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Cuihua Zhang, MD, PhD

Associate Professor, Departments of Internal Medicine, Medical Pharmacology & Physiology and Nutritional Sciences
 Office Location: 324B Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center
Office Phone: 573-882-2427


Research Interests

Research in this laboratory is focused on regulation of coronary microvascular function; endothelium and vascular smooth-muscle biology; physiology and pathophysiology of coronary microcirculation; metabolic regulation of microvascular blood flow; nitric oxide and microvascular function; influence of antioxidants/oxidative stress on microvascular vasomotor function.

Research Description

Zhang's laboratory has been focused on studying genetically modified animal models to understand the role of specific genes in the pathophysiological sequelae of cardiovascular diseases, e.g., hypertension, atherosclerosis, diabetes at the molecular, cellular, and intact tissue levels. Our current research interest is aimed at understanding the underlying mechanisms responsible for the pathophysiological manifestations of ischemic heart disease.

Professional Background

  • Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
  • Associate Professor (with tenure), Departments of Internal Medicine, Medical
  • Pharmacology & Physiology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Missouri, MO
  • Recipient of the Microcirculatory Society Travel Award for Outstanding Young Investigators from the Microcirculatory Society
  • Recipient of Werner Risau New Investigator Award in Vascular Biology from ATVB
  • Recipient of American Physiology Society CV Section Young Investigator Award
  • Member of Editorial Boards for Basic Research in Cardiology and American Journal of Physiology
  • Adhoc member of NIH Hypertension and Microcirculation Study Section
  • American Heart Association Peer Review Committee
  • Research funded by the National Institutes of Health, American Heart Association and Pfizer

