Jeannette Vasquez Vivar, PhD

Professor; Associate Director, Redox Biology Program

Locations

Biophysics
TBRC C0790

Contact Information

Education

Research Fellow in Pathology, 星空无限传媒, Milwaukee, WI, 1996-1998
Postdoctoral Fellow in Biochemistry, Instituto de Qu铆mica, Universidade de S茫o Paulo, Brazil, 1993-1996
PhD, Biochemistry, Universidade de S茫o Paulo, Brazil, 1992
BS, Clinical Biochemistry, Universidad de Concepci贸n Chile, 1988
BS, Biochemistry, Universidad de Concepci贸n Chile, 1986

Biography

As a postdoctoral fellow, I investigated kinetics and mechanisms of free radical formation from reactions involving peroxynitrite and biomolecules, and later I discovered the role of tetrahydrobiopterin in the regulation of superoxide release from nitric oxide synthase. In 1998, I became a faculty member in the Department of Pathology at MCW, studying the endothelial nitric oxide synthase uncoupling in endothelial dysfunction. In 2001, I joined the faculty of the Department of Biophysics at MCW, where I continue my work on redox mechanisms of cardiovascular and fetal brain dysfunction.

Biography_White Box_Filler

                
                    Research Experience
                
                    Antioxidants
Arginine
Ascorbic Acid
Biomarkers
Biopterin
Blotting, Western
Cerebral Palsy
Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy
Endothelial Cells
Ethidium
Free Radicals
Free Radicals, Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spin Trapping

                    Methodologies and Techniques
                
                    Brain Diseases, Metabolic, Inborn
Cells, Cultured
Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy
Energy Metabolism
Fluorescent Dyes
Folic Acid Antagonists
HPLC, chromatography electrochemical, UV and fluorescence detection (Pterins, Neurotransmitters, Glutathione, 2-Hydroxyethidium)
Kinetics
NADP
Oxygen Consumption
Reactive Oxygen Species
Spin Trapping

                    Leadership Positions
                
                     Associate Director, Redox Biology Program

                    星空无限传媒Program / Core Facilities
                
                    Redox Biology

Research Interests

My lab investigates cell-specific redox mechanisms disrupting normal cellular homeostasis. We focus on three different systems: fetal brain, heart, and endothelial cells. My research is supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Research Projects
Our project dealing with the fetal brain is supported by our discovery that a developmentally low tetrahydrobiopterin (BH₄) cofactor in the fetal brain increases hypoxia-ischemia injury in specific brain regions and worsens motor disabilities in newborns. Our working hypothesis is that development of motor deficits can be explained by a two-hit model where transient low tetrahydrobiopterin represents an important vulnerability state of immature fetal brain neurons. In collaboration with the group of Dr. Tan (Wayne State University), we are testing the idea that BH4 is a critical neuronal developmental factor.

Our BH₄ effects in cardiovascular health project examines the relationship between endothelial dysfunction and eNOS uncoupling in an animal model of atherosclerosis. While eNOS dysfunction is believed to be an important element promoting vascular dysfunction, it is yet unclear whether eNOS uncoupling controls a state of critical oxidant stress to promote disease. In this project we are examining the impact of BH₄ in redox that could further support therapeutic effects in hypercholesterolemia. A second approach is to understand the role of BH₄ in cardiomyocyte redox changes that could link BH₄ deficiency with loss of function as could occur in heart failure.

Lab Members
Steven Traeger, Research Technologist I
James Woodcock, Research Technologist I

(Vasquez-Vivar J, Shi Z, Tan S.) Antioxid Redox Signal. 2022 Jul;37(1-3):171-183 PMID: 34806400 PMCID: PMC9293684 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85132339483 11/23/2021
(Singh B, Kosuru R, Lakshmikanthan S, Sorci-Thomas MG, Zhang DX, Sparapani R, Vasquez-Vivar J, Chrzanowska M.) Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2021 Feb;41(2):638-650 PMID: 33267664 PMCID: PMC8105264 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85104181830 12/04/2020
(Kosuru R, Singh B, Lakshmikanthan S, Nishijima Y, Vasquez-Vivar J, Zhang DX, Chrzanowska M.) Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021;9:741935 PMID: 34422844 PMCID: PMC8378398 08/24/2021
(Kosuru R, Singh B, Lakshmikanthan S, Nishijima Y, Vasquez-Vivar J, Zhang DX, Chrzanowska M.) Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021;9:687598 PMID: 34222255 PMCID: PMC8247587 07/06/2021
(Herrera NA, Duchatsch F, Kahlke A, Amaral SL, Vasquez-Vivar J.) Free Radic Biol Med. 2020 May 20;152:689-696 PMID: 31978540 PMCID: PMC8546799 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85078237606 01/25/2020
(Vasquez-Vivar J, Shi Z, Jeong JW, Luo K, Sharma A, Thirugnanam K, Tan S.) Redox Biol. 2020 Jan;29:101407 PMID: 31926630 PMCID: PMC6928344 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85076556552 01/14/2020
(Antholine WE, Vasquez-Vivar J, Quirk BJ, Whelan HT, Wu PK, Park JI, Myers CR.) Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Mar 06;20(5) PMID: 30845710 PMCID: PMC6429069 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85062628835 03/09/2019
(Hardy M, Zielonka J, Karoui H, Sikora A, Michalski R, Podsiad艂y R, Lopez M, Vasquez-Vivar J, Kalyanaraman B, Ouari O.) Antioxid Redox Signal. 2018 May 20;28(15):1416-1432 PMID: 29037049 PMCID: PMC5910052 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85045516114 10/19/2017
(Shi Z, Vasquez-Vivar J, Luo K, Yan Y, Northington F, Mehrmohammadi M, Tan S.) Dev Neurosci. 2018;40(5-6):534-546 PMID: 31163416 PMCID: PMC9873358 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85066972526 06/05/2019
(Sánchez-Aranguren LC, Espinosa-González CT, González-Ortiz LM, Sanabria-Barrera SM, Riaño-Medina CE, Nuñez AF, Ahmed A, Vasquez-Vivar J, López M.) Front Physiol. 2018;9:83 PMID: 29563877 PMCID: PMC5845757 03/23/2018
(Vasquez-Vivar J, Shi Z, Luo K, Thirugnanam K, Tan S.) Redox Biol. 2017 Oct;13:594-599 PMID: 28803128 PMCID: PMC5554922 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85027861384 08/15/2017
(Zielonka J, Joseph J, Sikora A, Hardy M, Ouari O, Vasquez-Vivar J, Cheng G, Lopez M, Kalyanaraman B.) Chem Rev. 2017 Aug 09;117(15):10043-10120 PMID: 28654243 PMCID: PMC5611849 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85027303022 06/28/2017

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