Integrative Vascular Biology Laboratory

DeSouza lab logo showing cardiovascular system

Ramaley, Room W206
phone: 303-735-3605
 

Research Interests

  • The effects of aging, cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors, and habitual physical activity on vascular endothelial function.

Personnel

  • Director: Christopher A. DeSouza, Ph.D.
  • Medical Director: , M.D.
  • Laboratory Director: , M.S.
  • Postdoctoral and Predoctoral Fellows as well as graduate and undergraduate students.

Current Research Projects

  • Influence of age, obesity, exercise, and oxidative stress on the endothelin-1 system.
  • HIV-1 infection, vascular endothelial function, and exercise.
  • Effects of nebivolol on ET-1 vasoconstrictor tone.
  • Nebivolol and endothelial regulation of fibrinolysis.
  • Overweight/obesity and vascular progenitor cell function.

Recent Publications

  • Garcia VP, Fandl HK, Hijmans JG, Berry AR, Cardenas HL, Stockelman KA, DeSouza NM, Treuth JW, Greiner JJ, Park AJ, Stauffer BL, DeSouza CA.  Effects of circulating endothelial microvesicles isolated from adults with obesity on endothelial cell inflammation, apoptosis, and nitric oxide production.  American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism.  2024, 326(1):E38-E49.
  • Park AJ, Garcia VP, Greiner JJ, Berry AR, Cardenas HL, Wegerson KN, Stauffer BL, DeSouza CA.  Development of a hypercoaguable-hypofibrinolytic state early after spinal cord injury.  Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.  2024, 105(5):843-849.
  • Park AJ, Fandl HK, Garcia VP, Coombs GB, DeSouza NM, Greiner JJ, Barak OF, Mijacika T, Dujic Z, Ainslie PN, DeSouza CA.  Differential Expression of Vascular-Related MicroRNA in Circulating Endothelial Microvesicles in Adults with Spinal Cord Injury: A Pilot Study.  Topics in Spinal Cord Injury and Rehabilitation.  2023, 29(2):34-42.
  • Fandl HK, Garcia VP, Treuth JW, Brewster LM, Greiner JJ, Davy KP, Stauffer BL, DeSouza CA.  Endothelial-derived extracellular vesicles from obese/hypertensive adults increase factors associated with hypertrophy and fibrosis in cardiomyocytes.  Americam Journal of Physiology: Heart and Circulatory Physiology.  2023, 324(5):H675-H685.

  • Wenner MM, Welti LM, Greiner JJ, Stauffer BL, DeSouza CA.  Aerobic exercise training reduces ET-1-mediated vasoconstriction and improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation in postmenopausal women.   Americam Journal of Physiology: Heart and Circulatory Physiology.  2023, 324(6):H732-H738.