Prof. Ruth Shalgi-Harsina

Professor, Department of Cell and Development Biology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine

Gabriel Pinkas Chair for the Prevention and Diagnosis of Congenital Anomalies

Executive Committee, Open University, Member

 

Education

1971-1977	Ph.D., Tel Aviv University
1969-1971	M.Sc. (Cum Laude), Zoology, Tel Aviv University
1966-1969	B.Sc., Biology, Tel Aviv University

 

 

Our research focuses on Reproductive Physiology in animal models and in humans. The current research directions investigated in the laboratory are:

• Fertility preservation – the signaling pathway leading to apoptosis in aging oocytes and in oocytes exposed to chemotherapeutic treatments and potential protectants.
• Various research methods are routinely used in the laboratory, ranging from in vivo animal studies and cells cultures to an array of protein methodologies such as western blotting, immunohistochemistry, molecular biology techniques as well as cellular and molecular imaging.
• The role of Fyn kinase, member of the Src family kinases, during meiosis and early events of oocyte activation, as well as in cancer cells.The role of Pigment epithelium derived factor (PEDF) in ovarian physiology and infertility.

 

Grants

2014-2018 Israel Science Foundation (ISF) – Post transcription regulation of Fyn kinase by miR-125a-3p in the ovary– potential relevance to ovarian function

2015-2016 Lau Mintz Foundation, Sackler School of Medicine, TAU – The role of miR-125a-3p and Fyn in oocytes’ meiosis

2016-2017 Israel Cancer Association – miR-125a-induced cellular switch elicits a response to anti-HER2 targeted therapy in cancer cells

2016-2017 The Colton Foundation. PEDF for the treatment for uterine fibroids.

2019-2021 Ministry of Health The role of PEDF in ovarian physiology and infertility

 

 

Publications since 2012

Eliyahu, E., Shtraizent, N., Shalgi, R. and Schuchman, E. H. Construction of conditional acid ceramidase knockout mice and in vivo effects on oocyte development and fertility. Cell Physiol Biochem.30:735-748, 2012.

Chuderland, D., Dvashi, Z., Kaplan-Kraicer, R., Ben-Meir, D., Shalgi, R. and Lavi S. De novo synthesis of PPM1a is engaged in oocyte maturation. Cell Mol Biol Lett. 17:433-45. 2012.

Levi, M., Ninio-Mani, L. and Shalgi R. SRC protein kinases in mouse and rat oocytes and embryos. Results Probl Cell Differ. 55:93-106, 2012.

Chuderland*, D., Ben-Ami* I., Ronel, R., Kraicer-Kaplan, R., Grossman, H., Satchi- Fainaro, R., Eldar-Boock, A. and, Shalgi, R. Hormonal regulation of pigment epithelium derived factor (PEDF) in granulosa cells. Mol Hum Reprod. 19:72-81 2013

Chuderland*, D., Ben-Ami* R., Kraicer-Kaplan, R., Grossman, H., Ronel, R. and Shalgi, R. The role of pigment epithelium-derived factor in the pathophysiology and treatment of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in mice. J Clin Endocr Metab. 98:E258-66, 2013.

Chuderland, D.*, Hasky, N.*, Ben-Ami, I., Kaplan- Kraicer, R., Grossman, H. and Shalgi R. A physiological approach for treating endometriosis by recombinant pigment epithelial derived factor (PEDF). Hum Reprod. 28:1626-34, 2013.

Ninio-Many, L., Grossman, H., Chuderland D., Shomron, N. and Shalgi, R. microRNA-125a-3p reduces proliferation and migration of HEK 293T cells by targeting Fyn. J Cell Sci, 126:2867-2876, 2013.

Levi M, Ghetler Y, Shulman A and Shalgi, R. Morphologic and molecular markers indicate maturation-competence of human oocytes. Hum Reprod. 28:2482-9. 2013.

Ben Aharon, I., Bar Joseph, H., Tzabari, M., Shekman, B., Farzam, N., Levi, M., Shalgi, R., Stemmer, SM. and Savion, N. Doxorubicin-induced vascular toxicity – Targeting potential pathways may reduce procoagulant activity. PLoS One, 8, e75157, 2013.

Chuderland D., Ben-Ami, I., Fridler, S., Hasky, N., Ninio-Many, L., Goldberg, K., Bar-Josef, H., Grossman, H., and Shalgi, R. Hormonal regulation of Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) expression in the endometrium. Mol Cell Endocr. 390, 85-92, 2014.

