Cardiovascular, Lymphatic and Metabolic Disease
Cardiovascular, Lymphatic and Metabolic Disease - CLM
Research related to the investigations of cardiac function, blood vessel circulation of organs; lymphatic vessel physiology, lymphatic control of inflammation and immune responses; underlying pathophysiology of obesity, diabetes, aging, heart disease, hypertension, lymphedema, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney and liver injury, eye conditions, and cancer.
Faculty
Sarah Bondos, PhD
bondos@tamu.edu | 979.436.0807 | Office: MREB-II, 4417
Research Interest
Promoting and guiding angiogenesis and blood vessel repair with functionalized biomaterials
Graduate Program Affiliation
Publications
- Howell DW, Duran CL, Tsai SP, Bondos SE, Bayless KJ. Functionalization of Ultrabithorax Materials with Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Enhances Angiogenic Activity. Biomacromolecules. 2016;17(11):3558-3569. doi:10.1021/acs.biomac.6b01068
Adam Case, PhD
acase@tamu.edu | 979.436.9709 | Office: MREB-II 3414
Research Interest
Impact of mental health on the development of cardiovascular disease
Graduate Program Affiliation
Publications
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Case AJ, Zimmerman MC. Redox-regulated suppression of splenic T-lymphocyte activation in a model of sympathoexcitation. Hypertension. 2015 Apr;65(4):916-23. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.114.05075. Epub 2015 Feb 17. PMID: 25691620; PMCID: PMC4359089.
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Case AJ, Li S, Basu U, Tian J, Zimmerman MC. Mitochondrial-localized NADPH oxidase 4 is a source of superoxide in angiotensin II-stimulated neurons. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2013 Jul 1;305(1):H19-28. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00974.2012. Epub 2013 Apr 26. PMID: 23624625; PMCID: PMC3727106.
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Case AJ, Tian J, Zimmerman MC. Increased mitochondrial superoxide in the brain, but not periphery, sensitizes mice to angiotensin II-mediated hypertension. Redox Biol. 2017 Apr;11:82-90. doi: 10.1016/j.redox.2016.11.011. Epub 2016 Nov 20. PMID: 27889641; PMCID: PMC5124355.
Sanjukta Chakraborty, PhD
schakraborty@tamu.edu | 979.436.0697 | Office: MREB-II, 2416
Research Interest
Inflammation, signal transduction, microbiome, lymphatic pathologies
Graduate Program Affiliation
Publications
- Chakraborty S, Zawieja SD, Wang W, et al. Lipopolysaccharide modulates neutrophil recruitment and macrophage polarization on lymphatic vessels and impairs lymphatic function in rat mesentery. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2015;309(12):H2042-H2057. doi:10.1152/ajpheart.00467.2015
- Lee Y, Chakraborty S, Meininger CJ, Muthuchamy M. Insulin resistance disrupts cell integrity, mitochondrial function, and inflammatory signaling in lymphatic endothelium. Microcirculation. 2018;25(7):e12492. doi:10.1111/micc.12492
- Chakraborty S, Zawieja DC, Davis MJ, Muthuchamy M. MicroRNA signature of inflamed lymphatic endothelium and role of miR-9 in lymphangiogenesis and inflammation [published correction appears in Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2020 May 1;318(5):C1042-C1043]. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2015;309(10):C680-C692. doi:10.1152/ajpcell.00122.2015
Jiang Chang, MD, PhD
jiangchang@tamu.edu | 713.677.7603 | Office: ALKEK, 820F
Research Interest
Heart failure; cardiac remodeling; diabetic cardiomyopathy; epigenetics; extracellular vesicles
Graduate Program Affiliation
Publications
- Dai Y, Song J, Li W, et al. RhoE Fine-Tunes Inflammatory Response in Myocardial Infarction. Circulation. 2019;139(9):1185-1198. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.118.033700
- Yang X, Wang T, Lin X, et al. Genetic deletion of Rnd3/RhoE results in mouse heart calcium leakage through upregulation of protein kinase A signaling. Circ Res. 2015;116(1):e1-e10. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.116.304940
- Luo W, Dai Y, Chen Z, Yue X, Andrade-Powell KC, Chang J. Spatial and temporal tracking of cardiac exosomes in mouse using a nano-luciferase-CD63 fusion protein. Commun Biol. 2020;3(1):114. Published 2020 Mar 10. doi:10.1038/s****************
Robin Fuchs-Young, PhD
fuchs-young@tamu.edu | 512.699.3704 | Office: MREB-II
Research Interest
Diet, metabolism and disease
Graduate Program Affiliation
- Medical Science PhD Program
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics
- Texas A&M University Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology
- Master of Biotechnology Program
Publications
- Lambertz IU, Luo L, Berton TR, et al. Early Exposure to a High Fat/High Sugar Diet Increases the Mammary Stem Cell Compartment and Mammary Tumor Risk in Female Mice. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2017;10(10):553-562. doi:10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-17-0131
Cedric Geoffroy, PhD
geoffroy@tamu.edu | 979.436.9023 | Office: MREB, 4100
Research Interest
Cardiometabolic and bowel dysfunctions after spinal injury
Graduate Program Affiliation
Publications
- Xu J, Ma HY, Liu X, et al. Blockade of IL-17 signaling reverses alcohol-induced liver injury and excessive alcohol drinking in mice. JCI Insight. 2020;5(3):e131277. Published 2020 Feb 13. doi:10.1172/jci.insight.131277
- Shon, C. Geoffroy and H. Park, A Real-time Electrocolonogram Monitoring and Electrical Stimulation System for Promoting Mass Peristalsis of the Colon, 2019 9th International IEEE/EMBS Conference on Neural Engineering (NER), San Francisco, CA, USA, 2019, pp. 538-541, doi: 10.1109/NER.2019.8717120.
