91ɫƵ

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Jeannette Vasquez Vivar_Academic Profile

Jeannette Vasquez Vivar, PhD

Professor; Associate Director, Redox Biology Program

Locations

  • Biophysics
    TBRC C0790

Contact Information

Education

Research Fellow in Pathology, 91ɫƵ, Milwaukee, WI, 1996-1998
Postdoctoral Fellow in Biochemistry, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil, 1993-1996
PhD, Biochemistry, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil, 1992
BS, Clinical Biochemistry, Universidad de Concepción Chile, 1988
BS, Biochemistry, Universidad de Concepción Chile, 1986

Biography

As a postdoctoral fellow, I investigated kinetics and mechanisms of free radical formation from reactions involving peroxynitrite and biomolecules, and later I discovered the role of tetrahydrobiopterin in the regulation of superoxide release from nitric oxide synthase. In 1998, I became a faculty member in the Department of Pathology at 91ɫƵ, studying the endothelial nitric oxide synthase uncoupling in endothelial dysfunction. In 2001, I joined the faculty of the Department of Biophysics at 91ɫƵ, where I continue my work on redox mechanisms of cardiovascular and fetal brain dysfunction.

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Research Experience

  • Antioxidants
  • Arginine
  • Ascorbic Acid
  • Biomarkers
  • Biopterin
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Endothelial Cells
  • Ethidium
  • Free Radicals
  • Free Radicals, Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spin Trapping

Methodologies and Techniques

  • Brain Diseases, Metabolic, Inborn
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Energy Metabolism
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Folic Acid Antagonists
  • HPLC, chromatography electrochemical, UV and fluorescence detection (Pterins, Neurotransmitters, Glutathione, 2-Hydroxyethidium)
  • Kinetics
  • NADP
  • Oxygen Consumption
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Spin Trapping

Leadership Positions

  •  Associate Director, Redox Biology Program

91ɫƵ Program / Core Facilities

  • Redox Biology

Research Interests

My lab investigates cell-specific redox mechanisms disrupting normal cellular homeostasis. We focus on three different systems: fetal brain, heart, and endothelial cells. My research is supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Research Projects
Our project dealing with the fetal brain is supported by our discovery that a developmentally low tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) cofactor in the fetal brain increases hypoxia-ischemia injury in specific brain regions and worsens motor disabilities in newborns. Our working hypothesis is that development of motor deficits can be explained by a two-hit model where transient low tetrahydrobiopterin represents an important vulnerability state of immature fetal brain neurons. In collaboration with the group of Dr. Tan (Wayne State University), we are testing the idea that BH4 is a critical neuronal developmental factor.

Our BH4 effects in cardiovascular health project examines the relationship between endothelial dysfunction and eNOS uncoupling in an animal model of atherosclerosis. While eNOS dysfunction is believed to be an important element promoting vascular dysfunction, it is yet unclear whether eNOS uncoupling controls a state of critical oxidant stress to promote disease. In this project we are examining the impact of BH4 in redox that could further support therapeutic effects in hypercholesterolemia. A second approach is to understand the role of BH4 in cardiomyocyte redox changes that could link BH4 deficiency with loss of function as could occur in heart failure.

Lab Members
Steven Traeger, Research Technologist I
James Woodcock, Research Technologist I


Publications

  • (Traeger RS, Woodcock J, Tan S, Shi Z, Vasquez-Vivar J.) Redox Biol. 2024 Nov 30;79:103447 PMID: 39642597 12/07/2024

  • (Vasquez-Vivar J, Shi Z, Tan S.) Antioxid Redox Signal. 2022 Jul;37(1-3):171-183 PMID: 34806400 PMCID: PMC9293684 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85132339483 11/23/2021

  • (Singh B, Kosuru R, Lakshmikanthan S, Sorci-Thomas MG, Zhang DX, Sparapani R, Vasquez-Vivar J, Chrzanowska M.) Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2021 Feb;41(2):638-650 PMID: 33267664 PMCID: PMC8105264 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85104181830 12/04/2020

  • (Kosuru R, Singh B, Lakshmikanthan S, Nishijima Y, Vasquez-Vivar J, Zhang DX, Chrzanowska M.) Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021;9:741935 PMID: 34422844 PMCID: PMC8378398 08/24/2021

  • (Kosuru R, Singh B, Lakshmikanthan S, Nishijima Y, Vasquez-Vivar J, Zhang DX, Chrzanowska M.) Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021;9:687598 PMID: 34222255 PMCID: PMC8247587 07/06/2021

  • (Herrera NA, Duchatsch F, Kahlke A, Amaral SL, Vasquez-Vivar J.) Free Radic Biol Med. 2020 May 20;152:689-696 PMID: 31978540 PMCID: PMC8546799 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85078237606 01/25/2020

  • (Vasquez-Vivar J, Shi Z, Jeong JW, Luo K, Sharma A, Thirugnanam K, Tan S.) Redox Biol. 2020 Jan;29:101407 PMID: 31926630 PMCID: PMC6928344 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85076556552 01/14/2020

  • (Antholine WE, Vasquez-Vivar J, Quirk BJ, Whelan HT, Wu PK, Park JI, Myers CR.) Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Mar 06;20(5) PMID: 30845710 PMCID: PMC6429069 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85062628835 03/09/2019

  • (Hardy M, Zielonka J, Karoui H, Sikora A, Michalski R, Podsiadły R, Lopez M, Vasquez-Vivar J, Kalyanaraman B, Ouari O.) Antioxid Redox Signal. 2018 May 20;28(15):1416-1432 PMID: 29037049 PMCID: PMC5910052 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85045516114 10/19/2017

  • (Shi Z, Vasquez-Vivar J, Luo K, Yan Y, Northington F, Mehrmohammadi M, Tan S.) Dev Neurosci. 2018;40(5-6):534-546 PMID: 31163416 PMCID: PMC9873358 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85066972526 06/05/2019

  • (Sánchez-Aranguren LC, Espinosa-González CT, González-Ortiz LM, Sanabria-Barrera SM, Riaño-Medina CE, Nuñez AF, Ahmed A, Vasquez-Vivar J, López M.) Front Physiol. 2018;9:83 PMID: 29563877 PMCID: PMC5845757 03/23/2018

  • (Vasquez-Vivar J, Shi Z, Luo K, Thirugnanam K, Tan S.) Redox Biol. 2017 Oct;13:594-599 PMID: 28803128 PMCID: PMC5554922 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85027861384 08/15/2017