Ninio-Many, L., Grossman, H., Levi, M., Zilber, S., Tsarfaty, I., Shomron, N., Tuvar, A., Chuderland D., Stemmer, S.M., Ben-Aharon, I.* and Shalgi R.* MicroRNA miR-125a-3p modulates molecular pathway of motility and migration in prostate cancer cells. Oncoscience. 1, 250-261, 2014.

Bar-Joseph, H., Ido Ben-Ami, I., Ron-El, R., Shalgi, R*. and Chuderland, D*. Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) exerts anti oxidative effects in granulosa cells. Feril Steril 102:891-898.e3. 2014.

Uri-Belapolsky, S., Shaish, A., Eliyahu, E., Grossman, H., Levi, M., Chuderland, D., Ninio-Many, L., Hasky, N., Shashar, D., Almog, T., Kandel-Kfir, M., Harats, D., Shalgi, R.* and Kamari, Y*. Interleukin-1 deficiency prolongs ovarian lifespan in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 111:12492-7. 2014.

Yesilaltay, A., Dokshin, G., Busso, D., Galiani, D., Chavarria, T.E., Vasile, E., Quilaqueo, L., Shalgi, R., Dekel, N., Albertini, D., Rigotti, A., Page, D.C., Krieger, D.C. Excess cholesterol induces mouse oocyte activation and may cause infertility. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 111:E4972-80. 2014.

Bar-Joseph, H., Stemmer, S.M., Tsarfaty, I., Shalgi, R. and Ben Aharon, I. Chemotherapy -induced vascular toxicity – Real-time in vivo imaging of vessel impairment. J Vis Exp. e51650, http://www.jove.com/video/51650, 2015.

Hasky, N., Uri-Belapolsky S., Goldberg, K., Miller, I., Grossman, H., Stemmer, S.M. Ben-Aharon, I*. and Shalgi, R*. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists for fertility preservation – unraveling the enigma? Hum Reprod. 30:1089–1101, 2015.

Grossman, H., Chuderland, D., Ninio-Many, L., Hasky, N., Kaplan-Kraicer, R. and Shalgi, R. A novel regulatory pathway in granulosa cells, the LH/human chorionic gonadotropin-microRNA-125a- 3p-Fyn pathway, is required for ovulation. FASEB J. 29:3206-16, 2015.

Levi, M., Tzabari M., Savion, N., Stemmer, S.M., Shalgi, R.* and Ben-Aharon, I.* Dexrazoxane exacerbates doxorubicin-induced testicular toxicity. Reproduction 150: 357–366, 2015.

Levi, M., Hasky, N., Stemmer, S.M., Shalgi, R.* and Ben-Aharon, I.*. Anti-Müllerian hormone is a marker for chemotherapy-induced testicular toxicity. Endocrinology en20151310; 2015 [Epub ahead of print]

Miller-Zmora, I., Chuderland, D., Ron-El R., Shalgi, R.* and Ben-Ami, I.* GnRH agonist modulates PEDF/VEGF ratio inversely to hCG in granulosa cells. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. jc20152312. 2015 [Epub ahead of print]

Levi, M., Shalgi, R., Brenner, B., Perl, G., Purim, O., Amit, L., Stemmer, S.M. and Ben-Aharon, I. The impact of oxaliplatin on the gonads – from bedside to the bench. Mol Hum Reprod 21(12):885-93 2015

Goldberg, K., Bar Joseph, H., Grossman, H., Hasky, N., Uri-Belapolsky, S., Stemmer, S.M., Chuderland, D*., Shalgi, R.* and Ben-Aharon, I.* Pigment epithelium-derived factor alleviates tamoxifeninduced endometrial hyperplasia. Mol Cancer Ther. 14(12):2840-9 2015

Bar-Joseph, H., Ben-Ami, I., Ron-El, R., Shalgi, R.* and Chuderland, D*. Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) regulation by hCG in granulosa cells. Reproduction 151 (2) 179-185, 2016. 

Levi, M., Popovtzer, A., Tzabari, M., Mizrachi, A., Savion, N., Stemmer, S.M., Shalgi, R. and Ben- Aharon, I. Cetuximab intensifies cisplatin-induced testicular toxicity. Reprod Biomed Online. Apr 20. pii: S1472-6483(16)30067-0; 2016.

