Research Profile

Ashley Allshire

Biography

Research Interests

My main research theme is cell response to insult (hypoxia/reoxygenation, exposure to ionising radiation, therapeutic drugs or environmental contaminants). In particular I have concentrated on mitochondrial function, intracellular free calcium control, actomyosin dysregulation and specific signalling pathways. Projects have been undertaken across several areas (heart disease, environmental toxicology, radiobiology, cancer) according to availability of research funding.
My work on hypoxia/reoxygenation injury in cardiac muscle cells has been cited most, followed by studies of mitochondrial calcium and heavy metal handling.

Recent publications include:
1. McDermott, C., A. Allshire, F. van Pelt and J. J. Heffron (2008). "In vitro exposure of jurkat T-cells to industrially important organic solvents in binary combination: interaction analysis." Toxicol Sci 101(2): 263-74.
In this study we demonstrated that common organic solvents show synergistic toxicity in vitro, with clear implications for risk assessment of environmental exposure to these agents.
2. Carey, J. B., A. Allshire and F. N. van Pelt (2006). "Immune-modulation by cadmium and lead in the acute RA-PLNA." Toxicol Sci 91(1): 113-122
This paper presented evidence for T-cell activation by heavy metals widespread in the environment, potentially leading to metal hypersensitivity and autoimmunity.
3. Anoopkumar- Dukie, S., T. Conere, J.B. Carey and A. Allshire (2005). "Radical mediators and mitogen-activated protein kinase signalling in oxygen-dependent radiosensitivity of human tumor cell lines." Free Radical Biol Med 39(2): 188-194
Here we showed that tumour cell response to ionizing radiation in the therapeutic range is strongly modulated by nitric oxide. This suggests that for some tumour types nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors may improve the specificity of radiotherapy.


Publications

Book Chapters

 YearPublication
(1986)'Interaction of manganese with cellular calcium homeostasis'
Allshire A, Saris N-EL; (1986) 'Interaction of manganese with cellular calcium homeostasis' In: Manganese in Metabolism and Enzyme Function. [Details]
(1986)'Measurement of calcium in the micro- and sub-micromolar range'
Saris N-EL, Allshire A, Åkerman KEO; (1986) 'Measurement of calcium in the micro- and sub-micromolar range' In: Methodology and Clinical Applications of Ion-selective Electrodes (Volume 7). [Details]
(1989)'Elevated [Ca2+]i as a late event in pathogenesis in cardiomyocytes and hepatocytes: measurements with aequorin in single cells'
Allshire AP, Woods NM, Cobbold PH; (1989) 'Elevated [Ca2+]i as a late event in pathogenesis in cardiomyocytes and hepatocytes: measurements with aequorin in single cells' In: Biochemical Approaches to Cellular Calcium (Methodological Surveys in Biochemistry and Analysis, Volume 19). [Details]
(1989)'Cytosolic Ca2+ in hypoxic cardiomyocytes'
Allshire AP, Cobbold PH; (1989) 'Cytosolic Ca2+ in hypoxic cardiomyocytes' In: Isolated Adult Cardiomyocytes (Volume 1: Structure and Metabolism). [Details]
(1990)'Causes and effects of changes in cytosolic free calcium in the hypoxic myocardial cell'
Allshire AP, Cobbold PH; (1990) 'Causes and effects of changes in cytosolic free calcium in the hypoxic myocardial cell' In: Pathophysiology of Severe Ischemic Myocardial Injury (Developments in Cardiovascular Medicine, Volume 104). Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers. [Details]
(1989)'Calcium ion transport in mitochondria'
Saris N.-E. L. and A. Allshire ; (1989) 'Calcium ion transport in mitochondria' In: Methods in Enzymology, Volume 174 (Biomembranes). New York: Academic Press. [Details]
(1988)'Cytosolic free Ca2+ in single cardiomyocytes: effects of anoxia and reoxygenation'
Cobbold, P. H. and A. Allshire ; (1988) 'Cytosolic free Ca2+ in single cardiomyocytes: effects of anoxia and reoxygenation' In: Biology of isolated adult cardiac myocytes. New York: Elsevier. [Details]
(1988)'Aequorin measurements of cytosolic free Ca2+ in single cardiomyocytes: techniques'
Cobbold, P. H. and A. Allshire ; (1988) 'Aequorin measurements of cytosolic free Ca2+ in single cardiomyocytes: techniques' In: Biology of isolated adult cardiac myocytes. New York: Elsevier. [Details]

