Contact

• workRoom 4115 Derby Medical School
  Royal Derby Hospital
  Uttoxeter Road
  Derby
  DE22 3DT
  UK
• work01332 724664
• raheela.khan@nottingham.ac.uk
• http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/research/groups/reproductivephysiology/index.aspx

Teaching Summary

I am actively involved in several areas of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.

I am Module convenor for:

• A12U2G (Urogenital) module of Graduate Entry Medicine.
• A12REP (Reproduction) module of the BSc in Medical Physiology and Therapeutics which runs in Part I of the course.
• A13LIP (Lipid signalling) as co-convenor

Research Summary

My current research is centred around reproductive physiology in the human. The main interest of my group is on signalling mechanisms that maintain gestational quiescence and the switch to labour. I… read more

Selected Publications

• PATEL, S.K., JACKSON, L., WARREN, A.Y., ARYA, P., SHAW, R.W. and KHAN, R.N., 2013. A role for two-pore potassium (K2P) channels in endometrial epithelial function Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. 17(1), 134-146
• PEARSON, T., ZHANG, J., ARYA, P., WARREN, A.Y., ORTORI, C., FAKIS, A., KHAN, R.N. and BARRETT, D.A., 2010. Measurement of vasoactive metabolites (hydroxyeicosatetraenoic and epoxyeicosatrienoic acids) in uterine tissues of normal and compromised human pregnancy Journal of Hypertension. 28(12), 2429-2437
• ASHER, V., WARREN, A., SHAW, R., SOWTER, H., BALI, A. and KHAN, R., 2011. The role of Eag and HERG channels in cell proliferation and apoptotic cell death in SK-OV-3 ovarian cancer cell line Cancer Cell International. 11, 6
• KHAN, R.N., MATHAROO-BALL, B. and SHAW, R.W., 2010. Antioxidant enzyme expression, lipid peroxidation, and protein oxidation in human myometrium with parturition Reproductive Sciences. 17(1), 78-84

• View all publications

Current Research

My current research is centred around reproductive physiology in the human. The main interest of my group is on signalling mechanisms that maintain gestational quiescence and the switch to labour. I am interested in the role of inflammatory pathways in pregnancy. This research is currently funded by the Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council and Action Medical Research. In particular we are studying the role of eicosanoids in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia, the contribution of a purinergic receptor to the release of the cytokine interleukin-1beta in pregnancy as well as investigation of the inflammasome in coordinating inflammatory pathways coupled to cytokine release.

In recent years, we have begun exploring the role ion channels play in the aetiology of ovarian cancer. Our cancer studies have expanded to include oesophageal cancer with emphasis on oestrogen receptor expression and function in this malignancy.

Current grant funding:

2011-2013. The purinergic P2X₇ receptor: regulation of uterine function in labour and preterm labour. RN Khan (PI), AJ Douglas, ST Woolley. Action Medical Research, project grant

2010-2012. Mechanisms underlying non-prostanoid eicosanoid modulation of vascular function in normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies. RN Khan (PI), DA Barrett, F Broughton Pipkin. British Heart Foundation, project grant2009-2012. Proinflammatory mediators as modulators of decidual calcium channel expression and function. RN Khan (PI), N Chapman. The Wellcome Trust, project grant

Past Research

My past research has involved investigation of ipn cahnenls in thecontrol of pregnancy.

208-2011. Understanding how how NF-kappaB regulates expression and repression of the Galphas GTPbinding protein in the myometrium. N Chapman, D Anumba, N Europe-Finner. RN Khan (CoI). Medical Research Council, project grant (36 months)

2007-2009. The possible role of phospholipase C delta in the regulation of uterine contractility. J Lymn, RN Khan (CoI), SJ Hill. Action Medical Research, project grant (24 months)

2005-2008. Ion channel characterization in the human fetoplacental unit. RN Khan. British Heart Foundation, PhD studentship (36 months)

2004-2007. Mechanisms underlying the modulatory actions of cytochrome P450-derived eicosanoids in human myometrium. RN Khan (PI), DA Barrett. BBSRC, project grant (36 months)

Future Research

The intention for future research is to apply some of our experimental findings for translation to the antenatal clinic, either through idnetification and validation of potentially novel drug targets through which to manage pregnancies complicated by preterm birth either through tocolysis, early detection of preterm birth using novel biomarkers. We also aim to perform largescale genomic and metabolomic investigations designed to increase knowledge of causal factors in preterm birth.

