A5004341480- Air Quality and Health Impacts
- Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
- Carcinogens and Genotoxicity Assessment
- Cardiovascular Health and Risk Factors
- Atherosclerosis and Cardiovascular Diseases
- Cardiovascular Disease and Adiposity
- Climate Change and Health Impacts
- Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment
- Blood Coagulation and Thrombosis Mechanisms
- Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases
- Smoking Behavior and Cessation
- Antioxidant Activity and Oxidative Stress
- Medical and Biological Ozone Research
- Cardiovascular, Neuropeptides, and Oxidative Stress Research
- Eicosanoids and Hypertension Pharmacology
- Nutritional Studies and Diet
- Protease and Inhibitor Mechanisms
- Venomous Animal Envenomation and Studies
- Immune cells in cancer
- Air Quality Monitoring and Forecasting
- Glutathione Transferases and Polymorphisms
- Cholesterol and Lipid Metabolism
- Advanced Glycation End Products research
- FOXO transcription factor regulation
- Impact of Light on Environment and Health
University of Louisville
2016-2025
University of Louisville Hospital
2024-2025
American Heart Association
2017-2021
Diabetes Australia
2017
Microplastics (MP) derived from the weathering of polymers, or synthesized in this size range, have become widespread environmental contaminants and found their way into water supplies food chain. Despite awareness, little is known about health consequences MP ingestion. We previously shown that consumption polystyrene (PS) beads was associated with intestinal dysbiosis diabetes obesity mice. To further evaluate systemic metabolic effects PS on gut-liver-adipose tissue axis, we supplied...
Excess cholesterol accumulation in lesional macrophages elicits complex responses atherosclerosis. Epsins, a family of endocytic adaptors, fuel the progression atherosclerosis; however, underlying mechanism and therapeutic potential targeting Epsins remains unknown. In this study, we determined role macrophage-mediated metabolic regulation. We then developed an innovative method to therapeutically target macrophage with specially designed S2P-conjugated lipid nanoparticles, which encapsulate...
Atherosclerosis is, in part, caused by immune and inflammatory cell infiltration into the vascular wall, leading to enhanced inflammation lipid accumulation aortic endothelium. Understanding molecular mechanisms underlying this disease is critical for development of new therapies. Our recent studies demonstrate that epsins, a family ubiquitin-binding endocytic adaptors, are regulators atherogenicity. Given fundamental contribution lesion macrophages make fuel atherosclerosis, whether how...
Exposure to tobacco smoke, which contains several harmful and potentially constituents such as acrolein increases cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Although high levels induce pervasive injury, the effects of low-level exposure remain unknown sensitive biomarkers toxicity have not been identified. Identification is essential assess present at low in ambient air or new products e-cigarettes. Hence, we examined systemic chronic (12 weeks) concentrations similar those found smoke (0.5 1 ppm)....
Mechanisms of atherogenesis have been studied extensively in genetically engineered mice with disturbed cholesterol metabolism such as those lacking either the LDL receptor (Ldlr) or apolipoprotein E (apoe). Few other animal models atherosclerosis are available. WT rabbits rats, even on high-fat high-cholesterol diets, develop sparse atherosclerotic lesions. We examined effects Ldlr deletion lipoprotein and lesion formation Sprague-Dawley rats. Deletion resulted loss LDLR protein caused a...
Abstract Background Benzene is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant generated by variety of natural and anthropological sources. It known carcinogen hematopoietic toxin; however, little about benzene’s potential atherogenicity. Hypothesis Inhaled benzene induces atherogenesis increasing vascular inflammation in LDL receptor Knockout (LDLR-KO) mice. Methods Male LDLR-KO mice were exposed to HEPA-filtered air or (1 ppm, 6h/day, 5days/week) for 24 weeks. For the last 12 weeks exposure,...
Abstract While some prior studies have identified an association between exposure to fine air borne particulate matter (PM2.5) and indices of aging, the extent these associations their underlying mechanisms are uncertain. In this study we exposed male C57BL/6J mice filtered concentrated ambient PM2.5 (CAP) assessed two common hallmarks telomere shortening a senescent phenotype. Of cell types examined, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs), endothelial progenitor (EPCs), bone...
Abstract Benzene is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant, abundant in both the outdoor and indoor air. Chronic exposure associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease; however, underlying mechanisms remain unknown. We examined effect of bioactive benzene metabolites on endothelial integrity. In vitro, highly reactive metabolites, specifically trans, trans-muconaldehyde (MA, 10 µM), decreased impedance murine cardiac microvascular cells (MCMVEC) time- dose-dependent manner...
Smokeless tobacco products such as snuff and snus are used worldwide. However, little is known about the systemic cardiovascular toxicity of smokeless exposure. Biomarkers endothelial activation injury, immune functions, platelet insulin resistance were measured in 8-week old male C57BL/6 mice exposed to commercial snuff, CRP-2 reference snus, CRP-1 nicotine drinking water (100 µg/mL) for 4, 12, 24 weeks. Twenty-four weeks exposure or significantly decreased levels circulating Flk+/Sca+...
