Pelin Cengiz, MD
Position title: Professor, Pediatrics
MD, Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul
Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Contact Information
T503, Waisman Center
1500 Highland Ave
Madison, WI 53705
608-262-2289
cengiz@pediatrics.wisc.edu
Cengiz Research Group
Research Statement
Cengiz’s research focuses on finding a novel therapy for neonatal encephalopathy subsequent to hypoxia ischemia (HI). She uses the experimental (Vannucci-Rice) mouse model of hypoxia ischemia (HI) to study the sexually differentiated role of neurotrophin signaling in the neonatal hippocampus post-HI. The neurotrophin receptor, tyrosine kinase B (TrkB), plays an important role in neuroprotection and improving the long-term functional recovery following cerebral ischemia by increasing neuronal survival. She has shown that administration of 7,8 dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF; potent and selective TrkB agonist) increases TrkB phosphorylation and hippocampal neuronal survival following HI in female, but not in male newborn mice. This female-specific responsiveness to TrkB agonist therapy mimics improved outcomes observed clinically in female newborn humans post-HI. Her studies focus on the cellular mechanisms of the female-specific responsiveness to TrkB agonist and their roles in improving long-term neurological and functional outcome post-HI. An improved understanding of the cellular mechanisms that underlie sex-specific neurotrophin responses will identify new avenues for developing novel therapeutics for neonates and children suffering from brain injury.
Study Led By Pelin Cengiz, MD, Examines Why Female Newborns are Better Protected from Brain Injury
As a University of Wisconsin former ICTR KL2 scholar, the Clinical and Translational Research Training she obtained benefitted her tremendously. http://www.med.wisc.edu/quarterly/clinical-and-translational-research-training-benefits-physicians-and-patients/45491
Cengiz’s clinical duties include serving as an Attending in the PICU and in the Outpatient Sedation Clinic at American Family Children’s Hospital. Abroad, she is an active member of the international health community.
Additional Research Activities
- Role of estrogen receptors and TrkB signaling in sexed hippocampal astrocytes and neurons after in-vitro ischemia
- TrkB signaling in sex specific hypothermic neuroprotection
- Sex specific protective effects of 7,8 DHF on learning and memory after HI
- TrkB signaling and hypoxia-ischemia induced retinopathy
Current Studies
- Healthy Little Eyes
Help us understand how babies’ eyes function changes over time!
News Articles
- Former UW SMPH student pens NEJM article about PICU experience
April 26, 2024 - Estrogen receptor alpha mediates protection against hypoxic ischemic brain injury in newborn female mice, study shows
January 26, 2024 - Researcher clinicians help bridge the gap between scientific discovery and medical care – Part 2
Posted on January 10, 2024 - Pelin Cengiz awarded grant for non-invasive techniques to characterize eye function of neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
Posted on March 7, 2023 - Waisman investigator receives award recognizing her outstanding mentorship of women scientists
Posted on December 6, 2022 - Cengiz receives academic staff excellence awards
Posted on April 27, 2021
Selected Publications
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Chanana, V., Zafer, D., Kintner, D. B., Chandrashekhar, J. H., Eickhoff, J., Ferrazzano, P. A., Levine, J. E., & Cengiz, P. (2024). TrkB-mediated neuroprotection in female hippocampal neurons is autonomous, estrogen receptor alpha-dependent, and eliminated by testosterone: a proposed model for sex differences in neonatal hippocampal neuronal injury. Biology of sex differences, 15(1), 30. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13293-024-00596-1
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Chanana, V., Hackett, M., Deveci, N., Aycan, N., Ozaydin, B., Cagatay, N. S., Hanalioglu, D., Kintner, D. B., Corcoran, K., Yapici, S., Camci, F., Eickhoff, J., Frick, K. M., Ferrazzano, P., Levine, J. E., & Cengiz, P. (2024). TrkB-mediated sustained neuroprotection is sex-specific and [Formula: see text]-dependent in adult mice following neonatal hypoxia ischemia. Biology of sex differences, 15(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13293-023-00573-0
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Chanana, V., Hackett, M., Deveci, N., Aycan, N., Ozaydin, B., Cagatay, N. S., Hanalioglu, D., Kintner, D. B., Corcoran, K., Yapici, S., Camci, F., Eickhoff, J., Frick, K. M., Ferrazano, P., Levine, J. E., & Cengiz, P. (2023). TrkB-mediated sustained neuroprotection is sex-specific and ERα dependent in adult mice following neonatal hypoxia ischemia. Research square, rs.3.rs-3325405. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3325405/v1
