David D. Kline, PhD

Research interests

• Neurohumoral control of the cardiovascular and respiratory system

Research summary

Many hypoxia-related disease states manifest as unstable breathing and hypertension. The central nervous system has been implicated in these pathophysiological responses, but the specific central site of action and cellular mechanisms are not known. The brainstem and hypothalamus are vital regions which control cardiovascular and respiratory function. Our studies seek to determine the mechanism by which neurons and glia in these regions control blood pressure and breathing. This is done in animal models of hypoxic disease with the expectation of understanding potential therapeutic interventions.

Lab staff

• Heather A. Dantzler, BA
• Procopio Gama de Barcellos Filho, PhD
• Hayden Wright, PhD
• Skylar Gaw, BA

Select publications

• Gama de Barcellos Filho P, Dantzler HA, Hasser EM, Kline DD. Oxytocin and corticotropin-releasing hormone exaggerate nucleus tractus solitarii neuronal and synaptic activity following chronic intermittent hypoxia. J Physiol. 2024 Jul;602(14):3375-3400. doi: 10.1113/JP286069. Epub 2024 May 3. PMID: 38698722; PMCID: PMC11251298.
• Hofmann GC, Gama de Barcellos Filho P, Khodadadi F, Ostrowski D, Kline DD, Hasser EM. Vagotomy blunts cardiorespiratory responses to vagal afferent stimulation via pre- and postsynaptic effects in the nucleus tractus solitarii. J Physiol. 2024 Mar;602(6):1147-1174. doi: 10.1113/JP285854. Epub 2024 Feb 20. PMID: 38377124.
• Ramirez-Navarro A, Lima-Silveira L, Glazebrook PA, Dantzler HA, Kline DD, Kunze DL. Kv2 channels contribute to neuronal activity within the vagal afferent-nTS reflex arc. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2024 Jan 1;326(1):C74-C88. doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.00366.2023. Epub 2023 Nov 20. PMID: 37982174; PMCID: PMC11192486.
• Ruyle BC, Lima-Silveira L, Martinez D, Cummings KJ, Heesch CM, Kline DD, Hasser EM. Paraventricular nucleus projections to the nucleus tractus solitarii are essential for full expression of hypoxia-induced peripheral chemoreflex responses. J Physiol. 2023 Oct;601(19):4309-4336. doi: 10.1113/JP284907. Epub 2023 Aug 26. PMID: 37632733.
• Langen KR, Dantzler HA, de Barcellos-Filho PG, Kline DD. Hypoxia augments TRPM3-mediated calcium influx in vagal sensory neurons. Auton Neurosci. 2023 Jul;247:103095. doi: 10.1016/j.autneu.2023.103095. Epub 2023 Apr 29. PMID: 37146443; PMCID: PMC10330432.