Ken Audus
Research Interests
Professor Audus' research interests are focused on the application of endothelial and epithelial cell
and tissue culture systems to study mechanisms of drug transport, metabolism, and tissue permeability regulation.
His research has included establishment of tissue culture systems comprised of brain microvessel endothelium
(i.e., the blood-brain barrier), alveolar epithelium (i.e., the respiratory epithelial barrier), and trophoblasts
(i.e., the placental barrier). In general, Dr. Audus' research group conducts investigations that are directed at
developing a basic understanding of drug, tissue, disease, and environmental factors and mechanisms that regulate
the distribution of drugs across epithelial and endothelial tissue interfaces into either the systemic circulation or
specific tissue compartments from the vasculature. Specific examples of recent and ongoing research projects in Dr. Audus'
group have included characterization of nutrient and peptide carriers, catecholamine and peptide regulation of permeability
of the blood-brain barrier; macromolecule transfer mechanisms in alveolar epithelium; enzyme expression and induction
in trophoblasts; and the transport and metabolism of drugs of abuse at the human placental barrier.
Representative Publications
C. Ampasavate, G. A. Chandorkar, D. G. Vande Velde, J. F. Stobaugh, and K. L. Audus. Transport and metabolism of opioid peptides across BeWo cells, an in vitro model of the placental barrier. Int J Pharm 233: 85-98 (2002).
K. L. Audus, M. J. Soares, and J. S. Hunt. Characteristics of the fetal/maternal
interface with potential usefulness in the development of future immunological
and pharmacological strategies. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 301: 402-9 (2002).
M. L. Avery, C. E. Meek, and K. L. Audus. The presence of inducible cytochrome P450 types 1A1 and 1A2 in the BeWo cell line. Placenta 24: 45-52 (2003).
E. D. Hugger, B. L. Novak, P. S. Burton, K. L. Audus, and R. T. Borchardt.
A comparison of commonly used polyethoxylated pharmaceutical excipients
on their ability to inhibit P-glycoprotein activity in vitro. J Pharm
Sci 91: 1991-2002 (2002).
E. D. Hugger, K. L. Audus, and R. T. Borchardt. Effects of poly(ethylene
glycol) on efflux transporter activity in Caco-2 cell monolayers. J Pharm
Sci 91: 1980-90 (2002).
M. L. Michaelis, Y. Chen, S. Hill, E. Reiff, G. Georg, A. Rice, and K.
Audus. Amyloid peptide toxicity and microtubule-stabilizing drugs. J Mol
Neurosci 19: 101-5 (2002).
E. Sinaga, S. D. Jois, M. Avery, I. T. Makagiansar, U. S. Tambunan, K.
L. Audus, and T. J. Siahaan. Increasing paracellular porosity by E-cadherin
peptides: discovery of bulge and groove regions in the EC1-domain of E-cadherin.
Pharm Res 19: 1170-9 (2002).
A. M. Young, C. E. Allen, and K. L. Audus. Efflux transporters of the
human placenta. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 55: 125-32 (2003).