Margaret A. McNurlan, PhD — Academic Profile

My research focuses on the metabolic perturbations associated with trauma and disease states. I have conducted investigator-initiated human studies using stable isotopes to assess alterations in protein metabolism associated with aging, HIV-disease, and diabetes. Currently, I am investigating the impact of inflammation on glucose metabolism in individuals with insulin resistance associated with HIV-disease or obesity. These human studies assess sensitivity to insulin with the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp, oral glucose tolerance test, and the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA). My colleagues and I are testing ways of improving sensitivity to insulin through a reduction in inflammation.

• > The following list includes grants funding Dr. McNurlan's research since 1990:
• Principal Investigator, National Institutes of Health RO1 grant: Cellular Mechanisms for Sarcopenia in the Elderly.
• Co-Investigator, National Institutes of Health R01 grant: PPAR-mediated Gene Expression in HIV Patients.
• Co-Investigator, National Institutes of Health R01 grant: A Novel Therapy for Glucose Intolerance in HIV.
• Co-Investigator, National Institutes of Health R21 grant. Chromium Treatment of Obesity-related Insulin Resistance.
• Co-Principal Investigator, National Institute of Health RO1 grant: Cellular Mechanisms of Metabolic Dysfunction in HIV.
• Principal Investigator, funding from Nestec Ltd., Switzerland: Urinary Production of Nitric Oxide from L-Arginine.
• Principal Investigator, National Institute of Health RO1 grant: Control of Muscle Protein Metabolism by Insulin and Amino Acids.
• Co-Principal Investigator, National Institute of Health RFA grant: Muscle Protein Synthesis and GH/ IGF Axis in AIDS.
• Co-Principal Investigator, National Institute of Health R01 grant: Metabolic Implications of Dietary Arginine Supplements.
• Principal Investigator, funding from Nestec Ltd., Switzerland: Interactions of Nutrition and Pathological Conditions on Body Protein Metabolism with Particular Emphasis on L-Glutamine and L-Arginine.
• Principal Investigator, funding from Nestec Ltd., Switzerland: Investigations into Clinical Conditions Associated with the Loss of Body Protein: The Impact of Nutrition.
• Principal Investigator, funding from Nestec Ltd., Switzerland: Comparison of [15N]Glycine and [15N]Soy Protein for the Measurement of Whole-body Protein Metabolism in Man.
• Co-Principal Investigator, funding from Nutricia, The Netherlands: Study of Protein Metabolism and the Utilisation of Substrates for Energy in Controlled Zinc Deficiency in Man.
• Co-Principal Investigator, funding from Milupa AG, Germany: Clinical Investigation of Nutritional Efficacy of Infant Formulae.

• > Click here to see abstracts/full text of Dr. McNurlan's journal articles on PubMed (National Library of Medicine). Below are selected publications since 2000:
• Anthony TG, McDaniel BJ, Byerley RL, McGrath BC, Cavener DR, McNurlan MA, Wek RC. Preservation of liver protein synthesis during dietary leucine deprivation occurs at the expense of skeletal muscle mass in mice deleted for eIF2 kinase GCN2. J Biol Chem 2004;279:36553-61.
• Anthony TG, McDaniel BJ, Knoll P, Bunpo P, Paul GL, McNurlan MA. Feeding meals containing soy or whey protein after exercise stimulates protein synthesis and translation initiation in the skeletal muscle of male rats. J Nutr 2007;137:357-62.
• Anthony TG, McNurlan MA. Protein synthesis and degradation. In: Stipanuk MH, Caudill MA, editors. Biochemical and Physiological Aspects of Human Nutrition. St. Louis: Saunders, 2012: 256-86.
• Barle H, Gamrin L, Essen P, McNurlan MA, Garlick PJ, Wernerman J. Growth hormone does not affect albumin synthesis in the critically ill. Intensive Care Med 2001;27:836-43.
• Barle H, Hallstrom L, Essen P, Thorne A, McNurlan MA, Garlick PJ, Wernerman J. The synthesis rate of albumin decreases during laparoscopic surgery. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging 2004;24:91-5.
