Dr Lola Mugisho

PhD (biomedical science), MSc (hons), PGDipSci, BSc

Research Fellow

In: Ophthalmology » School of Medicine » Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences

Research | Current

My project investigates the efficacy of two Cx43 hemichannel modulators in the treatment of retinal vascular inflammatory complications associated with diabetes using both in vivo and in vitro models. The investigated treatments include intraperitoneally injected Peptide5 and Tonabersat, a novel orally available Cx43 therapeutic that has already shown efficacy in an animal model of age-related macular degeneration.

Distinctions/Honours

Citation in the Dean's List for PhD Excellence (2018)

Sir John Logan Campbell Travel Award (2018)

International Gap Junction Conference (IGJC) Travel Award (2017)

Buchanan Ocular Therapeutics Unit Doctoral Scholarship (2015)

Faculty of Science Masters Awards (2013)

FMHS Summer Studentship Scholarship (2012/2013)

Areas of expertise

Animal handling
in vivo rodent retinal imaging techniques (Fundus Imaging and Spectral Domain-Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
Cell culture
Western blotting
Flow cytometry
Cytometric Bead Array (CBA)
Spectrophotometry
Confocal cell and tissue imaging
Tissue sectioning using a cryostat
Immunocytochemistry
Immunohistochemistry

Selected publications and creative works (Research Outputs)

Mugisho, O. O., Green, C. R., Kho, D. T., Zhang, J., Graham, E. S., Acosta, M. L., & Rupenthal, I. D. (2018). The inflammasome pathway is amplified and perpetuated in an autocrine manner through connexin43 hemichannel mediated ATP release. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - General Subjects, 1862 (3), 385-393. 10.1016/j.bbagen.2017.11.015
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Ilva Rupenthal, Colin Green, Monica Acosta, Scott Graham, Jie Zhang
Mugisho, O. O., Rupenthal, I. D., Squirrell, D. M., Bould, S. J., Danesh-Meyer, H. V., Zhang, J., ... Acosta, M. L. (2018). Intravitreal pro-inflammatory cytokines in non-obese diabetic mice: Modelling signs of diabetic retinopathy. PloS one, 13 (8)10.1371/journal.pone.0202156
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Monica Acosta, Ilva Rupenthal, Helen Danesh-Meyer, Colin Green, Jie Zhang
Mugisho, O. O. (2018). Vascular breakdown in diabetic retinopathy: Role of connexin43 and possible interventions The University of Auckland. ResearchSpace@Auckland.
URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2292/37183
Mugisho, O. O., Green, C. R., Zhang, J., Binz, N., Acosta, M. L., Rakoczy, E., & Rupenthal, I. D. (2017). Immunohistochemical characterization of connexin43 expression in a mouse model of diabetic retinopathy and in human donor retinas. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 18 (12).10.3390/ijms18122567
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Colin Green, Jie Zhang, Monica Acosta, Ilva Rupenthal
Green, C., Mugisho, O. O., Danesh-Meyer, H., Acosta, M. L., & Rupenthal, I. D. (2017). Shutting down the inflammasome pathway in diabetic retinopathy. Paper presented at RANZCO 49th Annual Scienfitic Congress, Perth, Australia. 28 October - 1 November 2017.
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Colin Green, Helen Danesh-Meyer, Ilva Rupenthal
Green, C., Rotimi, O. O., Mat Nor, N. M., Danesh-Meyer, H. V., Acosta ML, & Rupenthal, I. D. (2017). Targeting the inflammasome pathway in retinal disease – An oral treatment for AMD and DR?. Paper presented at Save Sight Society Conference, Auckland, New Zealand. 15 September - 15 September 2017.
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Colin Green, Helen Danesh-Meyer, Monica Acosta, Ilva Rupenthal
Rotimi, O. O., Green, C. R., Kho, D. T., Zhang, J., Graham, E. S., Acosta, M. L., & Rupenthal, I. D. (2017). Connexin43 hemichannel-mediated ATP release amplifies the inflammasome pathway in an autocrine manner. Paper presented at International Gap Junction Conference, Glasgow, Scotland. 29 July - 2 August 2017.
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Monica Acosta, Colin Green, Scott Graham, Ilva Rupenthal
Rotimi, O., Green, C., Zhang, J., Binz, N., Acosta, M., Rakoczy, E., & Rupenthal, I. (1/8/2017). Increased connexin43 expression correlates with the loss of blood vessel integrity in diabetic retinopathy. Poster presented at International Gap Junction Conference, Glasgow, Scotland.
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Monica Acosta, Colin Green, Jie Zhang, Ilva Rupenthal