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Research Interests: Recent evidence has shown that inflammation plays an important role in the development of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Work in my laboratory is focused on understanding mechanisms that lead to hypertension during chronic inflammatory conditions. In order to accomplish this, we are studying a mouse model of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). SLE is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder that predominantly affects women. Hypertension, renal, and vascular disease occur at a high incidence in individuals with SLE. Ongoing studies in the laboratory are focused on renal hemodynamic changes during SLE, the role of inflammatory cytokines in SLE hypertension, and the importance of the nuclear transcription factor PPARgamma activation as a protective mechanism against the progression of SLE hypertension. |
Research Methods: Acute and chronic measurements of arterial pressure and renal hemodynamics in small rodents. Assessment of vascular function ex vivo. Molecular and biochemical assays (i.e. PCR, Western Blot, ELISA) Histology (general and immunohistochemistry) |