Shannon Glaser, PhD
sglaser@tamu.edu | 979.436.9260 | Office: MREB-II, 2342
Research Interest
Lymphatics in chronic liver diseases & cholangiocarcinoma
Graduate Program Affiliation
Publications
- Roy S, Glaser S, Chakraborty S. Inflammation and Progression of Cholangiocarcinoma: Role of Angiogenic and Lymphangiogenic Mechanisms. Front Med (Lausanne). 2019;6:293. Published 2019 Dec 18. doi:10.3389/fmed.2019.00293
- O’Brien A, Gasheva O, Alpini G, Zawieja D. Gashev A, Glaser S. The role of lymphatics in Cholestasis: A comprehensive review. Seminars in Liver Disease 2020 (In Press)
Travis Hein, PhD
thein@tamu.edu | 979.436.9261 | Office: MREB-II, 2348
Research Interest
Vascular biology, microcirculation, nitric oxide and endothelin-1 signaling; diabetes
Graduate Program Affiliation
Publications
- Chen YL, Xu W, Rosa RH Jr, Kuo L, Hein TW. Hyperglycemia Enhances Constriction of Retinal Venules via Activation of the Reverse-Mode Sodium-Calcium Exchanger. Diabetes. 2019;68(8):1624-1634. doi:10.2337/db19-0069
- Hein TW, Xu X, Ren Y, et al. Requisite roles of LOX-1, JNK, and arginase in diabetes-induced endothelial vasodilator dysfunction of porcine coronary arterioles. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2019;131:82-90. doi:10.1016/j.yjmcc.2019.04.015
- Hein TW, Ren Y, Yuan Z, et al. Functional and molecular characterization of the endothelin system in retinal arterioles. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2009;50(7):3329-3336. doi:10.1167/iovs.08-3129
Yun Huang, PhD
yun.huang@tamu.edu | 713.677.7484
Research Interest
Epigenetic regulation in cardiac system
Graduate Program Affiliation
Publications
- Fang S, Li J, Xiao Y, et al. Tet inactivation disrupts YY1 binding and long-range chromatin interactions during embryonic heart development. Nat Commun. 2019;10(1):4297. Published 2019 Sep 20. doi:10.1038/s41467-019-12325-z
Thomas Kent, MD
tkent@tamu.edu | 713.677.7523 | Office: ALKEK, 1004
Research Interest
cerebrovascular regulation, mitochondria, clinical trials, oxidative stress
Graduate Program Affiliation
Publications
- Derry PJ , Nilewski LG , Sikkema WKA , et al. Catalytic oxidation and reduction reactions of hydrophilic carbon clusters with NADH and cytochrome C: features of an electron transport nanozyme. Nanoscale. 2019;11(22):10791-10807. doi:10.1039/c9nr00807a
- Mandava P, Murthy SB, Shah N, Samson Y, Kimmel M, Kent TA. Pooled analysis suggests benefit of catheter-based hematoma removal for intracerebral hemorrhage. Neurology. 2019;92(15):e1688-e1697. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000007269
- Alexandrov AV, Köhrmann M, Soinne L, et al. Safety and efficacy of sonothrombolysis for acute ischaemic stroke: a multicentre, double-blind, phase 3, randomised controlled trial. Lancet Neurol. 2019;18(4):338-347. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(19)30026-2
Lih Kuo, PhD
lkuo@tamu.edu | 979.436.9262 | Office: MREB-II
Research Interest
Vascular physiology and pathophysiology, microcirculation, coronary and retinal blood flow regulation
Graduate Program Affiliation
Publications
- Tsai SH, Lu G, Xu X, Ren Y, Hein TW, Kuo L. Enhanced endothelin-1/Rho-kinase signalling and coronary microvascular dysfunction in hypertensive myocardial hypertrophy. Cardiovasc Res. 2017;113(11):1329-1337. doi:10.1093/cvr/cvx103
- Hein TW, Xu X, Ren Y, et al. Requisite roles of LOX-1, JNK, and arginase in diabetes-induced endothelial vasodilator dysfunction of porcine coronary arterioles. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2019;131:82-90. doi:10.1016/j.yjmcc.2019.04.015
- Chen YL, Xu W, Rosa RH Jr, Kuo L, Hein TW. Hyperglycemia Enhances Constriction of Retinal Venules via Activation of the Reverse-Mode Sodium-Calcium Exchanger. Diabetes. 2019;68(8):1624-1634. doi:10.2337/db19-0069
Rajesh Miranda, PhD
rmiranda@tamu.edu | 979.436.0332 | Office: MREB
Research Interest
