Integrative Vascular Biology Laboratory Carlson, Room 108 Phone:  303-735-3605 Fax:  303-492-6778

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: Brian Stauffer, M.D.


• Postdoctoral Fellows: Gary Van Guilder, Ph.D., Michael Mestek, Ph.D.


• Graduate Students: Brian Weil, M.S., Christian Westby, M.S., Erich Kushner, B.S., Garret Morgan, B.S., Owen MacEneaney, M.Sc.


• Undergraduate Students: Kyle Diehl-Sutton


• Staff Research Assistants: Yoli Casas, M.S., Jared Greiner, M.S.

(L to R): Front row: Yoli Casas, Kyle Diehl-Sutton, Owen MacEneaney; Middle row: Michael Mestek, Brian Weil, Chris DeSouza, Jared Greiner; Back row: Garrett Morgan, Erich Kushner, Gary Van Guilder, Chris Westby

Current Research Projects

• Influence of aging and effects of aerobic exercise on circulating endothelial progenitor cells.


• Mechanisms responsible for impaired endothelial vasodilation with obesity/insulin resistance.


• Influence of age, obesity, exercise, and oxidative stress on the endothelin-1 system.


• HIV-1 infection and vascular endothelial function.

Recent Publications

• Kushner E, Van Guilder GP, MacEneaney OJ, Cech JN, Stauffer BL, DeSouza CA. Aging is associated with reduced endothelial progenitor cell telomere length in healthy men. Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine 47: 47-50, 2009.


• Stauffer BL, MacEneaney OJ, Kushner EJ, Cech JN, Greiner JJ, Westby CM, DeSouza CA. Gender and endothelial progenitor cell number in middle-aged adults. Artery Research 2: 156-160, 2008.


• Stauffer BL, Westby CM, DeSouza CA. Endothelin-1, aging and hypertension. Current Opinions in Cardiology 23: 350-5, 2008.


• Van Guilder GP, Hoetzer GL, Greiner JJ, Stauffer BL, DeSouza CA. Acute and chronic effects of vitamin C on endothelial fibrinolytic function in overweight and obese adult humans. Journal of Physiology 586: 3525-3535, 2008.


• Van Guilder GP, Hoetzer GL, Greiner JJ, Stauffer BL, DeSouza CA. Metabolic syndrome and endothelial fibrinolytic capacity in obese adults. American Journal of Physiology 294: R39-44, 2008.


• Van Guilder GP, Stauffer BL, Greiner JJ, DeSouza CA. Impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation in overweight and obese adult humans is not limited to muscarinic receptor agonists. American Journal of Physiology 294: H1685-H1692, 2008.

Current Funding

• 2004-2008, NIH HL077450. Aging, Exercise and Endothelin-1 Vasoconstrictor Tone


• 2004-2009, NIH HL076434. Obesity/Insulin Resistance, Vitamin C, and Endothelin-1.


• 2005-2008, AHA 05556782. Aging, Exercise and Endothelial Progenitor Cells


• 2007-2009, NIH HL088911. HIV-1 Infection and Endothelial t-PA Release.


• 2008-2012, AHA 0840167N. HIV-1 and Vascular Endothelial Function.


• 2008-2012, AHA 0810100Z. Vitamin C Supplementation and Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Older Adults.