Peer Reviewed Journals

 YearPublication
(1984)'Uptake, retention, and efflux of Ca2+ by mitochondrial preparations from skeletal muscle'
Allshire AP, Heffron JJ; (1984) 'Uptake, retention, and efflux of Ca2+ by mitochondrial preparations from skeletal muscle'. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 228 (1):353-363 [Details]
(1985)'Manganese stimulates calcium flux through the mitochondrial uniporter'
Allshire A, Bernardi P, Saris NE; (1985) 'Manganese stimulates calcium flux through the mitochondrial uniporter'. Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta, 807 (2):202-209 [Details]
(1987)'Cytosolic free Ca2+ in single rat heart cells during anoxia and reoxygenation'
Allshire A, Piper HM, Cuthbertson KS, Cobbold PH; (1987) 'Cytosolic free Ca2+ in single rat heart cells during anoxia and reoxygenation'. The Biochemical Journal, 244 (2):381-385 [Details]
(1991)'Tri-iodothyronine increases intra-cellular calcium levels in single rat myocytes'
Lomax RB, Cobbold PH, Allshire AP, Cuthbertson KS, Robertson WR; (1991) 'Tri-iodothyronine increases intra-cellular calcium levels in single rat myocytes'. Molecular Endocrinology, 7 (1):77-79 [Details]
(1992)'Bioluminescent measurement in single cardiomyocytes of sudden cytosolic ATP depletion coincident with rigor'
Bowers KC, Allshire AP, Cobbold PH; (1992) 'Bioluminescent measurement in single cardiomyocytes of sudden cytosolic ATP depletion coincident with rigor'. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, 24 (3):213-218 [Details]
(1993)'Continuous measurements of cytoplasmic ATP in single cardiomyocytes during simulation of the oxygen paradox'
Bowers KC, Allshire AP, Cobbold PH; (1993) 'Continuous measurements of cytoplasmic ATP in single cardiomyocytes during simulation of the oxygen paradox'. Cardiovascular Research, 27 (10):1836-1839 [Details]
(1995)'2,3-Butanedione monoxime (BDM) dephosphorylated myofibrillar proteins in isolated rat cardiomyocytes'
Stapleton M, Allshire A; (1995) '2,3-Butanedione monoxime (BDM) dephosphorylated myofibrillar proteins in isolated rat cardiomyocytes'. Journal of Physiology, 489 (*):P145-P145 [Details]
(1997)'Acute Reperfusion Injury of Myocardium [B4898]'
Piper HM, Siegmund B, Ladilov YV, Schlüter K-D, García-Dorado D, Allshire AP; (1997) 'Acute Reperfusion Injury of Myocardium [B4898]'. Fibrinolysis and Proteolysis, 11 (Suppl 2):113-115 [Details]
(1998)'Modulation of rigor and myosin ATPase activity in rat cardiomyocytes'
Stapleton MT, Allshire AP; (1998) 'Modulation of rigor and myosin ATPase activity in rat cardiomyocytes'. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, 30 (7):1349-1358 [DOI] [Details]
(1998)'BDM drives protein dephosphorylation and inhibits adenine nucleotide exchange in cardiomyocytes'
Stapleton MT, Fuchsbauer CM, Allshire AP; (1998) 'BDM drives protein dephosphorylation and inhibits adenine nucleotide exchange in cardiomyocytes'. The American Journal of Physiology, 275 (4 Pt 2):1-6 [Details]
(2000)'Failure of magnesium to protect isolated cardiomyocytes from effects of hypoxia or metabolic poisoning'