Formaldehyde (FA), the smallest aldehyde, is generated endogenously, and widespread in environment foods, beverages as a gas phase product of incomplete combustion. The main metabolite FA, formate, was increased significantly murine urine (3x) after overnight feeding. Because feeding increases mesenteric blood flow, we explored direct effects FA isolated superior artery (SMA). Over concentration range 30-1,200 μM, strongly reversibly relaxed contractions SMA induced by three different...
Background The popularity of electronic cigarettes (E-cigarettes) has risen considerably. Several studies have suggested that nicotine may affect insulin resistance, however, the impact E-cigarette exposure on an early measure cardiometabolic risk, is not known. Methods and results Using experimental animals human data obtained from 3,989 participants United States National Health Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), respectively, we assessed association between conventional cigarette...
Low density cholesterol receptor (LDLR) in the liver is critical for clearance of low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) blood. In atherogenic conditions, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9) secreted by liver, a nonenzymatic fashion, binds to LDLR on surface hepatocytes, preventing its recycling and enhancing degradation lysosomes, resulting reduced LDL-C clearance. Our recent studies demonstrate that epsins, family ubiquitin-binding endocytic adaptors, are regulators atherogenicity....
Objectives We hypothesized that short chain fatty acid (SCFA) production by oral pathogens is suppressed exposure to cigarette smoke extract (CSE). Background Tobacco smoking a major risk factor for plaque‐induced periodontal diseases. Despite increased disease susceptibility, overt inflammation in smokers, presenting diagnostic conundrum. Bacterial‐derived SCFAs can penetrate into tissues where they influence multiple components of immune and healing responses. Indeed, the SCFA burden has...
Acetaldehyde (AA) is a small, ubiquitous compound present in foods, beverages, as gas phase combustion product, and also endogenously-generated from metabolism ethanol (EtOH). Acetate short chain fatty acid derived AA oxidation, acetate levels were significantly higher urine collected overnight with food provided ad libitum compared after 9h fasting. Feeding increases gastrointestinal blood flow, thus, we explored the direct effects of (and acetate) isolated murine superior mesenteric artery...
Abstract Benzene is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant abundant in household products, petrochemicals, and cigarette smoke. well-known carcinogen humans experimental animals; however, little known about the cardiovascular toxicity of benzene. Recent population-based studies indicate that benzene exposure associated with an increased risk for heart failure. Nonetheless, it unclear whether sufficient to induce and/or exacerbate We examined effects (50 ppm, 6 h/day, 5 days/week, weeks) or...
Introduction: Extreme-heat events increase mortality, and excessive deaths due to heat waves are overwhelmingly cardiovascular in origin. However, many previous studies only consider ambient temperature, which fails capture the actual stress experienced by populations. Hot weather can interfere with a variety of biological processes including promotion systemic inflammatory responses, play critical role progression disease (e.g., atherosclerosis). Our objective was assess how short-term...
Background: Circulating angiogenic cells (CACs) are indicative of vascular health and repair capacity; however, their relationship with chronic e-cigarette use is unclear. This study aims to assess the association between CAC levels. Methods: We analyzed levels in 324 healthy participants aged 21–45 years from cross-sectional Cardiovascular Injury due Tobacco Use four groups: never tobacco users ( n = 65), sole 19), combustible cigarette 212), dual 28). A total 15 subpopulations cell surface...
Abstract Vinyl chloride (VC) is an organochlorine mainly used to manufacture its polymer polyvinyl chloride, which extensively in the manufacturing of consumer products. Recent studies suggest that chronic low dose VC exposure affects glucose homeostasis high fat diet‐fed mice. Our data even absence diet, (0.8 ppm, 6 h/day, 5 day/week, for 12 weeks) induces intolerance (1.0 g/kg, i.p.) male C57BL/6 This was accompanied with depletion hepatic glutathione and a modest increase lung...
Background: Benzene is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant abundant in automobile exhaust, cigarette smoke, forest fires, and present several household products. It ranked # 6 on Agency for Toxic Substances Disease Registry (ATSDR) priority list, however, little known about its effect cardiovascular disease, especially atherosclerosis. Hypothesis: Inhaled benzene induces atherogenesis by increasing vascular inflammation LDL receptor Knockout (LDLR-KO) mice. Methods: Male LDLR-KO or apoE-KO...
Benzene is a ubiquitous environmental and occupational pollutant abundant in household products, petrochemicals, cigarette smoke. It also well-known carcinogen hematopoietic toxin. Population-based studies indicate an increased risk of heart failure subjects exposed to inhaled benzene, which coincides with the infiltration immune cells into myocardium. However, mechanisms benzene-induced cardiovascular disease remain unknown. Our data suggests that benzene metabolites...