• ALENEZI SA, KHAN R, SNELL L, ABOELDALYL S and AMER S, 2023. The role of NLRP3 inflammasome in obesity and PCOS - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Int J Mol Sci. 24(13), 10976
• GRIFFIN M, KHAN R, BASU S and SMITH S, 2020. Ion Channels as Therapeutic Targets in High Grade Gliomas Cancers. 12(10):3068(10), 3068
• AMER SA, ALZANATI NG, WARREN A, TARBOX R and KHAN R, 2019. Excess androgen production in subcutaneous adipose tissue of women with polycystic ovarian syndrome is not related to insulin or LH. The Journal of endocrinology. 241(1), 99-109
• MUIR R, LIU G, KHAN R, SHMYGOL A, QUENBY S, QUENBY S, GIBSON RA, MULHAUSLER B and ELMES M, 2018. Maternal obesity-induced decreases in plasma, hepatic and uterine polyunsaturated fatty acids during labour is reversed through improved nutrition at conception Sci Rep. 8(1), 3389
• AL KHYATT W, TUFARELLI C, KHAN R and IFTIKHAR SY, 2018. Selective oestrogen receptor antagonists inhibit oesophageal cancer cell proliferation in vitro BMC Cancer. 18(1), 121
• ELMORSY, E., AL-GHAFARI, A., AGGOUR, A.M., KHAN, R. and AMER, S., 2017. The role of oxidative stress in antipsychotics induced ovarian toxicity Toxicology in Vitro. 44, 190-195
• ELMORSY, E., AL-GHAFARI, A., AGGOUR, A.M., MOSAD, S.M., KHAN, R. and AMER, S., 2017. Effect of antipsychotics on mitochondrial bioenergetics of rat ovarian theca cells Toxicology Letters. 272, 94-100
• RONAN MUIR, JEAN BALLAN, BETHAN CLIFFORD, SARAH MCMULLEN, RAHEELA KHAN, ANATOLY SHMYGOL, SIOBHAN QUENBY and MATTHEW ELMES, 2016. Modelling maternal obesity: The effects of a chronic high–fat, high-cholesterol diet on uterine expression of contractile associated proteins and ex-vivo contractile activity during labour in the rat.: Obesity and uterine contractile activity during labour Clinical Science. 130
• CADAGAN, DAVID, KHAN, RAHEELA and AMER, SAAD, 2016. Thecal cell sensitivity to luteinizing hormone and insulin in polycystic ovarian syndrome REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY. 16(1), 53-60
• OFINRAN O, BOSE U, HAY D, ABDUL S and TUFARELLI C, 2016. Selection of suitable reference genes for gene expression studies in normal human ovarian tissues, borderline ovarian tumours and ovarian cancer Mol Med Rep. 14(6), 5725-5731
• CADAGAN, D., KHAN, R. and AMER, S., 2016. Thecal cell sensitivity to luteinizing hormone and insulin in polycystic ovarian syndrome Reproductive Biology. 16(1), 53-60
• KHAN, R.N. and HAY, D.P., 2015. A clear and present danger: Inflammasomes DAMPing down disorders of pregnancy Human Reproduction Update. 21(3), 388-405
• MANETA, E., WARREN, A.Y., HAY, D.P. and KHAN, R.N., 2015. Caspase-1-mediated cytokine release from gestational tissues, placental, and cord blood Frontiers in Physiology. 6(JUN),
• MUIR R, BALLAN J, CLIFFORD B, MCMULLEN S, KHAN R, SHMYGOL A, QUENBY S and ELMES M, 2015. Modelling maternal obesity: the effects of a chronic high-fat, high-cholesterol diet on uterine expression of contractile-associated proteins and ex vivo contractile activity during labour in the rat. Clinical science (London, England : 1979). 130(3), 183-92
• ALI, T.Y., PIPKIN, F.B. and KHAN, R.N., 2014. The effect of pH and ion channel modulators on human placental arteries PLoS ONE. 9(12),