Gallagher MM, Allshire AP; (2000) 'Failure of magnesium to protect isolated cardiomyocytes from effects of hypoxia or metabolic poisoning'. Clinical Cardiology, 23 (7):530-534 [Details]
(2005)'Tipping the balance towards tolerance: the basis for therapeutic immune modulation by gold?'
Carey JB, Carey MA, Allshire A, van Pelt FN; (2005) 'Tipping the balance towards tolerance: the basis for therapeutic immune modulation by gold?'. Immunity, 38 (6):393-397 [DOI] [Details]
(2005)'Resazurin assay of radiation response in cultured cells'
Anoopkumar-Dukie S, Carey JB, Conere T, O'sullivan E, van Pelt FN, Allshire A; (2005) 'Resazurin assay of radiation response in cultured cells'. The British Journal of Radiology, 78 (934):945-947 [DOI] [Details]
(2005)'Radical mediators and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling in oxygen-dependent radiosensitivity of human tumor cell lines'
Anoopkumar-Dukie S, Conere T, Carey JB, Allshire A; (2005) 'Radical mediators and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling in oxygen-dependent radiosensitivity of human tumor cell lines'. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 39 (2):188-194 [DOI] [Details]
(2005)'Further evidence for biological effects resulting from ionizing radiation doses in the diagnostic X-ray range'
Anoopkumar-Dukie S, McMahon A, Allshire A, Conere TJ; (2005) 'Further evidence for biological effects resulting from ionizing radiation doses in the diagnostic X-ray range'. The British Journal of Radiology, 78 (928):335-337 [DOI] [Details]
(2006)'Immune modulation by cadmium and lead in the acute reporter antigen-popliteal lymph node assay'
Carey JB, Allshire A, van Pelt FN; (2006) 'Immune modulation by cadmium and lead in the acute reporter antigen-popliteal lymph node assay'. Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology, 91 (1):113-122 [DOI] [Details]
(2007)'Sub-chronic toxicity of low concentrations of industrial volatile organic pollutants in vitro'
McDermott C, Allshire A, van Pelt FN, Heffron JJ; (2007) 'Sub-chronic toxicity of low concentrations of industrial volatile organic pollutants in vitro'. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 219 (1):85-94 [DOI] [Details]
(2007)'Validation of a method for acute and subchronic exposure of cells in vitro to volatile organic solvents'
McDermott C, Allshire A, van Pelt FN, Heffron JJ; (2007) 'Validation of a method for acute and subchronic exposure of cells in vitro to volatile organic solvents'. Toxicology In Vitro, 21 (1):116-124 [DOI] [Details]
(2008)'In vitro exposure of jurkat T-cells to industrially important organic solvents in binary combination: interaction analysis'
McDermott C, Allshire A, van Pelt F, Heffron JJ; (2008) 'In vitro exposure of jurkat T-cells to industrially important organic solvents in binary combination: interaction analysis'. Toxicological Sciences, 101 (2):263-274 [DOI] [Details]
(2009)'Mitochondrial modulation of oxygen-dependent radiosensitivity in some human tumour cell lines'
Anoopkumar-Dukie, S; Conere, T; Sisk, GD; Allshire A; (2009) 'Mitochondrial modulation of oxygen-dependent radiosensitivity in some human tumour cell lines'. The British Journal of Radiology, 82 (982):847-854 [DOI] [Details]