Selected Publications

  • Cuihua Zhang, X. Wang and Y. Zheng. The relation of endothelium-derived factors and hypertension. Overseas Medicine. 14(94): 224-226;1994.
  • Cuihua Zhang, X. Wang and Y. Zheng. Decreased endothelium-dependent relaxation and the mechanism in vessel of SHRsp. Chinese Circulation Journal. 9(2):106-107,1994.
  • Y. Zheng, Cuihua Zhang. The effects of L-NNA and reduced hemoglobin on endothelium-dependent relaxation of mesenteric artery in SHRsp. Acta Physiologica Sinica. 6(6):568-574, 1994.
  • Cuihua Zhang, X. Wang and Y. Zheng. Endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor. Overseas Medicine. 14(2):119;1994.
  • Cuihua Zhang, X. Wang and Y. Zheng. L-arginine relaxation of mesenteric artery in SHRsp and WKY. Chinese Joural of Hypertension. 2(1):32-34,1994.
  • Cuihua Zhang, X. Wang and Y. Zheng. Effects of methylene blue and indomethacin on the attenuation of endothelium-dependent relaxation in visceral vessel of SHR Rats. Basic Medical Sciences and Clinics. 14(4):41-45,1994.
  • Cuihua Zhang, X. Wang and Y. Zheng. Endothelium-derived relaxation factor and nitric oxide. Progress In Physiological Sciences. 26(2):172-174;1995.
  • L. Tao and Cuihua Zhang. Endothelium derived contracting factor. The Journal of Jinzhou Medical College. 26(9):132-134;1996.
  • W. Hu, Cuihua Zhang, H. Yang, Y. Zheng, N. Liu, X. Sun and M. Ren. Dualistic effect of dynorphin on high potassium-induced increase of intracellular free calcium concentration in cultured rat spinal neurons. Chinese Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology. 12(1):32-35, 1998.
  • W. Hu, Cuihua Zhang, Y. Zheng, N. Liu, X. Sun, J Jen, and M. Ren. Mechanism of dynorphin-induced dualistic effect on free intracellular Ca2+ concentration in cultured rat spinal neurons. European Journal of Pharmacology. 342(2-3):325-332, 1998.
  • Cuihua Zhang, LGH. Bonagamba and BH. Machado. Blockade of NK-1 receptors in the nucleus tractus solitarii of awake rats produced no effect on the cardiovascular responses to chemoreflex activation. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, 33(11) 1379-1385, November, 2000.
  • Cuihua Zhang, TW. Hein and L. Kuo. Transmural difference in coronary arteriolar dilation to adenosine: effect of luminal pressure and KATP channels. American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology. 279(6): H2612-2620, 2000.
  • RJ. Rivers, TW. Hein, C Zhang and L. Kuo. Activation of Barium-Sensitive Inward Rectifier Potassium Channels Mediates Conducted Remote Dilation of Coronary Arterioles. Circulation 104:1749-1753, 2001.
  • KT. Huang, TH. Han, DR. Hyduke, MW. Vaughn, Herle Van, TW. Hein, C Zhang, L. Kuo, and JC. Liao. Modulation of nitric oxide biovailability by Erythrocytes. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 98:11771-11776, 2001.
  • Cuihua Zhang, TW. Hein, W. Wang and L. Kuo. Constitutive expression of arginase in microvascular endothelial cells counteracts nitric oxide-mediated vasodilatory function. FASEB J. 15(7):1264-6, 2001.
  • Cuihua Zhang, TW. Hein,W. Wang and L. Kuo, Divergent roles of angiotensin II AT1 and AT2 receptors in modulating coronary microvascular function. Circulation Research, 92:322-329, 2003.
  • Travis W. Hein, Cuihua Zhang (Co-first author), Wei. Wang, Chong-I. Chang, Naris Chengchaisri and Lih Kuo. Ischemia-reperfusion selectively impairs nitric oxide-mediated dilation in coronary arterioles: counteracting role of arginase. The FASEB Journal express article. FASEB J. 2003.17(15):2328-30.
  • Published online October 16, 2003. (http://www.fasebj.org/cgi/reprint/03-0115fjev1)
  • Travis W. Hein, Cuihua Zhang (Co-first author), Wei Wang, Lih Kuo. Transmural difference in coronary arteriolar dilation to ß-adrenergic receptor activation: role of ß2-adrenergic receptors and KATP channels. Circulation. 110(17):2708-12, 2004.
  • Cuihua Zhang,Travis W. Hein, Wei Wang, Matthew W. Miller, Theresa W. Fossum, Michelle M. McDonald, Jay D. Humphrey, Lih Kuo: Upregulation of Vascular Arginase in Hypertension Decreases Nitric Oxide-Mediated Dilation of Coronary Arterioles. Hypertension. 44:1-9, 2004.
  • Daphne Merkus, Anna Brzezinska, Cuihua Zhang, Suichi Sato and William M. Chilian. Cardiac myocytes control release of endothelin-1 in the coronary vasculature. American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology. 288:H2088-2092, 2005.
