Vascular Smooth Muscle
My laboratory is focused on understanding fundamental mechanisms
of cerebrovascular function. We use a variety of techniques to
understand the physiology of cerebral arteries including
myography, cell culture, electrophysiology, and molecular
approaches. There are currently four main areas of research in
the laboratory. First, we are investigating the function of the
two-pore domain potassium channel protein TRAAK in cerebral
arteries. Second, using the aorta we are examining how the
phosphoinositide PI(3,5)P2 affects the contraction of
smooth muscle by controlling calcium homeostasis. Third, we are
using several models of bone and muscle disease to determine if
reciprocal signaling exists between bone and the vasculature,
and between skeletal muscles and the vasculature. Fourth, we are
examining the possibility that the peroxisome proliferator-activated
receptor alpha (PPARα)
has acute effects in cerebral arteries to modulate vascular tone
on short time scales not involving changes in gene expression.
In addition, we are interested in pathologic cardiovascular
calcification, vascular smooth muscle hypertrophy, and effects
of SCUBA diving on vascular function.
Laboratory Members
Postdocs: Nikhil Parelkar, Ph.D., Neerupama Silswal, Ph.D.
Medical students: Josh Vaughn, Kirsten Jansen, and Ben Favier