• Barle H, Rahlen L, Essen P, McNurlan MA, Garlick PJ, Holgersson J, Wernerman J. Stimulation of human albumin synthesis and gene expression by growth hormone treatment. Clin Nutr 2001;20:59-67.
• Braziuniene I, Garlick J, Mileva I, Desikan V, Wilson TA, McNurlan M. Effect of insulin with oral nutrients on whole-body protein metabolism in growing pubertal children with type 1 diabetes. Pediatr Res 2009;65:109-12.
• Caso G, Feiner J, Mileva I, Bryan LJ, Kelly P, Autio K, Gelato MC, McNurlan MA. Response of albumin synthesis to oral nutrients in young and elderly subjects. Am J Clin Nutr 2007;85:446-51.
• Caso G, Ford GC, Nair KS, Garlick PJ, McNurlan MA. Aminoacyl-tRNA enrichment after a flood of labeled phenylalanine: insulin effect on muscle protein synthesis. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2002;282:E1029-38.
• Caso G, Ford GC, Nair KS, Vosswinkel JA, Garlick PJ, McNurlan MA. Increased concentration of trace affects estimates of muscle protein synthesis. Am J Physiol 2001;280:E937-46.
• Caso G, Garlick PJ, Ballou LM, Vosswinkel JA, Gelato MC, McNurlan MA. The increase in human muscle protein synthesis induced by food intake is similar when assessed with the constant infusion and flooding techniques. J Nutr 2006;36:1504-10.
• Caso G, Garlick PJ, Gelato MC, McNurlan MA. Lymphocyte protein synthesis is increased with the progression of HIV-associated disease to AIDS. Clin Sci (Lond) 2001;101:583-9.
• Caso G, McNurlan MA. Effect of insulin on whole body protein metabolism in children with type 1 diabetes. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care 2010;13:93-6.
• Caso G, McNurlan MA, McMillan ND, Eremin O, Garlick PJ. Tumour cell growth in culture: dependence on arginine. Clin Sci (Lond) 2004;107:371-9.
• Caso G, McNurlan MA, Mileva I, Zemlyak A, Mynarcik DC, Gelato MC. Peripheral fat loss and decline in adipogenesis in older humans. Metabolism 2013;62:337-40.
• Caso G, Mileva I, Kelly P, Ahn H, Gelato MC, McNurlan MA. Feeding acutely stimulates fibrinogen synthesis in healthy young and elderly adults. J Nutr 2009;139:2032-6.
• Caso G, Mileva I, McNurlan MA, Mynarcik DC, Darras F, Gelato MC. Effect of ritonavir and atazanavir on human subcutaneous preadipocyte proliferation and differentiation. Antiviral Res 2010;86:137-43.
• Caso G, Scalfi L, Marra M, Covino A, Muscaritoli M, McNurlan MA, Garlick PJ, Contaldo F. Albumin synthesis is diminished in men consuming a predominantly vegetarian diet. J Nutr 2000;130:528-33.
• Caso G, Vosswinkel JA, Garlick PJ, Barry MK, Bilfinger TV, McNurlan MA. Altered protein metabolism following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Clin Sci (Lond) 2008;114:339-46.
• Caso G, Vosswinkel JA, Garlick PJ, Mileva I, Gelato MC, McNurlan MA. Response of human muscle protein to feeding: a comparison of methods [abstract]. FASEB J 2006;20:A8.
• Feiner JJ, McNurlan MA, Ferris RE, Mynarcik DC, Gelato MC. Chromium picolinate for insulin resistance in subjects with HIV disease: a pilot study. Diabetes Obes Metab 2008;10:151-8.
• Gamrin L, Essen P, Hultman E, McNurlan MA, Garlick PJ, Wernerman J. Protein-sparing effect in skeletal muscle of growth hormone treatment in critically ill patients. Ann Surg 2000;231:577-86.
• Gavi S, Feiner JJ, Melendez MM, Mynarcik DC, Gelato MC, McNurlan MA. Limb fat to trunk fat ratio in elderly persons is a strong determinant of insulin resistance and adiponectin levels. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2007;62:997-1001.
• Gavi S, Qurashi S, Stuart LM, Lau R, Melendez MM, Mynarcik DC, McNurlan MA, Gelato MC. Influence of age on the association of retinol-binding protein 4 with metabolic syndrome. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2008;16:893-5.
