Ronald J. Korthuis, PhD
Research Interests
Microvascular responses to ischemia/reperfusion; leukocyte/endothelial cell adhesive interactions; arteriolar vasoregulatory function
Research Description
Korthuis' research focuses on the mechanisms underlying the inflammatory responses to ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) and how blood vessels in the microcirculation (arterioles, capillaries, and venules) can be preconditioned to resist the deleterious proinflammatory effects of I/R. When the blood supply is reduced (ischemia) and then subsequently reestablished (reperfusion), the ability of arterioles to regulate the distribution of blood flow is impaired, many capillaries fail to perfuse (capillary no-reflow), and white blood cells become adherent to and emigrate across the walls of postcapillary venules. Once in the tissues, these inflammatory phagocytes attack parenchymal cells, thereby exacerbating injury induced by ischemia. In addition, the permeability of the cells lining capillaries and postcapillary venules is increased, leading to edema formation.
Korthuis' lab is studying how white blood cells which adhere to and emigrate across the walls of postcapillary venules alter vasoregulatory function in arterioles, cause no-reflow in capillaries, and increase permeability in postcapillary venules.
Another line of investigation focuses on understanding how exposing tissues to preconditioning stimuli such as short periods of ischemia or by ingestion of ethanol (at doses equivalent to drinking one to two alcoholic beverages) 24 hours prior to the onset of prolonged ischemia followed by reperfusion prevents microvascular dysfunction.Using a variety of pharmacologic and biochemical approaches, quantitative computerized image analyses, and mutant mouse models, Korthuis is examining the signaling mechanisms that are triggered by exposure to preconditioning stimuli to induce the expression of protective proteins such as heme oxygenase.
Professional Background
- Obtained BS in zoology, Michigan State University.
- Obtained PhD in physiology, Michigan State University.
- Completed a Parker B. Francis Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of South Alabama.
- Recipient of an Established Investigatorship from the American Heart Association.
- Past President of the Executive Board of the American Heart Association, Southeast Affiliate.
- Member of editorial boards for Microcirculation and American Journal of Physiology.
- Member of the Cardiovascular and Renal B and F10 Fellowship study sections of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
- Executive Council Member for The Microcirculatory Society.
- Joint Programming Committee Member for The American Physiological Society.
- Research funded by the NIH and the American Heart Association.
Selected Publications
- Korthuis RJ., Skeletal Muscle Circulation.,San Rafael (CA): Morgan & Claypool Life Sciences; 2011., PMID: 21850766
- Zuidema MY, Peyton KJ, Fay WP, Durante W, Korthuis RJ., Antecedent hydrogen sulfide elicits an anti-inflammatory phenotype in postischemic murine small intestine: role of heme oxygenase-1., Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2011 Sep;301(3):H888-94. Epub 2011 Jun 10.PMID:21666111
- Korthuis RJ., Filling GAPs in the understanding of cardioprotection induced by GPCR activation: RGS proteins modulate ischaemic injury., Cardiovasc Res. 2011 Jul 1;91(1):5-6. Epub 2011 May 24. No abstract available. PMID: 21613276
- Scallan J, Huxley VH, Korthuis RJ., Capillary Fluid Exchange: Regulation, Functions, and Pathology., San Rafael (CA): Morgan & Claypool Life Sciences; 2010.PMID: 21452435
- Gaskin FS, Kamada K, Zuidema MY, Jones AW, Rubin LJ, Korthuis RJ., Isoform-selective 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase-dependent preconditioning mechanisms to prevent postischemic leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesive interactions., Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2011 Apr;300(4):H1352-60. Epub 2011 Jan 14.PMID: 21239628
- Liu XM, Peyton KJ, Shebib AR, Wang H, Korthuis RJ, Durante W., Activation of AMPK stimulates heme oxygenase-1 gene expression and human endothelial cell survival., Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2011 Jan;300(1):H84-93. Epub 2010 Oct 29.PMID: 21037234
- Zuidema MY, Yang Y, Wang M, Kalogeris T, Liu Y, Meininger CJ, Hill MA, Davis MJ, Korthuis RJ., Antecedent hydrogen sulfide elicits an anti-inflammatory phenotype in postischemic murine small intestine: role of BK channels., Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2010 Nov;299(5):H1554-67. Epub 2010 Sep 10.PMID: 20833953
- Wang Q, Kalogeris TJ, Wang M, Jones AW, Korthuis RJ., Antecedent ethanol attenuates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion-induced leukocyte-endothelial adhesive interactions and delayed neuronal death: role of large conductance, Ca2+-activated K+ channels., Microcirculation. 2010 Aug;17(6):427-38.PMID: 20690981
- Jones AW, Durante W, Korthuis RJ., Heme oxygenase-1 deficiency leads to alteration of soluble guanylate cyclase redox regulation., J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2010 Oct;335(1):85-91. Epub 2010 Jul 6.PMID: 20605906
- Kalogeris TJ, Korthuis RJ., Vascular receptors as new substrates for matrix metalloproteinases in hypertension and other inflammatory states., Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2010 Jul;299(1):H13-5. Epub 2010 Apr 16. No abstract available. PMID: 20400684
- Yang Y, Murphy TV, Ella SR, Grayson TH, Haddock R, Hwang YT, Braun AP, Peichun G, Korthuis RJ, Davis MJ, Hill MA., Heterogeneity in function of small artery smooth muscle BKCa: involvement of the beta1-subunit., J Physiol. 2009 Jun 15;587(Pt 12):3025-44. Epub 2009 Apr 9.PMID: 19359368