe and progressive neurotransmitter release aberrations in familial hemiplegic migraine type 1 Cacna1a S218L knock-in mice Journal of neurophysiology 2010 ;104(3):1445-1455
• Garg,P.; Duncan,R. S.; Kaja,S.; Koulen,P.Intracellular mechanisms of N-acylethanolamine-mediated neuroprotection in a rat model of stroke Neuroscience 2010 ;166(1):252-262
• Duncan,R. S.; Goad,D. L.; Grillo,M. A.; Kaja,S.; Payne,A. J.; Koulen,P.Control of intracellular calcium signaling as a neuroprotective strategy Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) 2010 ;15(3):1168-1195
• van den Maagdenberg,A. M.; Pizzorusso,T.; Kaja,S.; Terpolilli,N.; Shapovalova,M.; Hoebeek,F. E.; Barrett,C. F.; Gherardini,L.; van de Ven,R. C.; Todorov,B.; Broos,L. A.; Tottene,A.; Gao,Z.; Fodor,M.; De Zeeuw,C. I.; Frants,R. R.; Plesnila,N.; Plomp,J. J.; Pietrobon,D.; Ferrari,M. D.High cortical spreading depression susceptibility and migraine-associated symptoms in Ca(v)2.1 S218L mice Annals of Neurology 2010 ;67(1):85-98
• Plomp,J. J.; van den Maagdenberg,A. M.; Kaja,S.The ataxic Cacna1a-mutant mouse rolling nagoya: an overview of neuromorphological and electrophysiological findings Cerebellum (London, England) 2009 ;8(3):222-230
• Kaja,S.; Van De Ven,R. C.; Frants,R. R.; Ferrari,M. D.; Van Den Maagdenberg,A. M.; Plomp,J. J.Reduced ACh release at neuromuscular synapses of heterozygous leaner Ca(v)2.1-mutant mice Synapse (New York, N.Y.) 2008 ;62(5):337-344
• Kaja,S.; van de Ven,R. C.; Broos,L. A.; Frants,R. R.; Ferrari,M. D.; van den Maagdenberg,A. M.; Plomp,J. J.Characterization of acetylcholine release and the compensatory contribution of non-Ca(v)2.1 channels at motor nerve terminals of leaner Ca(v)2.1-mutant mice Neuroscience 2007 ;144(4):1278-1287
• Kaja,S.; van de Ven,R. C.; van Dijk,J. G.; Verschuuren,J. J.; Arahata,K.; Frants,R. R.; Ferrari,M. D.; van den Maagdenberg,A. M.; Plomp,J. J.Severely impaired neuromuscular synaptic transmission causes muscle weakness in the Cacna1a-mutant mouse rolling Nagoya The European journal of neuroscience 2007 ;25(7):2009-2020
• van de Ven,R. C.; Kaja,S.; Plomp,J. J.; Frants,R. R.; van den Maagdenberg,A. M.; Ferrari,M. D.Genetic models of migraine Archives of Neurology 2007 ;64(5):643-646
• Kaja,S.; Hann,V.; Payne,H. L.; Thompson,C. L.Aberrant cerebellar granule cell-specific GABAA receptor expression in the epileptic and ataxic mouse mutant, Tottering Neuroscience 2007 ;148(1):115-125
• Kaja,S.; Todorov,B.; van de Ven,R. C.; Ferrari,M. D.; Frants,R. R.; van den Maagdenberg,A. M.; Plomp,J. J.Redundancy of Cav2.1 channel accessory subunits in transmitter release at the mouse neuromuscular junction Brain research 2007 ;1143:92-101
• Todorov,B.; van de Ven,R. C.; Kaja,S.; Broos,L. A.; Verbeek,S. J.; Plomp,J. J.; Ferrari,M. D.; Frants,R. R.; van den Maagdenberg,A. M.Conditional inactivation of the Cacna1a gene in transgenic mice Genesis (New York, N.Y.: 2000) 2006 ;44(12):589-594
• Kaja,S.; Van de Ven,R. C.; Ferrari,M. D.; Frants,R. R.; Van den Maagdenberg,A. M.; Plomp,J. J.Compensatory contribution of Cav2.3 channels to acetylcholine release at the neuromuscular junction of tottering mice Journal of neurophysiology 2006 ;95(4):2698-2704
• Kaja,S.; van de Ven,R. C.; Broos,L. A.; Veldman,H.; van Dijk,J. G.; Verschuuren,J. J.; Frants,R. R.; Ferrari,M. D.; van den Maagdenberg,A. M.; Plomp,J. J.Gene dosage-dependent transmitter release changes at neuromuscular synapses of CACNA1A R192Q knockin mice are non-progressive and do not lead to morphological changes or muscle weakness Neuroscience 2005 ;135(1):81-95
• van den Maagdenberg,A. M.; Pietrobon,D.; Pizzorusso,T.; Kaja,S.; Broos,L. A.; Cesetti,T.; van de Ven,R. C.; Tottene,A.; van der Kaa,J.; Plomp,J. J.; Frants,R. R.; Ferrari,M. D.A Cacna1a knockin migraine mouse model with increased susceptibility to cortical spreading depression Neuron 2004 ;41(5):701-710
• Kaja,S.; Yang,S. H.; Wei,J.; Fujitani,K.; Liu,R.; Brun-Zinkernagel,A. M.; Simpkins,J. W.; Inokuchi,K.; Koulen,P.Estrogen protects the inner retina from apoptosis and ischemia-induced loss of Vesl-1L/Homer 1c immunoreactive synaptic connections Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 2003 ;44(7):3155-3162