Kamaleshwar Singh, Ph.D.

Research Interests:

Dr. KP Singh’s research interests are molecular toxicology, environmental carcinogenesis, epigenetic reprogramming in kidney diseases and carcinogenesis. Dr. Singh has identified two novel genes associated with human breast and kidney cancer. His current research is focused on the role of environmental toxicants- and heavy metal-induced epigenetic reprogramming in human cancers and kidney fibrosis. Dr. KP Singh Laboratory Alumni are very well placed as R&D leaders in reputed pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Genentech, Zoetis as well as in academic institutions. The following are the topics of research currently being pursued in his research group:

 

1. Role of oxidative stress in epigenetic reprogramming during arsenic and nicotine-induced carcinogenesis and kidney fibrosis
2. Protective effects of antioxidant and demethylating potentials of natural product green tea polyphenol in cancer and kidney disease
3. Epigenetic mechanism of chemotherapeutic resistance development and potential of epigenetic-based therapeutics in resensitization of drug-resistant breast and kidney cancers
   
   

Current Research Funding:

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Classes:

ENTX 6328  Molecular Methods in Toxicology

ENTX 6326  Principles of Toxicology 

ENTX 6100  Advance Topics in Molecular Carcinogenesis 

ENTX 6300  Environmental Epigenetics and Toxicology

ENTX 6306  Grantsmanship and Editorial Training in Environmental Toxicology

Bio:

Texas Tech Faculty Since 2009

Dr. KP Singh received his PhD degree in Molecular Genetics from University of Delhi, India. He completed postdoctoral training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.  In 2009, he joined the Department of Environmental Toxicology, and The Institute of Environmental and Human Health (TIEHH), Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas. He has published over 50 research papers in peer-reviewed journals and book chapters. He has presented his research in several research meetings. He is a member of the Society of Toxicology (SOT). Dr. Singh serves as an Associate Editor for Frontiers in Genetics (Applied Genetic Epidemiology), and editorial board member for peer-reviewed journals (PLoS ONE, Bulletin of Environmental Contaminants and Toxicology). He has served as a scientific review panel member for federal and private funding agencies as well as reviewer for many peer-reviewed journals. 

Current Research Funding:

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

 

Awards:

Fulbright Specialist Award, 2022

Book Editor:

Molecular Toxicology Protocols (3rd Edition, 2020), Methods in Molecular Biology Series. Springer Science Publication. Editors: Phouthone Keohavong, Kamaleshwar P Singh, Weimin Gao.

Selected Publications:

1. Acharya, N., Kandel, R., Roy, P., Warraich, I., Singh, K. (2025). Epigenetic therapeutics attenuate kidney injury and fibrosis by restoring the expression of epigenetically reprogrammed fibrogenic genes and signaling pathways. Eur J Pharm Sci. 204:106977. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2024.106977. PMID: 39617304
2. Iheanacho MS, Kandel R, Roy P, Singh KP. (2024) Epigallocatechin-3-gallate attenuates arsenic-induced fibrogenic changes in human kidney epithelial cells through reversal of epigenetic aberrations and antioxidant activities. Biofactors. 2024 May-Jun;50(3):542-557. DOI: 10.1002/biof.2027. PMID: 38146662
3. Roy P, Kandel R, Sawant N, Singh KP (2023). Estrogen-induced reactive oxygen species, through epigenetic reprogramming, causes increased growth in breast cancer cells. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2024 Jan 1; 579:112092. DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2023.112092. PMID: 37858609.
4. Kandel R, Singh KP (2022) High concentrations of folic acid through oxidative stress cause acute cytotoxicity, oxidative DNA damage, and long-term fibrogenic changes in kidney epithelial cells. Chemical Research in Toxicology 35(11):2168-2179. DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.2c00258. PMID: 36354958
5. Treas J, Roy P, Singh KP (2022) Chronic co-exposure to arsenic and estrogen potentiates genotoxic estrogen metabolic pathway and hypermethylation of DNA glycosylase MBD4 in human prostate epithelial cells. The Prostate 82(13):1273-1283.

DOI: 10.1002/pros.24401. PMID: 35747940

6. Acharya N, Singh KP (2021) Differential sensitivity of renal carcinoma cells to doxorubicin and epigenetic therapeutics depends on the genetic background. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, 476(6):2365-2379. DOI: 10.1007/s11010-021-04076-7. PMID: 33591455
7. Ponnusamy L, Mahalingaiah PK, and Singh KP (2020) Epigenetic reprogramming and potential application of epigenetic-modifying drugs in acquired chemotherapeutic resistance.  Advances in Clinical Chemistry, 94:219-259. DOI: 10.1016/bs.acc.2019.07.011. PMID: 31952572
8. Chang YW, Singh KP (2019) Nicotine-induced oxidative stress contributes to EMT and stemness during neoplastic transformation through epigenetic modifications in human kidney epithelial cells. Toxicology Applied Pharmacology 374:65-76. DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2019.04.023. PMID: 31047982
9. Chang YW, Singh KP (2019) Long-term exposure to arsenic induces fibrogenic changes in human kidney epithelial cells potentially through an epigenetic mechanism. Journal of Cellular Physiology 234(4):4713-4725. DOI: 10.1002/jcp.27244. PMID: 30191986
10. Ponnusamy L, Mahalingaiah PK, Chang YW, and Singh KP (2018) Reversal of epigenetic aberrations associated with the acquisition of doxorubicin resistance restores drug sensitivity in breast cancer cells. European J Pharmaceutical Sciences 123: 56-69.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2018.07.028. PMID: 30016648

