Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the United States. Understanding
the basic and pathological mechanisms underlying cardiovascular disease and searching
new ways to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease is a major focus of the Department
of Physiology. Faculty in the department study the cardiovascular system from multiple
perspectives. The Department offers an advanced Cardiovascular Physiology and Pharmacology
course.
Regents' Professor Dr. Michael Brands directs a National Institutes of Health funded Research Program Project Grant examining
the role of inflammation in cardiovascular disease.
Our studies in the Bagi Lab focus on the investigation of the function of small blood
vessels. We want to develop a greater understanding of how coronary resistance arteries
are controlled in health and disease, and how dysfunction of arteries contribute to
organ failure. Our goal is to discover new vascular targets for therapeutic intervention
of coronary heart disease and heart failure.
Cardiovascular-renal integrative physiology and hypertension. Longstanding interest
in renal and hormonal mechanisms for chronic blood pressure and circulatory system
control in states of insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, and diabetes.
My major research interest is to gain understanding of the signaling mechanisms governing
bi-directional communication among the various cell types within the brain. In particularly,
I am interested in the communication between neurons and their surrounding glial and
vascular cells. Recent findings have demonstrated an important role for astrocytes
as intercellular bridges between the state of neuronal activity and vascular dynamics
(or neurovascular coupling). These findings have led to a number of different hypotheses
addressing the potential role astrocytes have in neurovascular coupling.
Studies in the Mattson laboratory examine the normal and pathophysiological regulation
of renal function and arterial blood pressure. A particular emphasis is placed on
the paracrine, autocrine, and hormonal regulation of renal tubular and vascular function.
Additional studies are geared toward an understanding of the genetic basis of hypertension
and renal disease.
Our laboratory’s primary research interests lie in the physiological pathways involved
in the regulation of kidney function and how disruptions in these pathways can lead
to disease. Recently our laboratory has also become interested in the mechanisms through
which splenic anti-inflammatory pathways regulate the innate immune response.
The overall goal of my laboratory is to better understand the molecular mechanisms
that regulate blood pressure in males and females under both physiological and pathophysiological
conditions, including hypertension. Traditionally, it has been assumed that blood
pressure control and the basis of hypertension is the same in males and females; just
the magnitude of the response differs. However, based on the vast number of differences
that have been identified in cardiovascular physiology, pathophysiology, and pharmacology
between the sexes, there is growing evidence to suggest that the pathways by which
males and females develop cardiovascular and renal diseases may be distinct. Ongoing
studies are focused on 3 pathways involved in blood pressure control and cardiovascular
function: the renin angiotensin system (RAS), the nitric oxide (NO) pathway, and inflammation.
I have worked in the field of cytochrome P450 (CYP)-derived eicosanoids in cardiovascular
diseases, renal diseases, and diabetes for more than 20 years. Throughout these years
we have identified new compounds and pathways and elucidated their biological activities
and their therapeutically potential for treatment of cardiovascular and diabetes-associated
disorders.
Above: Diabetes promotes excessive yet immature new vessel formation in the brain.
Both the number of collaterals (shown as red and yellow arrows) on the surface of
the brain as well as the vascular density within the brain parenchyma (green dye)
are increased in diabetes. Photo provided by Dr. Adviye Ergul, a former Regents'
Professor with the Department of Physiology.
Above: Diabetes promotes excessive yet immature new vessel formation in the brain.
Both the number of collaterals (shown as red and yellow arrows) on the surface of
the brain as well as the vascular density within the brain parenchyma (green dye)
are increased in diabetes. Photo provided by Dr. Adviye Ergul, a former Regents'
Professor with the Department of Physiology.