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 Paul L Huang |
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Science
My research focuses on the roles of nitric oxide (NO) in cerebrovascular blood flow, cardiac physiology, and atherosclerosis. We disrupted the genes encoding neuronal and endothelial nitric oxide synthases (nNOS and eNOS), creating mutant mouse models useful in establishing the importance of NO to neurotoxicity, autonomic function, vascular tone, and blood pressure. My laboratory subsequently used these models to study how NO is involved in neuronal plasticity, cardiac contractility, endothelial dysfunction, angiogenesis, and atherosclerosis.
My laboratory currently works on stroke, atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome, and functional imaging. We investigate how NO is involved in neurotoxicity, cerebral ischemic preconditioning, and cerebrovascular responses to stroke. To study the molecular mechanisms of atherosclerosis, we use more refined knockout, transgenic and knockin approaches to study the effects of specific eNOS mutations on vascular reactivity. We hypothesize that the phosphorylation state of eNOS is a central integration point for many diverse cardiac risks, such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and aging. Using db/db and apoE mutant mice, we show how modulation of eNOS activity affects cardiovascular disease outcome in intact animals, providing proof of principle for new treatment approaches for cardiovascular complications of metabolic syndrome and diabetes. We are performing genome-wide mapping in consomic and inbred mouse strains to identify new genes involved in endothelial dysfunction. We are also using near infrared fluorescence probes activated by protease cleavage to functionally image macrophage and leukocyte protease activity in atherosclerotic lesions and myocardial infarcts. Overall, my laboratory uses molecular, genetic, and genomic approaches to study the mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction and atherogenesis, using intact animal models wherever possible.
Laser speckle flowmetry of brain blood flow
Collaborative Relationships
Paul Huang's lab is part of the Vascular + Metabolic Program.
Publications
Click here to view Paul Huang's publications.
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