Conference Publications

 YearPublication
(1979)Effects of magnesium ions on respiratory- and ATP-supported calcium binding in rat heart mitochondria
Allshire AP, Heffron JJA; (1979) Effects of magnesium ions on respiratory- and ATP-supported calcium binding in rat heart mitochondria , pp.513-514 [Details]
(1979)Effects of magnesium ions on respiratory- and ATP-supported calcium binding by rat heart mitochondria [proceedings]
Allshire AP, Heffron JJ; (1979) Effects of magnesium ions on respiratory- and ATP-supported calcium binding by rat heart mitochondria [proceedings] , pp.513-514 [Details]
(1979)Effects of magnesium ions on respiratory- and ATP-supported calcium binding by rat heart mitochondria
Allshire AP, Heffron JJ. ; (1979) Effects of magnesium ions on respiratory- and ATP-supported calcium binding by rat heart mitochondria , pp.513-514 [Details]
(1984)Calcium uptake and retention by skeletal-muscle mitochondria
Allshire AP, Heffron JJA; (1984) Calcium uptake and retention by skeletal-muscle mitochondria , pp.480-481 [Details]
(1984)Calcium-Uptake and Retention by Skeletal-Muscle Mitochendria
Allshire, A.P. and J.J.A.Heffron.; (1984) Calcium-Uptake and Retention by Skeletal-Muscle Mitochendria , pp.480-481 [Details]
(1987)Ca2+ flux into metabolically deprived cardiomyocytes
Allshire A, Cobbold PH; (1987) Ca2+ flux into metabolically deprived cardiomyocytes , pp.960-960 [Details]
(1989)Pholasin - a novel bioluminescent probe for monitoring oxidative stress in single cardiomyocytes
Cotton B, Allshire A, Cobbold PH, Muller T, Campbell AK; (1989) Pholasin - a novel bioluminescent probe for monitoring oxidative stress in single cardiomyocytes , pp.705-706 [Details]
(1991)Tri-iodothyronine increases intracellular calcium levels in single rat myocytes
Lomax RB, Cobbold PH, Allshire AP, Cuthbertson KSR, Robertson WR; (1991) Tri-iodothyronine increases intracellular calcium levels in single rat myocytes , pp.77-79 [Details]
(1999)American Heart Association Annual Meeting
Stapleton MT, Duffy PS, Cobbold PH, Allshire AP; (1999) Troponin-I 137-148 peptide abolishes rigor in cardiomyocytes . In: Circulation 92, I-189 (1995) eds. American Heart Association Annual Meeting Anaheim, USA, , 30-DEC-99 - 30-DEC-99 , pp.*-* [Details]
(2008)Cyclo-Oxygenase Inhibitors Enhance Hypoxic Radiosensitivity In Some Human Solid Tumour Cell Lines Through Cox-2-Dependent Mechanisms
Anoopkumar-Duki, S, McLoughlin, EM, Conere, T, Allshire, A; (2008) Cyclo-Oxygenase Inhibitors Enhance Hypoxic Radiosensitivity In Some Human Solid Tumour Cell Lines Through Cox-2-Dependent Mechanisms , pp.57-57 [Details]
(2008)Hif-1a Modulates Hypoxic Radioresistance In Vitro
McLoughlin, EM, Anoopkumar-Dukie, S, Conere, T, Allshire, A; (2008) Hif-1a Modulates Hypoxic Radioresistance In Vitro , pp.58-58 [Details]
(2008)Mitochondrial Modulation of Oxygen-Dependent Radiosensitivity In Some Human Tumor Cell Lines
Anoopkumar-Dukie, S, Sisk, GD, Conere, T, Allshire, A; (2008) Mitochondrial Modulation of Oxygen-Dependent Radiosensitivity In Some Human Tumor Cell Lines , pp.60-61 [Details]
(2001)¿Hypophosphorylation of cytoskeletal and myofibrillar proteins correlates with hypercontractility of reperfused cardiomyocytes
Lane, S., M. Julia-Sapé and A. Allshire ; (2001) ¿Hypophosphorylation of cytoskeletal and myofibrillar proteins correlates with hypercontractility of reperfused cardiomyocytes ¿Hypophosphorylation of cytoskeletal and myofibrillar proteins correlates with hypercontractility of reperfused cardiomyocytes [Details]