  • Cuihua Zhang, Srinath Setty, Lih Kuo, Johnathan D. Tune. Coronary arteriolar constriction to Angiotensin II is augmented in the prediabetic metabolic syndrome via activation of AT1 receptors. American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology. 288:H2154-H2162, 2005.
  • Knudson JD, Dincer UD, Cuihua Zhang, Swafford AN Jr, Koshida R, Picchi A, Focardi M, Dick GM, Tune JD. Leptin receptors are expressed in coronary arteries, and hyperleptinemia causes significant coronary endothelial dysfunction. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2005 Jul;289(1):H48-56.
  • Koshida R, Rocic P, Saito S, Kiyooka T, Cuihua Zhang, Chilian WM. Role of focal adhesion kinase in flow-induced dilation of coronary arterioles. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2005 Dec;25(12):2548-53.
  • Merkus D, Brzezinska AK, Cuihua Zhang, Saito S, Chilian WM. Cardiac myocytes control release of endothelin-1 in coronary vasculature. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2005 May;288(5):H2088-92.
  • Cuihua Zhang, Hein TW, Wang W, Ren Y, Shipley RD, and Kuo L. Activation of JNK and Xanthine Oxidase by TNF alpha Impairs Nitric Oxide-Mediated Dilation of Coronary Arterioles. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, 2006;40(2):247-257.
  • Cuihua Zhang, Xiangbin Xu, Barry J. Potter, Wei Wang, Lih Kuo, Lloyd Michael, Gregory J. Bagby, and William M. Chilian. TNF-alpha Contributes to Endothelial Dysfunction in Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. 2006; 26:475-480.
  • A Picchi, X Gao, S Belmadani, BJ Potter, M Focardi, WM Chilian and Cuihua Zhang. TNF alpha Induces Endothelial Dysfunction in the Metabolic Syndrome. Circ Res. 2006, 99:69-77.
  • Xue Gao, Souad Belmadani, Andrea Picchi, Xiangbin Xu, Barry J Potter, Neera Tewari-Singh, Stefano Capobianco, William M Chilian and Cuihua Zhang. Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha-induces Endothelial Dysfunction in Leprdb Mice. Circulation. 2007, 115:245-254.
  • Xiangbin Xu, Xue Gao, Ji-Min Cao, William M. Chilian and Cuihua Zhang. Anti-LOX-1 Rescues Endothelial Function in Coronary Arterioles in Atherosclerotic Apo-E Knockout Mice. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. 2007, 27:871-877.
  • Xue Gao, Xiangbin Xu, Souad Belmadani, Yoonjung Park, Zhonghua Tang, Arthur M Feldman, William M Chilian and Cuihua Zhang. TNF-alpha Contributes to Endothelial Dysfunction by Up-regulation Arginase in I/R Injury. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. 2007, 27:1269-1275.
  • Cuihua Zhang, Yoonjung Park, Andrea Picchi and Barry J Potter. Maturation-induced Endothelial Dysfunction via Vascular Inflammation in Diabetic Mice. Basic Research in Cardiology. 2008, 103(5):407-16.
  • Yoonjung Park, Stefano Capobianco, Xue Gao, John R.Falch, Kevin C.Dellsperger and Cuihua Zhang. Role of EDHF in type 2 diabetes-induced endothelial dysfunction. The American Jounral of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology. 2008. 295: H1982-H1988. 
  • Hanrui Zhang, Yoonjung Park, Junxi Wu, Xiu Ping Chen, Sewon Lee, Jiyeon Yang, Kevin C.Dellsperger and Cuihua Zhang. Role of TNF-alpha in vascular dysfunction. Clinical Science. 2009, 116, 219-230.
  • Jiyeon Yang, Yoonjung Park, Hanrui Zhang, Xiangbin Xu, Glen A, Laine, Kevin C. Dellsperger and Cuihua Zhang. Feed-forward signaling of TNF-alpha and NF-kB via IKK-beta pathway contributes to insulin resistance and coronary arteriolar dysfunction in type 2 diabetic mice. The American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology. 2009. 296: H1850-H1858.
  • Yoonjung Park, Junxi Wu, Hanrui Zhang, Yong Wang and Cuihua Zhang, Vascular dysfunction in Type 2 diabetes: emerging targets for therapy. Expert Rev.Cardiovasc.Ther. 2009, 7(3), 209-213
  • Hanrui Zhang, Jing Zhang, Zoltan Ungvari and Cuihua Zhang. Resveratrol Improves Endothelial Function - Role of TNF alpha and Vascular Oxidative Stress. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. 2009, 29(8):1164-71.
  • Jiyeon Yang, Yoonjung Park, Hanrui Zhang, Xue Gao, Emily Wilson, Warren Zimmer, Louise Abbott and Cuihua Zhang. Role of MCP-1 in tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced endothelial dysfunction in type 2 diabetic mice. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2009. 297:H1208-H1216.

Published by Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, 134 Research Park Dr., Columbia, MO 65211
Phone: 573-882-7588 | Fax: 573-884-4232 | Email: dalton@missouri.edu
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