Shawn B. Bender, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical SciencesOffice Location: E102 Veterinary Medicine
Office Phone: 573-882-7011
BenderS@missouri.edu
Research Interests
Obesity-associated coronary microvascular dysfunction
Research Description
The long-term goal of our research program is to elucidate mechanisms of obesity-associated coronary microvascular dysfunction and thereby identify novel pathways and therapeutic targets to reduce cardiovascular complications in these patients. The central premise of our work is that coronary microvascular dysfunction and the resultant impairment of coronary blood flow control is an independent predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in obese, diabetic patients. Impaired coronary microvascular function is estimated to account for more than 60% of cardiac perfusion defects in patients with type 2 diabetes. Thus, coronary microvascular dysfunction is a significant contributor to the increased risk of impaired cardiac function, ischemia, and infarct in these patients.
Current projects in the laboratory focus on the role of the aldosterone-binding mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) as a mediator of coronary dysfunction in obesity. A growing body of evidence has implicated MR signaling in vascular cells as an important mediator of vascular dysfunction in various disease states. Our studies utilize an integrative combination of in vivo and in vitro approaches including cell/tissue culture and knockout mouse models coupled with molecular techniques.
Selected Publications
DuPont JJ, Hill MA, Bender SB, Jaisser F, Jaffe IZ. Aldosterone and mineralocorticoid receptors: regulators of ion channels beyond the kidney. Hypertension 63(4):632-637, 2014.
Bender SB, de Beer VJ, Tharp DL, Bowles DK, Duncker DJ, Laughlin MH, Merkus D. Reduced contribution of endothelin to the regulation of systemic and pulmonary vascular tone in severe familial hypercholesterolemia. J Physiol 592(8): 1757-1769, 2014.
Aroor AR, Sowers JR, Bender SB, Nistala R, Garro M, Mugerfeld I, Hayden MR, Johnson MS, Salam M, Whaley-Connell A, DeMarco VG. Dipeptidylpeptidase inhibition is associated with improvement in blood pressure and diastolic function in insulin-resistant male Zucker obese rats. Endocrinology 154(7): 2501-2513, 2013.
Bender SB, McGraw AP, Jaffe IZ, Sowers JR. Perspectives: Mineralocorticoid receptor-mediated vascular insulin resistance: an early contributor to diabetes-related vascular dysfunction? Diabetes 62(2): 313-319, 2013.
McCurley A, Pires PW, Bender SB, Aronovitz M, Zhao MJ, Metzger D, Chambon P, Hill MA, Dorrance AM, Mendelsohn ME, Jaffe IZ. Direct regulation of blood pressure by smooth muscle cell mineralocorticoid receptors. Nat Med 18(9): 1429-1433, 2012.
