Tribute to Emory Cardiology

Research in atherosclerosis at Emory has focused on the role of oxidative stress on the initiation and progression of the disease. An early observation made by Dr. David Harrison’s group was that vessels from hypercholesterolemic animals produce large quantities of reactive oxygen species. Subsequent work at Emory has shown that this influences many aspects of the atherosclerotic process, including alterations vasomotor tone, inflammation, vascular cell growth and remodeling. Dr. Harrison’s group has focused on how vasomotor tone is altered by hypercholesterolemia, on interactions of superoxide with nitric oxide. Dr. Fukai has shown that lipid laden foam cells express of novel form of an extracellular superoxide dismutase, and his current studies are focused on understanding the function of this enzyme as it pertains to lipid oxidation. Drs. Alexander and Ahmed showed that reactive oxygen species increase expression of pro-inflammatory genes in the endothelium and vascular smooth muscle, and have continued to study the intracellular redox signaling pathways upstream of this phenomenon. Dr. Taylor has examined the role of MCP-1 and M-CSF in macrophage recruitment in the atherosclerotic process. Dr. Griendling’s research has focused on redox sensitive signaling events leading to vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and hypertrophy. This work has emphasized the role of an NADH/NADPH oxidase as a mediator of cytokine and angiotensin II induced cell growth and apoptosis. Dr. Galis made the seminal observation that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are induced in atherosclerotic lesions, and has subsequently shown that MMPs are both activated and induced by reactive oxygen species.        Clinical projects include studies of "shaggy aortas" in patients with advanced atherosclerosis. Dr. Taylor has used transesophageal echocardiograms to show that aortic lesions in these individuals are dynamic and associated with early mortality. Other clinical studies involve measurements of vascular reactivity in individuals with atherosclerosis and associated risk factors.        The shared interest in the role of oxidative stress in atherosclerosis has distinguished the Emory Cardiology program as a premier center in this field, and has permitted a rich and productive collaboration. Note: This is the unofficial web tribute to Emory Cardiology that has been put together as a token of gratitude for the exceptional training that Dr. Chung had received as a cardiology fellow (1997-2001). Copyright © 1998-2007 Andrew B. Chung, M.D., Ph.D. All rights reserved. Date of last update: 11/20/2008