11. Mahalingaiah PK, Ponnusamy L, Singh KP (2017) Oxidative stress-induced epigenetic changes associated with malignant transformation of human kidney epithelial cells. Oncotarget 8(7):11127-11143. DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.12091. PMID: 27655674 
12. Ponnusamy L, Mahalingaiah PK, and Singh KP (2016) Chronic oxidative stress increases resistance to doxorubicin-induced cytotoxicity in renal carcinoma cells potentially through an epigenetic mechanism. Molecular Pharmacology 89(1):27-41.

 DOI: 10.1124/mol.115.100206. PMID: 26519223

13. Mahalingaiah PK, Ponnusamy L, Singh KP (2015) Chronic oxidative stress causes estrogen-independent aggressive phenotype and epigenetic inactivation of estrogen receptor alpha in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 153:41–56. DOI: 10.1007/s10549-015-3514-0. PMID: 26208486
14. Tyagi T, Treas J, Mahalingaiah PK, and Singh KP (2015) Potentiation of growth inhibition and epigenetic modulation by a combination of green tea polyphenol and 5-aza-2’ deoxycytidine in human breast cancer cells.  Submitted to Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 149(3):655-68. DOI: 10.1007/s10549-015-3295-5. PMID: 25663548
15. Mahalingaiah PK, Ponnusamy L, and Singh KP (2015) Chronic oxidative stress causes malignant transformation, along with the acquisition of stem cell characteristics, and epithelial to mesenchymal transition in human renal epithelial cells. Journal of Cellular Physiology 230:1916-28. DOI: 10.1007/s10549-015-3514-0. PMID: 25546616
16. Mahalingaiah PK, Singh KP (2014) Chronic oxidative stress increases growth and tumorigenic potential of MCF-7 breast cancer cells. PLoS ONE  9 (1): e 87371.

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087371. PMID: 24489904

17. Treas J, Tyagi T, Singh KP (2013) Chronic exposure to arsenic, estrogen, and their combination causes increased growth and transformation in human prostate epithelial cells potentially by hypermethylation-mediated silencing of MLH1. The Prostate 73(15):1660 -1672.

DOI:  10.1002/pros.22701. PMID: 23804311

18. Singh KP, Treas J, Tyagi T, Gao W (2012) DNA demethylation by 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine treatment abrogates 17 beta-estradiol-induced cell growth and restores expression of DNA repair genes in human breast cancer cells. Cancer Letters 316 (1):62-69.

DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2011.10.022. PMID: 22082530

19. Singh KP, Kumari R, Treas J, DuMond JW (2011) Chronic exposure to arsenic causes increased cell survival, DNA damage, and increased expression of mitochondrial transcription factor A (mtTFA) in human prostate epithelial cells. Chemical Research in Toxicology 24: 340-349. DOI: 10.1021/tx1003112. PMID: 21235219
20. Singh KP, Kumari R, and DuMond JW (2010) Simulated microgravity –induced epigenetic changes in human lymphocytes. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry 111:123-129.

 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.22674. PMID: 20506542.

21. Singh KP, Kumari R, Pavey C, Jackson D, DuMond JW (2009) Long-duration exposure to cadmium leads to increased cell survival, decreased DNA repair capacity, and genomic instability in mouse testicular Leydig cells. Cancer Letters 279:84-92. DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2009.01.023. PMID: 19232459
22. Singh KP, and Roy D (2006) SKCG-1: a new candidate growth regulatory gene in human sporadic Wilm’s tumors. British J Cancer 94:1524-1532. DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6603090. PMID: 16622458
23. Felty Q, Singh KP, and Roy D (2005) Estrogen-induced G₁/S transition of G₀ –arrested estrogen-dependent breast cancer cells is regulated by mitochondrial oxidant signaling. Oncogene 24: 4883-4893. DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc.1208667. PMID: 15897899
24. Felty Q, Xiong WC, Sun D, Sarkar S, Singh KP, Prakash J, and Roy D (2005) Estrogen-Induced mitochondrial ROS as signal-transducing messengers. Biochemistry 44: 6900-6909. DOI: 10.1021/bi047629p. PMID: 15865435
25. Singh KP, Lopez-Guerrero JA, Llombart-Bosch A, and Roy D (2004) Age, Sex, and co-exposure of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea influence mutations in the ALU repeat sequences in stilbene estrogen-induced kidney tumors in Syrian hamsters. Mutagenesis 19(1):67-73. DOI: 10.1093/mutage/geh003. PMID: 14681315