Biotechnology and Cardiovascular Disease Dr. Richard Lee's research laboratory studies the development of new approaches to cardiovascular diseases by applying fundamentals of biotechnology. The central theme of his research is that merging rigorous biological engineering and molecular biology approaches can yield new approaches to cardiovascular diseases. Thus, he and his research team work at this interface using techniques in genomics, imaging, biomechanics, physiology, cell biology, and molecular biology. Projects in the laboratory range from designing injectable myocardial microenvironments, 3D imaging, and molecular aspects of proteins that participate in biomechanical signaling and cardiovascular pathophysiology. A link to his laboratory can be found here: http://vascular.bwh.harvard.edu/rtlee/rtlmain.html
Figure 1. Circumferential stress map of a human atherosclerotic coronary lesion. Matrix remodeling activity and inflammatory activity is commonly found at these high mechanical stress locations, and the weakening of the atherosclerotic matrix at these locations may participate in atherosclerotic plaque rupture. (Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 1996;16:1070-1073.)
References:
Sanada S*, Hakuno D*, Higgins LJ, Schreiter ER, McKenzie AN, Lee RT. IL-33/ST2 is a Critical Biomechanically-induced and Cardioprotective Signaling System. Journal of Clinical Investigation 2007;117:1538-1549. *equal contributors
Parikh H, Carlsson E, Chutkow WA, Johansson LE, Storgaard H, Poulsen P, Saxena R, Ladd C, Schulze PC, Mazzini MJ, Jensen CB, Krook A, Bjornholm M, Tornqvist H, Zierath JR, Ridderstrale M, Altshuler D, Lee RT, Vaag A, Groop LC, Mootha VK. Txnip is a Marker and Regulator of Peripheral Glucose Homeostasis in Humans. PLOS Medicine 2007 May 1;4:e158.
Hsieh PCH*, Segers VFM*, Davis ME, MacGillivray C, Gannon J, Molkentin JD, Robbins F, Lee RT. Evidence from a genetic fate-mapping study that stem cells refresh adult mammalian cardiomyocytes following injury. Nature Medicine 2007; 13:970-974. *equal contributors
Lammerding J, Lee RT. Torn apart: membrane rupture in muscular dystrophies and associated cardiomyopathies. Journal of Clinical Investigation 2007;117:1749-1752.
Segers VFM, Tokunou T, Higgins LJ, MacGillivray C, Gannon J, Lee RT. Local Delivery of Protease Resistant SDF-1 for Stem Cell Recruitment after Myocardial Infarction. Circulation 2007; 116:1683-92.
Yoshioka J, Imahashi K, Gabel SA, Chutkow WA, Burds AA, Gannon J, Schulze PC, MacGillivray C, London RE, Murphy E, Lee RT. Targeted Deletion of Thioredoxin-Interacting Protein Regulates Cardiac Dysfunction in Response to Pressure Overload. Circulation Research 2007;101:1328-38.
Chutkow WA*, Patwari P*, Yoshioka Y, Lee RT. Txnip Is A Critical Regulator of Hepatic Glucose Production. Journal of Biological Chemistry 2007; in press. *equal contributors
Segers VFM, Lee RT. Stem Cells for Cardiac Therapy. Nature 2008; in press.
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