• CADAGAN, D., KHAN, R. and AMER, S., 2014. Female adipocyte androgen synthesis and the effects of insulin Molecular Genetics and Metabolism Reports. 1(1), 254-263
• PATEL, S.K., JACKSON, L., WARREN, A.Y., ARYA, P., SHAW, R.W. and KHAN, R.N., 2013. A role for two-pore potassium (K2P) channels in endometrial epithelial function Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. 17(1), 134-146
• INNAMAA A, JACKSON L, ASHER V, VAN SCHALKWYK G, WARREN A, KEIGHTLEY A, HAY D, BALI A, SOWTER H and KHAN R, 2013. Expression and effects of modulation of the K2P potassium channels TREK-1 (KCNK2) and TREK-2 (KCNK10) in the normal human ovary and epithelial ovarian cancer Clinical and Translational Oncology. (In Press.)
• WEBSTER, S.J., WAITE, S.L., COOKSON, V.J., WARREN, A., KHAN, R., GANDHI, S.V., EUROPE-FINNER, G.N. and CHAPMAN, N.R., 2013. Regulation of GTP-binding protein (Gα_s) expression in human myometrial cells: a role for tumour necrosis factor in modulating gα_s promoter acetylation by transcriptional complexes Journal of Biological Chemistry. 288(9), 6704-6716
• PANG V, COUNILLON L, LAGADIC-GOSSMANN D, POET M, LACROIX J, SERGENT O, KHAN R and RAUCH C, 2012. On the role of the difference in surface tensions involved in the allosteric regulation of NHE-1 induced by low to mild osmotic pressure, membrane tension and lipid asymmetry Cell Biochemistry and Biophysics. 63, 47-57
• ASHER, V., WARREN, A., SHAW, R., SOWTER, H., BALI, A. and KHAN, R., 2011. The role of Eag and HERG channels in cell proliferation and apoptotic cell death in SK-OV-3 ovarian cancer cell line Cancer Cell International. 11, 6
• KHAN R, 2011. Principles and new developments in molecular biology. In: SHAW RW, LUESLEY D and MONGA AK, eds., Gynaecology 4th. Churchill Livingstone. 156-165
• ALCOCK, J., WARREN, A.Y., GOODSON, Y.J., HILL, S.J., KHAN, R.N. and LYMN, J.S., 2010. Inhibition of tissue transglutaminase 2 attenuates contractility of pregnant human myometrium Biology of Reproduction. 84(4), 646-653
• PEARSON, T., ZHANG, J., ARYA, P., WARREN, A.Y., ORTORI, C., FAKIS, A., KHAN, R.N. and BARRETT, D.A., 2010. Measurement of vasoactive metabolites (hydroxyeicosatetraenoic and epoxyeicosatrienoic acids) in uterine tissues of normal and compromised human pregnancy Journal of Hypertension. 28(12), 2429-2437
• RASHID, FARHAN, WARAICH, NASEEM, BHATTI, IMRAN, SAHA, SHOPAN, KHAN, RAHEELA N, AHMED, JAVED, LEEDER, PAUL C, LARVIN, MIKE and IFTIKHAR, SYED Y, 2010. A pre-operative elevated neutrophil: lymphocyte ratio does not predict survival from oesophageal cancer resection. World Journal of Surgical Oncology. 8, 1
• KHAN, R.N., MATHAROO-BALL, B. and SHAW, R.W., 2010. Antioxidant enzyme expression, lipid peroxidation, and protein oxidation in human myometrium with parturition Reproductive Sciences. 17(1), 78-84
• RASHID, FARHAN, KHAN, RAHEELA N and IFTIKHAR, SYED Y, 2010. Probing the link between oestrogen receptors and oesophageal cancer. World Journal of Surgical Oncology. 8, 9
• ALI, T., BROUGHTON PIPKIN, F. and KHAN, R.N., 2010. Investigating the effects of acidic pH on placental residual arteries Proc Physiol Soc. 19, C26