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Samuel, A. M., Hacker, L. L., Zebracki, J., Bogenschutz, M. C., Schulz, L., Strayer, J., Vanderloo, J. P., Cengiz, P., & Henderson, S. (2023). Remdesivir Use in Pediatric Patients for SARS-CoV-2 Treatment: Single Academic Center Study. The Pediatric infectious disease journal, 42(4), 310–314. https://doi.org/10.1097/INF.0000000000003814
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Taparli, O. E., Shahi, P. K., Cagatay, N. S., Aycan, N., Ozaydin, B., Yapici, S., Liu, X., Cikla, U., Zafer, D., Eickhoff, J. C., Ferrazzano, P., Pattnaik, B. R., & Cengiz, P. (2023). Selectively compromised inner retina function following hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in mice: A noninvasive measure of severity of the injury. Neurochemistry international, 163, 105471. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuint.2022.105471
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Lim, S. Y., & Cengiz, P. (2022). Opioid tolerance and opioid-induced hyperalgesia: Is TrkB modulation a potential pharmacological solution?. Neuropharmacology, 220, 109260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109260
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Zafer, D., Adams, T., Olson, E., Stenman, L., Taparli, O., Eickhoff, J., Cengiz, P., & Mezu-Ndubuisi, O. J. (2022). Retinal vascular recovery revealed by retinal imaging following neonatal hypoxia ischemia in mice: Is there a role for tyrosine kinase receptor modulation?. Brain research, 1796, 148093. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2022.148093
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Ozaydin, B., Bicki, E., Taparli, O. E., Sheikh, T. Z., Schmidt, D. K., Yapici, S., Hackett, M. B., Karahan-Keles, N., Eickhoff, J. C., Corcoran, K., Lagoa-Miguel, C., Guerrero Gonzalez, J., Dean Iii, D. C., Sousa, A. M. M., Ferrazzano, P. A., Levine, J. E., & Cengiz, P. (2022). Novel Injury Scoring Tool for Assessing Brain Injury following Neonatal Hypoxia-Ischemia in Mice. Developmental neuroscience, 44(4-5), 394–411. https://doi.org/10.1159/000525244
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LaRovere, K. L., Riggs, B. J., Poussaint, T. Y., Young, C. C., Newhams, M. M., Maamari, M., Walker, T. C., Singh, A. R., Dapul, H., Hobbs, C. V., McLaughlin, G. E., Son, M., Maddux, A. B., Clouser, K. N., Rowan, C. M., McGuire, J. K., Fitzgerald, J. C., Gertz, S. J., Shein, S. L., Munoz, A. C., … Overcoming COVID-19 Investigators (2021). Neurologic Involvement in Children and Adolescents Hospitalized in the United States for COVID-19 or Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome. JAMA neurology, 78(5), 536–547. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2021.0504
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Reddy, P. H., Swerdlow, R. H., Culberson, J., Kang, D., Mitchell, T. L., Smith, Q., Suneja, S., Ory, M. G., Kumar, S., Vijayan, M., Morsy, A., Arandia, G., Lawrence, J. J., George, E., Oliver, D., Pradeepkiran, J. A., Yin, X., Reddy, A. P., Manczak, M., Cengiz, P., … Oddo, S. (2019). Current Status of Healthy Aging and Dementia Research: A Symposium Summary. Journal of Alzheimer’s disease : JAD, 72(s1), S11–S35. https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-190252
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Sex differences in Hippocampal Memory and Learning following Neonatal Brain Injury: Is There a Role for Estrogen Receptor-α? Neuroendocrinology, 109(3):249-256. doi: 10.1159/000499661.
(2019). -
Cengiz P, Zafer D, Chandrashekhar JH, Chanana V, Bogost J, Waldman A, Novak B, Kintner DB, Ferrazzano PA. (2019). Developmental differences in microglia morphology and gene expression during normal brain development and in response to hypoxia-ischemia. Neurochemistry International, 127:137-147. doi: 10.1016/j.neuint.2018.12.016.
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Chandran R, Kim T, Mehta SL, Udho E, Chanana V, Cengiz P, Kim H, Kim C, Vemuganti R. (2018). A combination antioxidant therapy to inhibit NOX2 and activate Nrf2 decreases secondary brain damage and improves functional recovery after traumatic brain injury. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism, 38(10):1818-1827. doi: 10.1177/0271678X17738701.
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Chanana V, Tumturk A, Kintner D, Udho E, Ferrazzano P, Cengiz P. (2016) Sex Differences in Mouse Hippocampal Astrocytes after In-Vitro Ischemia. Journal of Visualized Experiments, 25;(116). doi: 10.3791/53695.