Fetal vascular development, placental-brain communication, drug effects
Graduate Program Affiliation
- Medical Science PhD Program
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics
- Texas A&M University Institute for Neuroscience
- Texas A&M University Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology
- Master of Biotechnology Program
Publications
- Bake S, Gardner R, Tingling JD, Miranda RC, Sohrabji F. Fetal Alcohol Exposure Alters Blood Flow and Neurological Responses to Transient Cerebral Ischemia in Adult Mice. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2017;41(1):117-127. doi:10.1111/acer.13277
Brett Mitchell, PhD
brettmitchell@tamu.edu | 979.436.0751 | Office: MREB-II, 2412
Research Interest
Immunity, inflammation, and lymphatics in hypertension
Graduate Program Affiliation
Publications
- Balasubbramanian D, Baranwal G, Clark MC, Goodlett BL, Mitchell BM, Rutkowski JM. Kidney-specific lymphangiogenesis increases sodium excretion and lowers blood pressure in mice. J Hypertens. 2020;38(5):874-885. doi:10.1097/HJH.0000000000002349
- Balasubbramanian D, Gelston CAL, Lopez AH, et al. Augmenting Renal Lymphatic Density Prevents Angiotensin II-Induced Hypertension in Male and Female Mice. Am J Hypertens. 2020;33(1):61-69. doi:10.1093/ajh/hpz139
- Lopez Gelston CA, Balasubbramanian D, Abouelkheir GR, et al. Enhancing Renal Lymphatic Expansion Prevents Hypertension in Mice. Circ Res. 2018;122(8):1094-1101. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.118.312765
Mariappan Muthuchamy, PhD
marim@tamu.edu | 979.436.9264 | Office: MREB-II, 2410
Research Interest
Mechanisms of heart and lymphatic functions: inflammatory signaling & therapeutic interventions
Graduate Program Affiliation
Publications
- Lee Y, Fluckey JD, Chakraborty S, Muthuchamy M. Hyperglycemia- and hyperinsulinemia-induced insulin resistance causes alterations in cellular bioenergetics and activation of inflammatory signaling in lymphatic muscle. FASEB J. 2017;31(7):2744-2759. doi:10.1096/fj.201600887R
- Lee Y, Chakraborty S, Meininger CJ, Muthuchamy M. Insulin resistance disrupts cell integrity, mitochondrial function, and inflammatory signaling in lymphatic endothelium. Microcirculation. 2018;25(7):e12492. doi:10.1111/micc.12492
- Wu X, Chakraborty S, Heaps CL, Davis MJ, Meininger GA, Muthuchamy M. Fibronectin increases the force production of mouse papillary muscles via α5β1 integrin. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2011;50(1):203-213. doi:10.1016/j.yjmcc.2010.10.003
Xu Peng, MD, PhD
xp23@tamu.edu | 979.436.9265 | Office: MREB-II, 3417
Research Interest
Molecular mechanisms in heart hypertrophy
Graduate Program Affiliation
Publications
- Peng X, Kraus MS, Wei H, et al. Inactivation of focal adhesion kinase in cardiomyocytes promotes eccentric cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in mice. J Clin Invest. 2006;116(1):217-227. doi:10.1172/JCI24497
- Peng X, Wu X, Druso JE, et al. Cardiac developmental defects and eccentric right ventricular hypertrophy in cardiomyocyte focal adhesion kinase (FAK) conditional knockout mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008;105(18):6638-6643. doi:10.1073/pnas.0802319105
- Zhao X, Peng X, Sun S, Park AY, Guan JL. Role of kinase-independent and -dependent functions of FAK in endothelial cell survival and barrier function during embryonic development. J Cell Biol. 2010;189(6):955-965. doi:10.1083/jcb.200912094
Joseph Rutkowski, PhD
rutkowski@tamu.edu | 979.436.0576 | Office: MREB-II, 2414
Research Interest
Lymphatic roles in cardiorenal pathologies: obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and kidney disease
Graduate Program Affiliation
Publications
- Balasubbramanian D, Baranwal G, Clark MC, Goodlett BL, Mitchell BM, Rutkowski JM. Kidney-specific lymphangiogenesis increases sodium excretion and lowers blood pressure in mice. J Hypertens. 2020;38(5):874-885. doi:10.1097/HJH.0000000000002349