• JONES K, KHAN, R.N. and DENT, K., 2010. Pre-eclampsia Student British Medical Journal. 18, c2212
• ASHER V, KHAN R, WARREN A, SHAW R, VAN SCHALKWYK G, BALI A and SOWTER HM, 2010. The Eag potassium channel as a new prognostic marker in ovarian cancer Diagnostic Pathology. 5, 78
• ASHER V, KHAN RN, SHAW RW, BALI A and SOWTER H, 2010. Eag potassium channel as a new prognostic marker in ovarian cancer In: British International Congress, Belfast.
• PEARSON, T., WARREN, A.Y., BARRETT, D.A. and KHAN, R.N., 2009. Detection of EETs and HETE-generating cytochrome P-450 enzymes and the effects of their metabolites on myometrial and vascular function American Journal of Physiology. Endocrinology and Metabolism. 297(3), E647-E656
• THOMSON NL, ALCOCK J, GOODSON JY, WARREN AY, HILL SJ, KHAN RN, LYMN JS, 2009. Expression and cellular localisation of tissue transglutaminase II in human myometrium Reproductive Sciences. 16(3), P802
• ALCOCK J, WARREN AY, GOODSON JY, HILL SJ, KHAN RN, LYMN JS, 2009. Oxytocin-induced contractility in human myometrium is inhibited by inhibitors of the enzyme tissue transglutaminase Reproductive Sciences. 16(3), P758
• ALCOCK J, GOODSON JY, WARREN AY, HILL SJ, KHAN RN, LYMN JS, 2009. Phospholipase C isoform expression in the human myometrium is differentially regulated in pregnancy Reproductive Sciences. 16(3), P757
• ALI, T., BROUGHTON PIPKIN, F. and KHAN, R.N., 2009. Expression of two pore domain potassium channels (K2P) in the placenta Reproductive Sciences. 16(3), S595
• ALI, T., BROUGHTON PIPKIN, F. and KHAN, R.N., 2009. Activation of two pore domain potassium channels (K2P) in arteries isolated from the placenta and myometrium Reproductive Sciences. 16(3), S594
• RASHID F, WARREN A, LEE A, LUND JN, LEEDER PC, KHAN RN, LARVIN M and IFTIKHAR SY, 2009. Potential significance of oestrogen receptors in oesophageal cancer British Journal of Surgery. 96(S6)(1), 58
• ALCOCK J, WARREN AY, GOODSON JY, HILL SJ, KHAN RN and LYMN JS, 2009. Oxytocin-induced contractility in human myometrium is reduced by inhibition of the enzyme tissue transglutaminase II In: SGI Annual Meeting, Glasgow, UK.
• ALCOCK J, GOODSON JY, WARREN AY, HILL SJ, KHAN RN and LYMN JS, 2009. Phospholipase C isoform expression in the human myometrium is differentially regulated in pregnancy In: SGI Annual Meeting, Glasgow, UK.
• THOMSON NT, ALCOCK J, GOODSON JY, WARREN AY, HILL SJ, KHAN RN and LYMN JS, 2009. Expression and cellular localisation of tissue transglutaminase II in human myometrium In: SGI Annual Meeting, Glasgow, UK.
• WARREN, A.Y., HARVEY, L., SHAW, R.W. and KHAN, R.N., 2008. Interleukin-1β secretion from cord blood mononuclear cells in vitro involves P2X 7 receptor activation Reproductive Sciences. 15(2), 189-194
• ALI, T., BROUGHTON PIPKIN, F. and KHAN, R.N., 2008. Expression of BKCa in arteries isolated from the maternal-fetal interface of the placenta British Journal of Surgery. 95, S3
• ZHANG, J.H., PEARSON, T., MATHAROO-BALL, B., ORTORI, C.A., WARREN, A.Y., KHAN, R. and BARRETT, D.A., 2007. Quantitative profiling of epoxeicosatrienoic, hydroxyeicosatetraenoic, and dihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids in human intrauterine tissues using liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry Analytical Biochemistry. 365(1), 40-51
