High blood pressure and the vascular damage it does—leading to cardiovascular disease—is an enormous emotional and financial burden on patients with chronically elevated blood pressure and their loved ones.
This research project focuses on how DNA damage and repairs occur in the endothelium, the tissue encasing the blood vessels, heart and other organs in the vascular system.
We seek to introduce several novel strategies to lower blood pressure by reducing
inflammation in the tissue that makes up the endothelium, restoring its functional
integrity for vascular health.
This approach to the research is a new paradigm that complements the current understanding
of vascular system inflammation. The molecules within the mitochondria, the powerhouse
of the cell, may act as immune regulators in response to stress or pathogens. They
may also be responsible for the initiation or manifestation of chronic inflammation
observed in patients with chronically high blood pressure.
Purpose: To study the activation of NLRP3 (nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich–containing family, pyrin domain–containing-3) and AIM2 (absent in melanoma 2) inflammasomes to uncover important triggers and endogenous modulators of hypertension
Hypothesis: In hypertension induced by chronic unpredictable stress, oxidative stress leads to release of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) into the cytoplasm. This mtDNA activates inflammasomes leading to endothelial dysfunction and blood pressure elevation.
Method: Integrate physiological, pharmacological, biochemical, biomechanical, molecular and cellular techniques to better understand the pathological role of the endothelium in hypertension
Vision: New therapeutic targets to lower pressure in neurogenic hypertension making the clinical/translational significance of this research high
Additional research focus: Related sexual dysfunction in males and females
While this research improves the lives of anyone who has cardiovascular disease or knows someone with cardiovascular disease in South Carolina—a high percentage of the population—certain groups will benefit greatly from this focus area and the institute's work at large.
This research will improve the lives of anyone who has cardiovascular disease or knows someone with cardiovascular disease in South Carolina. However, certain groups will greatly benefit from our focus area and the institute's work at large.
High blood pressure disproportionately affects African American communities. This community experiences high heart failure rates despite health providers meeting standard of care guidelines. The institute will shed light on how body responses to everyday situations increase the likelihood of cardiovascular disease in these populations.
Exposure to trauma affects the body in significant ways, especially the heart and vascular system. Veterans are at higher risk of having a new onset of heart disease compared with non-veterans. This research contributes directly to improving the lives of veterans and those with trauma or PTSD, while adding to the overall knowledge base of care for veterans.