- Chakraborty A, Barajas S, Lammoglia GM, et al. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-D (VEGF-D) Overexpression and Lymphatic Expansion in Murine Adipose Tissue Improves Metabolism in Obesity. Am J Pathol. 2019;189(4):924-939. doi:10.1016/j.ajpath.2018.12.008
- Lopez Gelston CA, Balasubbramanian D, Abouelkheir GR, et al. Enhancing Renal Lymphatic Expansion Prevents Hypertension in Mice. Circ Res. 2018;122(8):1094-1101. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.118.312765
Farida Sohrabji, PhD
f-sohrabji@tamu.edu | 979.436.0335 | Office: MREB, 4102
Research Interest
Stroke, blood brain barrier
Graduate Program Affiliation
Publications
- Bake S, Okoreeh A, Khosravian H, Sohrabji F. Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF)-1 treatment stabilizes the microvascular cytoskeleton under ischemic conditions. Exp Neurol. 2019;311:162-172. doi:10.1016/j.expneurol.2018.09.016
Carl Tong, MD, PhD, FACC
ctong@tamu.edu | 979.436.9268 | Office: MREB-II, 2346
Research Interest
Improve cross-bridge cycling to prevent/treat heart failure, develop CVS diseases diagnostic/monitor
Graduate Program Affiliation
Publications
- Rosas PC, Warren CM, Creed HA, Trzeciakowski JP, Solaro RJ, Tong CW. Cardiac Myosin Binding Protein-C Phosphorylation Mitigates Age-Related Cardiac Dysfunction: Hope for Better Aging?. JACC Basic Transl Sci. 2019;4(7):817-830. Published 2019 Oct 16. doi:10.1016/j.jacbts.2019.06.003
- Tong CW, Dusio GF, Govindan S, et al. Usefulness of Released Cardiac Myosin Binding Protein-C as a Predictor of Cardiovascular Events. Am J Cardiol. 2017;120(9):1501-1507. doi:10.1016/j.amjcard.2017.07.042
- Rosas PC, Liu Y, Abdalla MI, et al. Phosphorylation of cardiac Myosin-binding protein-C is a critical mediator of diastolic function. Circ Heart Fail. 2015;8(3):582-594. doi:10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.114.001550
Andreea Trache, PhD
trache@tamu.edu | 979.436.0826 | Office: MREB-II, 2340
Research Interest
Aging, thoracic aneurysm, experimental biophysics, cellular and tissue biomechanics, Microscopy
Graduate Program Affiliation
Publications
- Seawright JW, Sreenivasappa H, Gibbs HC, et al. Vascular Smooth Muscle Contractile Function Declines With Age in Skeletal Muscle Feed Arteries. Front Physiol. 2018;9:856. Published 2018 Jul 31. doi:10.3389/fphys.2018.00856
- Sreenivasappa H, Chaki SP, Lim SM, et al. Selective regulation of cytoskeletal tension and cell-matrix adhesion by RhoA and Src. Integr Biol (Camb). 2014;6(8):743-754. doi:10.1039/c4ib00019f
- Lim SM, Trzeciakowski JP, Sreenivasappa H, Dangott LJ, Trache A. RhoA-induced cytoskeletal tension controls adaptive cellular remodeling to mechanical signaling. Integr Biol (Camb). 2012;4(6):615-627. doi:10.1039/c2ib20008b
David Zawieja, PhD
dcz@tamu.edu | 979.436.0829 | Office: MREB-II, 1341
Research Interest
Roles of lymphatic function and dysfunction in health and disease
Graduate Program Affiliation
Publications
- Rahbar E, Akl T, Coté GL, Moore JE Jr, Zawieja DC. Lymph transport in rat mesenteric lymphatics experiencing edemagenic stress. Microcirculation. 2014;21(5):359-367. doi:10.1111/micc.12112
- Cromer WE, Zawieja DC. Acute exposure to space flight results in evidence of reduced lymph Transport, tissue fluid Shifts, and immune alterations in the rat gastrointestinal system. Life Sci Space Res (Amst). 2018;17:74-82. doi:10.1016/j.lssr.2018.03.005
- Narayanan SA, Ford J, Zawieja DC. Impairment of lymphatic endothelial barrier function by X-ray irradiation. Int J Radiat Biol. 2019;95(5):562-570. doi:10.1080/09553002.2019.1562253
Keywords: cardiovascular disease; angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis; lymphatic dysfunction; diabetes; obesity; heart; vessels; kidney; liver; adipose tissue; muscle cells; endothelial cells; eyes; inflammation; immune response