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Cikla U, Chanana V, Kintner DB, Udho E, Eickhoff J, Sun W, Marquez S, Covert L, Otles A, Shapiro RA, Ferrazzano P, Vemuganti R, Levine JE, Cengiz P. (2016) ERα Signaling Is Required for TrkB-Mediated Hippocampal Neuroprotection in Female Neonatal Mice after Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (1,2,3). eNeuro. 28;3(1). pii: ENEURO.0025-15.2015. doi: 10.1523/ENEURO.0025-15.2015.
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Cikla U, Chanana V, Kintner DB, Covert L, Dewall T, Waldman A, Rowley P, Cengiz P, Ferrazzano P. (2016) Suppression of microglia activation after hypoxia-ischemia results in age-dependent improvements in neurologic injury. Journal of Neuroimmunology. 15;291:18-27. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2015.12.004.
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Li S, Papale LA, Kintner DB, Sabat G, Barrett-Wilt GA, Cengiz P, Alisch RS. (2015) Hippocampal increase of 5-hmC in the glucocorticoid receptor gene following acute stress. Behavioral Brain Research. 1;286:236-40. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2015.03.002.
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Cengiz P, Zemlan F, Eickhoff JC, Ellenbogen R, Zimmerman JJ. (2015) Increased cerebrospinal fluid cleaved tau protein (C-tau) levels suggest axonal damage in pediatric patients with brain tumors. Child’s Nervous System, 31(8):1313-9. doi: 10.1007/s00381-015-2705-7.
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Cengiz P, Kintner DB, Chanana V, Yuan H, Akture E, Kendigelen P, Begum G, Fidan E, Uluc K, Ferrazzano P, Sun D. (2014) Sustained Na+/H+ exchanger activation promotes gliotransmitter release from reactive hippocampal astrocytes following oxygen-glucose deprivation. PLoS One. 2;9(1):e84294.
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Uluc K, Kendigelen P, Fidan E, Zhang L, Chanana V, Kintner D, Akture E, Song C, Ye K, Sun D, Ferrazzano P, Cengiz P. (2013) TrkB Receptor Agonist 7, 8 Dihydroxyflavone Triggers Profound Gender- Dependent Neuroprotection in Mice After Perinatal Hypoxia and Ischemia. CNS & Neurological Disorders – Drug Targets. 12(3):360-70.
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Ferrazzano P, Chanana V, Uluc K, Fidan E, Akture E, Kintner DB, Cengiz P, Sun D. (2013) Age-dependent microglial activation in immature brains after hypoxia- ischemia. CNS & Neurological Disorders – Drug Targets. 12(3):338-49.
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Shi Y, Yuan H, Kim D, Chanana V, Baba A, Matsuda T, Cengiz P, Ferrazzano P, Sun D. (2013) Stimulation of Na(+)/H(+) exchanger isoform 1 promotes microglial migration. PLoS One. 21;8(8):e74201.
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Cengiz P, Uluc K, Kendigelen P, Akture E, Hutchinson E, Song C, Zhang L, Lee J, Budoff GE, Meyerand E, Sun D, Ferrazzano P. (2011) Chronic neurological deficits in mice after perinatal hypoxia and ischemia correlate with hemispheric tissue loss and white matter injury detected by MRI. Developmental Neuroscience. 33(3-4):270-9.
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Cengiz P, Kleman N, Uluc K, Kendigelen P, Hagemann T, Akture E, Messing A, Ferrazzano P, Sun D. (2011) Inhibition of Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1 is neuroprotective in neonatal hypoxic ischemic brain injury. Antioxidants & Redox Signaling. 14(10):1803-13.
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Liu Y, Kintner DB, Begum G, Algharabli J, Cengiz P, Shull GE, Liu XJ, Sun D. (2010) Endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ signaling and mitochondrial Cyt c release in astrocytes following oxygen and glucose deprivation. Journal of Neurochemistry. 1;114(5):1436-46.
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Cengiz P, Zemlan F, Ellenbogen R, Hawkins D, Zimmerman JJ. (2008) Cerebrospinal fluid cleaved-tau protein and 9-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid concentrations in pediatric patients with hydrocephalus. Pediatric Critical Care Medicine. 9(5):524-9. doi: 10.1097/PCC.0b013e3181849dc9.
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Cengiz P, Seidel K, Rycus PT, Brogan TV, Roberts JS. (2005) Central nervous system complications during pediatric extracorporeal life support: incidence and risk factors. Critical Care Medicine. 33(12):2817-24.
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Cengiz P, Zimmerman JJ. (2003) Prelude to pediatric multiple organ dysfunction syndrome: the golden hours concept revisited. Pediatric Critical Care Medicine. 4(2):263-4.
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Cengiz P, Zimmerman JJ. (2001) Putting together the pieces. Critical Care Medicine. 29(12):2390-1.