• Gavi S, Stuart LM, Kelly P, Melendez MM, Mynarcik DC, Gelato MC, McNurlan MA. Retinol-binding protein 4 is associated with insulin resistance and body fat distribution in nonobese subjects without type 2 diabetes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2007;92:1886-90.
• Gelato M, McNurlan M, Freedland E. Role of recombinant human growth hormone in HIV-associated wasting and cachexia: pathophysiology and rationale for treatment. Clin Ther 2007;29:2269-88.
• Gelato MC, Mynarcik D, McNurlan MA. Soluble tumour necrosis factor alpha receptor 2, a serum marker of resistance to the anabolic actions of growth hormone in subjects with HIV disease. Clin Sci (Lond) 2002;102:85-90.
• Godil MA, Wilson TA, Garlick PJ, McNurlan MA. Effect of insulin with concurrent amino acid infusion on protein metabolism in rapidly growing pubertal children with type 1 diabetes. Pediatr Res 2005;58:229-34.
• Hammarqvist F, Sandgren A, Andersson K, Essen P, McNurlan MA, Garlick PJ, Wernerman J. Growth hormone together with glutamine-containing total parenteral nutrition maintains muscle glutamine levels and results in a less negative nitrogen balance after surgical trauma. Surgery 2001;129:576-86.
• Imoberdorf R, Bartsch P, Peheim E, Garlick PJ, McNurlan MA, Turgay M, Ballmer P. Plasma volume, albumin and fibrinogen synthesis during active and passive ascent to high altitude. J Appl Physiol 2001;90:528-37.
• Imoberdorf R, Garlick PJ, McNurlan MA, Casella GA, Marini JC, Turgay M, Bartsch P, Ballmer PE. Skeletal muscle protein synthesis after active or passive ascent to high altitude. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2006;38:1082-7.
• Januszkiewicz A, Essen P, McNurlan MA, Ringden O, Garlick PJ, Wernerman J. A combined stress hormone infusion decreases in vivo protein synthesis in human T lymphocytes in healthy volunteers. Metabolism 2001;50:1308-14.
• Januszkiewicz A, Essen P, McNurlan MA, Ringden O, Garlick PJ, Wernerman J. Determination of in vivo protein synthesis in human T lymphocytes. Clin Nutr 2001;20:181-2.
• Januszkiewicz A, Essen P, McNurlan MA, Ringden O, Wernerman J, Garlick PJ. In vivo protein synthesis of circulating human T lymphocytes does not respond to a cortisol challenge within 24 h. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 2000;44:202-9.
• Jones E, Mazirka P, McNurlan MA, Brink P, Caso G. Inhibition of human prostate cancer growth by mesenchymal stem cells delivering miR-16. FASEB J 2017;31:LB177.
• Jones E, Mazirka P, McNurlan MA, Brink P, Caso G. Mir-16 and mir-34a suppress growth of a variety of human cancer cells. FASEB J 2017;31:LB178.
• Jones E, Mazirka P, McNurlan MA, Darras F, Gelato MC, Caso G. Highly active antiretroviral therapy dysregulates proliferation and differentiation of human pre-adipocytes. World J Virol 2017;6:53-8.
• Kleger GR, Turgay M, Imoberdorf R, McNurlan MA, Garlick PJ, Ballmer PE. Acute metabolic acidosis decreases muscle protein synthesis but not albumin synthesis in humans. Am J Kidney Dis 2001;38:1199-207.
• Lydic ML, McNurlan M, Bembo S, Mitchell L, Komaroff E, Gelato M. Chromium picolinate improves insulin sensitivity in obese subjects with polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril 2006;86:243-6.
• Mazirka P, Jones E, Strachan P, McNurlan MA, Lawson W, Caso G. Effect of coenzyme Q10 supplementation in patients with statin-related myalgia. FASEB J 2015;29:LB334.
• McNurlan MA. New perspectives in the control of body protein metabolism. Br J Nutr 2012;108 Suppl 2:S94-104.
• McNurlan MA, Anthony TC. Protein synthesis and degradation. In: Stipanuk MH, editor. Biochemical, Physiological and Molecular Aspects of Human Nutrition. 2nd ed. St. Louis: Saunders, 2006: 319-60.