• WARREN, A.Y, HARVEY, L, SHAW, R.W and KHAN, R.N., 2007. Interleukin-1beta Secretion from Cord Blood Leukocytes During Labor is Mediated by P2X7 Receptor Reprod Sci. 15, 189-194 (In Press.)
• CHANRACHAKUL, B., WARREN, A. Y., SHAW, R. W., BROUGHTON PIPKIN, F. and KHAN, R. N., 2006. Compartmentation, function and expression of L-type calcium channel in human myometrium (Abstract) Journal of The Society for Gynaecological Investigation. 13(2), 9
• LIU, B., HILL, S.J. and KHAN, R.N., 2005. Oxytocin inhibits T-type calcium current of human decidual stromal cells. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 90(7), 4191-4197
• WARREN, A.Y., MATHAROO-BALL, B., SHAW, R.W. and KHAN, R.N., 2005. Hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion modulate pregnant human myometrial contractility Reproduction. 130(4), 539-544
• CHANRACHAKUL, B., BROUGHTON PIPKIN, F., WARREN, A.Y., ARULKUMARAN, S. and KHAN, R.N., 2005. Progesterone enhances the tocolytic effect of ritodrine in isolated pregnant human myometrium American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 192(2), 458-463
• CHANRACHAKUL, B., SHAW, R.W., BROUGHTON PIPKIN, F. and KHAN, R.N, 2005. Colocalisation between the large conductance calcium-activated potassium channel, L-type calcium channel, and alpha2 adrenergic receptor, with caveolin in pregnant human myometrial cells. (Abstract) Journal of Physiology. PC58
• CHANRACHAKUL, B., WARREN, A.Y., BROUGHTON PIPKIN, F. and KHAN, R.N, 2005. Activation of BKCa channels by isoproterenol in pregnant human myometrium through b2-adrenergic receptors. (Abstract) Journal of The Society for Gynaecological Investigation. 12(2), 287A
• CHANRACHAKUL, B., WARREN, A.Y., BROUGHTON PIPKIN, F. and KHAN, R.N, 2005. Isoproterenol modulates calcium (Ca2+):activated potassium (K+) channels in pregnant human myometrium through beta2 adrenergic receptors. (Abstract) Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 21(Suppl 1), S62
• CHANRACHAKUL,B., BROUGHTON PIPKIN,F. and KHAN,R.N, 2005. ABSTRACT: Activation of Ca2+-activated K+ channels by a beta adrenergic agent in pregnant human myometrial cells. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.. 25(Suppl 1), S62
• KHAN, R. N., HAMOUD, H., WARREN, A., WONG, L. F. and ARULKUMARAN, S., 2004. Relaxant action of sildenafil citrate (Viagra) on human myometrium of pregnancy American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. VOL 191(NUMBER 1), 315-321
• CHANRACHAKUL, B., BROUGHTON PIPKIN, F. and KHAN, R.N., 2004. Contribution of coupling between human myometrial ß2-adrenoreceptor and the BKCa channel to uterine quiescence American Journal of Physiology : Cell Physiology. 287(6), C1747-C1752
• CHANRACHAKUL, B., BROUGHTON PIPKIN, F. and KHAN, R.N, 2004. The large conductance calcium-activated potassium channel (BKCa) and the beta2 adrenergic receptor (AR): a direct link to uterine relaxation. Physiology News. 55, 22-23
• LIU, B., ARULKUMARAN, S., HILL, S.J. and KHAN, R.N., 2003. Comparison of potassium currents in human decidua before and after the onset of labor Biology of Reproduction. 68(6), 2281-2288
