Ron Sluyter

Research Interests

Purinergic Signalling

Inflammation and Immunity

Red Cell Biology

Cancer-associated Thrombosis

Representative Publications

Sluyter R, Shemon AN, Hughes WE, Stevenson RO, Georgiou J, Eslick GE, Taylor RM, Wiley JS. Canine erythrocytes express the P2X7 receptor: greatly increased function compared with human erythrocytes. American Journal of Physiology – Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 293: R2090-R2098, 2007.

Shemon AN, Sluyter R, Fernando SL, Clarke AL, Dao-Ung LP, Skarratt KK, Saunders BM, Tan KS, Gu BJ, Fuller SJ, Britton WJ, Petrou S, Wiley JS. A Thr³⁵⁷ to Ser polymorphism in homozygous and compound heterozygous subjects causes absent or reduced P2X7 function and impairs ATP-induced mycobacterial killing by macrophages. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 281: 2079-2086, 2006.

Georgiou JG, Skarratt KK, Fuller SJ, Martin CJ, Christopherson RI, Wiley JS, Sluyter R. Human epidermal and monocytes-derived Langerhans cells express functional P2X₇ receptors. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 125: 482-490, 2005.

Sluyter R, Shemon AN, Barden JA, Wiley JS. Extracellular ATP increases cation fluxes in human erythrocytes by activation of the P2X₇ receptor. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 279: 44749-44755.

Sluyter R, Shemon AN, Wiley JS. Glu⁴⁹⁶ to Ala polymorphism in the P2X₇ receptor impairs ATP-induced IL-1b release from human monocytes. Journal of Immunology, 172: 3399-3405, 2004.

Current Students

Patrick Constantinescu

The P2X7 receptor in microparticle release from blood cells

Andrew Farrell

The P2X7 receptor and microparticles in cancer-associated thrombosis

Suggested Topics for Future Students

The P2X7 receptor in the release of interleukin-1 family members

The P2X7 receptor in the skin immune system

The P2X7 receptor in red cell biology

Abbreviated CV

Employment History

Senior Lecturer, University of Wollongong, 2008-present

Senior Research Fellow, Nepean Clinical School, University of Sydney, 2003-2007

Research Fellow, Nepean Clinical School, University of Sydney, 2000-2003

Research Fellow, Department of Pathology, University of Sydney, 1999

Research Assistant, Department of Medicine, University of Sydney, 1992-1993

Academic Degrees

PhD, The University of Sydney, 1999

BAppSc (Hons) (First class), The University of Technology, Sydney, 1991

Recent and Current Grants

Cure Cancer Australia Foundation Project Grant, The P2X7 receptor and microparticles in cancer-associated thromboembolism, 2008

Australian Academy of Sciences Scientific Visit to Europe Programme Fellowship, 2007

NHMRC Project Grant, Role of P2X₇ in innate and adaptive immunity to mycobacterial infections, 2005-2007

Last reviewed: 9 April, 2008