Professional Interests

Most people in the USA die of cardiovascular disease. A major risk factor for heart attacks is elevated cholesterol, especially the cholesterol carried by low density lipoprotein (LDL). Our studies examine the hypothesis that LDL alters the function of the vascular endothelium and this alteration may be an important mechanism for the development of atherosclerosis. Of particular focus is our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in this process and the role mononuclear cells play in their interaction with the LDL treated vascular endothelium.

Dr. Stemerman's Laboratory and Researchers

Selected Publications

Liu, Y., Chen, B.P., Lu, M., Zhu, Y., Stemerman, M.B., Chien, S. and Shyy, J.Y. 2002. Shear stress activation of SREBP1 in endothelial cells is mediated by integrins. Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol. 22: 76-81.

Yuan, Y., Verna, L.K., Wang, N.P., Liao, H.L., Ma, K.S., Wang, Y., Zhu, Y. and Stemerman M.B. 2001. Cholesterol enrichment upregulates intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in human vascular endothelial cells. Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 1534: 139-48.

Wang, N., Verna, L., Liao, H.L., Ballard, A., Zhu, Y. and Stemerman, M.B. 2001. Adenovirus-mediated overexpression of dominant-negative mutant of c-Jun prevents intercellular adhesion molecule-1 induction by LDL: a critical role for activator protein-1 in endothelial activation. Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol. 21: 1414-20.

Wang, N. and Stemerman, M.B. 2001. Ref-1 and transcriptional control of endothelial apoptosis. Circulation Res. 88: 1223-1225.

Zhu, Y., Liao, H-L, Wang, N., Ma, K-S., Verna, L.K., Shyy, Y-J., Chien, S. and Stemerman, M.B. 2001. LDL-Activated p38 in Endothelial Cells is Mediated by Ras. Arteriosclerosis Thromb. Vasc. Biol. 21: 1159-1164.

Stemerman, M.B. 2000. Lipoprotein effects on the vessel wall. Circ. Res. 86: 715-716. Review

Liao, H.L., Zhu, Y., Wang, N., Verna, L. and Stemerman, M.B. 2000. Selective activation of endothelial cells by the antioxidant pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate: involvement of c-Jun and Jun N-terminal kinase activation. Endothelium 7: 121-33.

Wang, N., Verna, L., Hardy, S., Zhu, Y., Ma, K-S., Birrer, M.J. and Stemerman, M.B. 1999. c-Jun triggers apoptosis in human vascular endothelial cells. Circ. Res. 85: 387-393.

Wang, N.P., Verna, L., Hardy, S., Forsayeth, J., Zhu, Y. and Stemerman, M.B. 1999. Adenovirus-mediated overexpression of c-Jun and c-Fos induces intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in human endothelial cells. Arterio. Thromb. Vasc. Biol. 19: 2078-2084.

Zhu, Y., Liao, H.L., Lin, H.-C., Verna, L. and Stemerman, M.B. 1999. Low-density lipoprotein augments interleukin-1-induced vascular adhesion molecule expression in human endothelial cells. Atherosclerosis 144: 357-365.

Zhu, Y., Liao, H.L., Wang, N.P., Friedli, O., Verna, L. and Stemerman, M.B. 1999. Low density lipoprotein activates Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in human endothelial cells. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1436: 557-564.

Zhu, Y., Lin, J.H.C., Liao, H.-L., Friedli, O., Verna, L., Marten, N.W., Straus, D.S. and Stemerman, M.B. 1998. Low-density lipoprotein induces transcription factor activator protein-1 (AP-1) in human endothelial cells. Arterio. Thromb. Vasc. Biol. 18: 473-470.

Zhu, Y., Lin, H.-C., Liao, H.L., Verna, L. and Stemerman, M.B. 1997. Activation of ICAM-1 promoter by lysophosphatidylcholine: Possible involvement of protein tyrosine kinases. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1345: 93-98.