UIC Department of Pharmacology: Faculty Research

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Primary Faculty

Chinnaswamy Tiruppathi, PhD
Associate Professor of Pharmacology Center for Lung and Vascular Biology
The research in my laboratory focuses on defining the mechanisms of activation of endothelial cells by thrombin. Thrombin activation of endothelial cells leads to increased endothelial permeability and polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) adhesion-mediated vascular injury. The thrombin-induced increase in cytosolic Ca ²⁺ is critical for the mechanism of increased endothelial permeability and PMN adhesion-mediated vascular injury. The increase in cytosolic Ca ²⁺ is associated with depletion of intracellular Ca ²⁺ stores as well as the influx of extracellular Ca ²⁺. Our recent findings suggest that transient receptor potential (TRP) channels expressed in endothelial cells are activated by thrombin to cause Ca²⁺ influx in endothelial cells. We are currently investigating how TRP channel expression in endothelial cells is regulated at the transcriptional level by pro-inflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor-{alpha}, thrombin, and oxidants. We are also addressing how Ca ²⁺ influx through TRP channels activates the transcription factor nuclear factor kB (NF-{kappa}B), pro-inflammatory gene expression, and PMN adhesion-mediated vascular injury.
E401 MSB 835 S. Wolcott Ave. (312) 355-0249 tiruc@uic.edu Lab home page Publications