• McNurlan MA, Garlick PJ. Protein metabolism: overview and turnover. In: Stipanuk MH, editor. Biochemical and Physiological Aspects of Human Nutrition. Philadelphia: Saunders, 2000: 211-33.
• Melendez MM, McNurlan MA, Mynarcik DC, Khan S, Gelato MC. Endothelial adhesion molecules are associated with inflammation in subjects with HIV disease. Clin Infect Dis 2008;46:775-80.
• Melendez MM, Vosswinkel JA, Shapiro MJ, Gelato MC, Mynarcik D, Gavi S, Xu X, McNurlan M. Wall suction applied to needle muscle biopsy — a novel technique for increasing sample size. J Surg Res 2007;142:301-3.
• Molina PE, Lang CH, McNurlan M, Bagby GJ, Nelson S. Chronic alcohol accentuates simian acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-associated wasting. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2008;32:138-47.
• Molina PE, McNurlan M, Rathmacher J, Lang CH, Zambell KL, Purcell J, Bohm RP, Zhang P, Bagby GJ, Nelson S. Chronic alcohol accentuates nutritional, metabolic, and immune alterations during asymptomatic simian immunodeficiency virus infection. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2006;30:2065-78.
• Mynarcik D, Wei LX, Komaroff E, Ferris R, McNurlan M, Gelato M. Chronic loss of subcutaneous adipose tissue in HIV-associated lipodystrophy may not be associated with accelerated apoptosis. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2005;38:367-71.
• Mynarcik D, Wei LX, Komaroff E, Ferris R, McNurlan M, Gelato M. Loss of subcutaneous adipose tissue in HIV-associated lipodystrophy is not due to accelerated apoptosis. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2005;38:53-6.
• Mynarcik DC, McNurlan MA, Steigbigel RT, Fuhrer J, Gelato MC. Association of severe insulin resistance with both loss of limb fat and elevated serum tumor necrosis factor receptor levels in HIV lipodystrophy. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2000;25:312-21.
• Nygren J, Thorell A, Brismar K, Essen P, Wernerman J, McNurlan MA, Garlick PJ, Ljungqvist O. Glucose flux is normalized by compensatory hyperinsulinaemia in growth hormone-induced insulin resistance in healthy subjects, while skeletal muscle protein synthesis remains unchanged. Clin Sci (Lond) 2002;102:457-64.
• Qurashi S, Mynarcik DC, McNurlan MA, Ahn H, Ferris R, Gelato MC. Importance of the high molecular weight isoform of adiponectin in improved insulin sensitivity with rosiglitazone treatment in HIV disease. Clin Sci (Lond) 2008;115:197-202.
• Reinert RB, Oberle LM, Wek S, Bunpo P, Wang XP, Mileva I, Goodwin L, Aldrich CJ, Durden DL, McNurlan MA, Wek RC, Anthony TG. Role of glutamine depletion in directing tissue-specific nutrient stress responses to L-asparaginase. J Biol Chem 2006;281:31222-33.
• Stein SA, McNurlan M, Phillips BT, Messina C, Mynarcik D, Gelato M. Chromium therapy for insulin resistance associated with HIV-disease. J AIDS Clin Res 2013;4:1-7.
• Zemlyak A, Zakhaleva J, Pearl M, Mileva I, Gelato M, Mynarcik D, McNurlan M. Expression of inflammatory cytokines by adipose tissue from patients with endometrial cancer. Eur J Gynaecol Oncol 2012;33:363-6.
• > Click here to see abstracts/full text of Dr. McNurlan's journal articles on PubMed (National Library of Medicine).

• > Full curriculum vitae.
• Member, American Federation for Medical Research
• Member, American Institute of Nutrition
• Member, American Physiological Society
• Member, American Society for Clinical Nutrition
• Member, American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
• Member, Biochemical Society (UK)
• Member, Board of Governors, Long Island Research Corporation, Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center
• Member, European Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
• Member, Nutrition Society (UK)
• Recent ad hoc reviewer for European Journal of Biochemistry, Clinical Science, JPEN, Journal of Surgical Research, Human and Experimental Toxicology, Growth Hormone & IGF Research