• CHANRACHAKUL, B., TURNER, A., MATHAROO-BALL, B., BROUGHTON PIPKIN, F., ARULKUMARAN, S. and KHAN, R.N., 2003. Colocalization and expression of ß2-adrenergic receptor and large conductance calcium-activated potassium channel in human myometrium Journal of Physiology. 551P, C8
• CHANRACHAKUL, B, MATHAROO-BALL, B, TURNER, A, ROBINSON, G, BROUGHTON-PIPKIN, F, ARULKUMARAN, S and KHAN, R. N., 2003. Reduced expression of immunoreactive ß₂-adrenergic receptor protein in human myometrium with labor Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 88(10), 4997-5001
• MATHAROO-BALL, B., ASHFORD, M.L.J., ARULKUMARAN, S. and KHAN, R.N., 2003. Down-regulation of the α- and β-subunits of the calcium-activated potassium channel in human myometrium with parturition Biology of Reproduction. 68(6), 2135-2141
• CHANRACHAKUL, B., MATHAROO-BALL, B., TURNER, A., ROBINSON, G., BROUGHTON PIPKIN, F., ARULKUMARAN, S. and KHAN, R.N., 2003. Immunolocalization and protein expression of the alpha subunit of the large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channel in human myometrium Reproduction. 126(1), 43-48
• CHANRACHAKUL, B., MATHROO-BALL, B., TURNER, A., ROBINSON, G., ARULKUMARAN, S., BROUGHTON PIPKIN, F. and KHAN, R.N, 2003. ABSTRACT: Localisation and expression of a-subnuit of the large conductance potassium channel in human myometrium. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Canada. 28((Suppl 1)), S53-S54
• CHANRACHAKUL, B., MATHROO-BALL, B.TURNER, A., ROBINSON, G., BROUGHTON PIPKIN, F., ARULKUMARAN, S. and KHAN, R.N, 2003. ABSTRACT: Expression of b2-adrenoreceptors in pregnant women with and without labour. Journal of The Society for Gynaecological Investigation. 10(2), 190A
• ASTLE, SHIRLEY, KHAN, RAHEELA N and THORNTON, STEVEN, 2003. The effects of a progesterone metabolite, 5 beta-dihydroprogesterone, on oxytocin receptor binding in human myometrial membranes. BJOG. 110(6), 589-92
• KHAN, R N, MATHAROO-BALL, B, ARULKUMARAN, S and ASHFORD, M L, 2001. Potassium channels in the human myometrium. Experimental Physiology. 86(2), 255-64
• KHAN, R. N., MORRISON, J. J., SMITH, S. K. and ASHFORD, M. L. J., 1998. Activation of large-conductance potassium channels in pregnant human myometrium by pinacidil American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. VOL 178(NUMBER 5), 1027-1034
• KHAN, R N, SMITH, S K and ASHFORD, M L, 1998. Contribution of calcium-sensitive potassium channels to NS1619-induced relaxation in human pregnant myometrium. Human Reproduction. 13(1), 208-13
• ROWE, I C, LEE, K, KHAN, R N and ASHFORD, M L, 1997. Effect of englitazone on KATP and calcium-activated non-selective cation channels in CRI-G1 insulin-secreting cells. British Journal of Pharmacology. 121(3), 531-9
• SMITH,S.K., ASHFORD,M.I., KHAN,R.N. and MORRISON,J.J, 1997. Ca²⁺ -dependence and pharmacology of large-conductance potassium channels in nonlabor and labor human uterine mycoytes American Journal of Physiology. 272(Nov 1997), C1721-C1731
• ROWE,I.C., HALL,A.C., HALES,C.N., OZANNE,S.E., ASHFORD,M.I., LEE,K. and KHAN,R.N, 1996. Ciclazindol inhibits ATP-sensitive K+ channels and stimulates insulin secretion in CRI-GI insulin-secreting cells Molecular Pharmacology. 49(4), 715-720