Grossman, H. and Shalgi, R. A Role of microRNAs in cell differentiation during gonad development. Review In: Springer International Publishing Switzerland; R.P. Piprek (ed.), Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Differentiation in Gonad Development: Results and Problems in Cell Differentiation 58, Chapter 12, pp 309-336, 2016. PMID: 27300184

Miller, I., Chuderland, D., Grossman, H., Ron-El R., Ben-Ami, I.* and Shalgi, R*. The dual role of pigment PEDF in the pathogenesis of OHSS: negating both angiogenic and inflammatory pathways. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Dec;101(12):4699-4709, 2016. 28 September 2016. PMID: 27680872;  

Uri-Belapolsky, S., Ninio-Many, L., Shaish, A., Levi, M., Harats, D., Kamari, Y*. and Shalgi, R*. Interleukin-1 alpha deficiency increases the expression of follicle-stimulating hormone receptors in granulosa cells. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 2017  DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22799

Grossman, H., Har-Paz, E., Gindi N., Irit, M., Levi, M., Nevo, N., Galiani, D., Dekel, N. and Shalgi R. Regulation of GVBD in mouse oocytes by Publishing Switzerland; R.P. Piprek (ed.), Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Differentiation in Gonad Development: Results and Problems in Cell Differentiation 58, Chapter 12, pp 309-336, 2016. PMID: 27300184

Miller, I., Chuderland, D., Grossman, H., Ron-El R., Ben-Ami, I.* and Shalgi, R*. The dual role of pigment PEDF in the pathogenesis of OHSS: negating both angiogenic and inflammatory pathways. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Dec;101(12):4699-4709, 2016. 28 September 2016. PMID: 27680872;

    Uri-Belapolsky, S., Ninio-Many, L., Shaish, A., Levi, M., Harats, D., Kamari, Y*. and Shalgi, R*. Interleukin-1 alpha deficiency increases the expression of follicle-stimulating hormone receptors in granulosa cells. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 2017  DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22799

Grossman, H., Har-Paz, E., Gindi N., Irit, M., Levi, M., Nevo, N., Galiani, D., Dekel, N. and Shalgi R. Regulation of GVBD in mouse oocytes by miR-125a-3p and Fyn kinase through modulation of actin filaments. Sci Rep. 2017 May 22;7(1):2238. PMID: 28533542 

Ben-Aharon I, Levi M, Margel D, Yerushalmi R, Rizel S, Perry S, Sharon E, Hasky N, Abir R, Fisch B, Tobar A, Shalgi R, Stemmer SM. remature ovarian aging in BRCA carriers: a prototype of systemic precocious aging? Oncotarget. 2018 Mar 23; 9 (22):15931-15941.doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.24638. eCollection 2018 Mar

Levi, M., Stemmer, S.M., Stein, J., Shalgi, R. and Ben-Aharon, I. Treosulfan induces differential gonadal toxicity profile compared with Busulfan. Oncotarget 2018 Apr 10;9(27):19317-19327. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.25029

Silber, M., Miller, I., Bar-Joseph, H., Ben-Ami I., Shalgi R. Elucidating the role of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) in metabolic PCOS models. J. Endocrinol. 2019 Oct 1. pii: JOE-19-0297.R1. doi: 10.1530/JOE-19-0297.

Grossman, H*, Har-Paz, E*. Gindi N., Irit, M. and Shalgi R. Intercellular regulation of miR-125a-3p within mouse ovarian follicle towards ovulation. Reproduction 2020; 159 (2): 215-255. doi.org/10.1530/REP-19-0419 PMID: 31841438 

Ninio-Many, L. Elad Hikri, E., Burg Golani, T., Salomon M Stemmer, D.M., Shalgi, R. and Ben-Aharon, I. miR-125a-induced cellular switch elicits a response to anti- HER2 targeted therapy in triple negative breast cancer. Front Oncol, section Cancer Molecular Targets and Therapeutics. 2020; Feb 28; 10:191. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00191.PMID: 32185126 

Miller, I., Bar-Joseph, H., Nemerovsky L., Ben-Ami, I., and Shalgi, R. Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) negates the hyperandrogenism-induced inflammatory-angiogenic imbalance in PCOS. Endocrinology 2020; 245 (2): 291-300.doi.org/10.1530/JOE-19-0603. PMID: 32171180 

Bar-Joseph, H., Peccatori, F. A., Goshen-Lago, T., Cribiù, F. M., Scarfone, G., Levi, M., Shalgi, R. and Ben-Aharon, I. Cancer during regnancy: The role of vascular toxicity in chemotherapy-induced placental toxicity. Cancers 2020, 12, 1277; doi:10.3390/cancers12051277