Professional Activities

Conference Contributions

 YearPublication
(1992)Proceedings of the Mammalian Myocardium Meeting, Leeds, UK. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology,
Cobbold, P. H.; Bowers, K. C.; Allshire, A. P.; (1992) *. [N/A], Proceedings of the Mammalian Myocardium Meeting, Leeds, UK. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, Bioluminescent Monitoring of Cytoplasmic ATP in Single Cardiomyocytes During Simulated Hypoxia and R , 01-JAN-92 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]
(1992)Proceedings of the 21st FEBS Meeting, Dublin, Ireland (9-14 August),
Allshire, A.P.; (1992) *. [N/A], Proceedings of the 21st FEBS Meeting, Dublin, Ireland (9-14 August), Does ATP Depletion by Myosin Underlie Ischaemic Heart Injury? [B4874] , 01-JAN-92 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]
(1996)Ijnternational Society for Heart Research, 17th European Section Meeting,
Fuchsbauer C, Allshire A; (1996) Calmodulin antagonists on reoxygenation injury in cardiomyocytes. [Poster Presentation], Ijnternational Society for Heart Research, 17th European Section Meeting, Bologna, Italy , 18-JUN-96 - 21-JUN-96. [Details]
(1997)international Society for Heart Research,
Barry FA, Allshire AP; (1997) Anthracycline toxicity in cardiomyocytes. [Poster Presentation], international Society for Heart Research, Versailles, France , 02-JUL-97 - 04-JUL-97. [Details]
(1997)International Society for Heart Research, 18th European Section Meeting,
O'Flynn T, Allshire AP; (1997) Na+ independent Ca2+ gain in de-energised cardiomyocytes. [Poster Presentation], International Society for Heart Research, 18th European Section Meeting, Versailles, France , 02-JUL-97 - 04-JUL-97. [Details]
(1997)International Society for Heart Research, 18th European Section Meeting,
Stapleton MT, Fuchsbauer CM, Allshire AP; (1997) Non-specific effects of BDM in energy-depleted cardiomyocytes. [Poster Presentation], International Society for Heart Research, 18th European Section Meeting, Versailles, France , 02-JUL-97 - 05-JUL-97. [Details]
(1999)Environmental Research Institute Day,
Groeger, D., Allshire, A., O'Brien, N.M., O'Halloran, J., Moriarty, J. and van Pelt, F.; (1999) Effects of sample processing on the responsiveness of leukocytes in cytotoxicity and genotoxicity assays. [Poster Presentation], Environmental Research Institute Day, Cork, Ireland , 30-DEC-99 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]
(1999)European Society of Cardiology,
Barry FA, Allshire A; (1999) *. [Poster Presentation], European Society of Cardiology, Birmingham, England , 30-DEC-99 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]
(1999)RAMI/Physiological Society Joint Meeting,
Stapleton MT, Allshire AP; (1999) Effect of myosin and troponin-I mimetic peptides on rigor in isolated rat heart cardiomyocytes. [Poster Presentation], RAMI/Physiological Society Joint Meeting, Dublin, Ireland , 30-DEC-99 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]
(2005)Irish Society of Toxiclology-Spring Meeting,
Groeger, D., Allshire, A., O'Brien, N.M., O'Halloran, J. and van Pelt, F.; (2005) The effects of sample processing on the responsiveness of leukocytes in cytotoxicity and genotoxicity assays. [Poster Presentation], Irish Society of Toxiclology-Spring Meeting, Athlone, Ireland , 11-MAR-05 - 12-MAR-05. [Details]
(2006)Irish Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting,
Groeger, D., Moriarty, J., O'Halloran, J., Allshire, A., O'Brien, N.M. and van Pelt, F.; (2006) Investigation of the use of cryopreserved whole blood for biomonitoring in farm animals. [Oral Presentation], Irish Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting, UCD, Dublin , 01-JAN-06 - 01-JAN-06. [Details]
(1999)Environmental research Institute Day,
McDermott, C., Carey, J., Groeger, D., D'Arcy, A., Allshire, A., Heffron, J., O'Brien, N.M., Moriarty, J., Byrne, P., Lawlor, P.J., O'Halloran, J. and van Pelt, F.; (1999) Developmnets in terrestrial ecotoxicology research at UCC. [Poster Presentation], Environmental research Institute Day, Cork, Ireland , 30-DEC-99 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]

Committees

 CommitteeFunctionFrom / To
External PhD examiner University of Liverpool 1995 / 1996
External academic advisor Queens University Belfast 1998 / 1998
Grant reviewer Health Research Board (Cardiovascular Committee) 1994 / 1999
Member National Consultative Committee on Pharmacology & Toxicology (Royal Irish Academy) 1997 / 2002

Employment

 EmployerPositionFrom / To
University of Helsinki (Department of Medical Chemistry) Postdoctoral Research Scientist01-JUL-83 / 31-JUL-85
UCC (Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics) Senior Lecturer in Pharmacology (Statutory Lecturer at time of appointment)01-JAN-92 / 01-JAN-10
UCC Head of Department (Pharmacology & Therapeutics)01-OCT-00 / 01-SEP-06
NUI, Maynooth (Department of Biology) Lecturer01-SEP-90 / 01-DEC-92
University of Liverpool (Dept. Human Anatomy & Cell Biology) Postdoctoral Research Scientist01-JUL-85 / 01-AUG-90

Education

 YearInstitutionQualificationSubject
1978National University of Ireland BScBSc (Biochemistry, 1st Hons)
1983National University of Ireland PhDPhD (Biochemistry)
2008University College Cork BScBSc (Environmental Studies, 1st Hons)

Teaching Activities

Teaching Interests

I teach general principles of pharmacology, receptor pharmacology, cardiovascular pharmacology, neuropharmacology and drug development to Dental, Medical,  Pharmacy and Science students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.  I also supervise PhD, MSc and MD research students and undergraduate laboratory research for BSc (Chemistry of Pharmaceutical Compounds) and Intercalated BSc students.

Modules Taught

 Term (ID))TitleLinkSubject
2015Foundations of Medicine: Medical Pharmacology FM2003Foundations of Medicine: Medical Pharmacology
2015Introduction to Pharmacology PT3001Introduction to Pharmacology

Contact details

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University College Cork

Coláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh

College Road, Cork T12 K8AF

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