Health
Sciences Center
Hospital
and Clinic
Primate
Center
Public
Health
Tropical Medicine
Fady Botros, Ph.D.
(keywords)
Assistant Professor
Ph.D.:mmmm University
Postdoctoral: University
Bio/research interests
Research interests: Hypertension, kidney function, renal microcirculation, renal heme oxygenase, carbon monoxide, bilirubin.
Heme oxygenase (HO) catalyzes the conversion of heme to iron, carbon monoxide (CO), and biliverdin/bilirubin. Carbon monoxide modulates vascular function via activation of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) or increasing open probability of KCa channels in vascular smooth muscle cells. Bilirubin is an endogenous antioxidant, but little is known about the direct effects of bilirubin on vascular or renal function. Two isoforms of HO are expressed in the kidney (HO-1 and HO-2). The kidney has a relatively low basal level of HO activity that is mainly derived from constitutive HO-2. Renal HO-1 is induced in angiotensin II-dependent hypertension causing renal protective effects.
Research interests are focused on determining the role of heme oxygenase in the regulation of blood pressure and renal function in normotensive and hypertensive rats. We are also interested in evaluating the role of HO in modulating renal autoregulation and pressure-natriuresis mechanisms.
Various experimental techniques are used to accomplish these objectives:
- The in vitro blood-perfused juxtamedullary nephron preparation is used to study the renal microcirculation.
- In vivo renal clearance experiments are performed to study renal hemodynamics and renal excretory function.
- Molecular and biochemical techniques are used to determine protein expression levels, enzyme activity, and to measure several biological molecules.
Recent Publications:
A PubMed listing of research publications for Faculty Member
Contact:
fbotros@tulane.edu504-988-8244
1430 Tulane Ave., New Orleans, LA 70112
504-988-5251; Fax # 504-988-2675