Ronald J. Korthuis, Ph.D.

Bolm Distinguished Professor and Chairman KorthuisR@health.missouri.edu

Research Interests
Our 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 inflammatory effects 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. In addition, the permeability of the cells lining capillaries and postcapillary venules is increased, leading to edema formation. We are 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 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 approaches and mutant mouse models, we are examining the signaling mechanisms that are triggered by exposure to preconditioning stimuli to induce the formation of protective proteins such as heme oxygenase.

Professional Background

• BS in Zoology, Michigan State University
• PhD in Physiology, Michigan State University
• Completed a Parker B. Francis Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of South Alabama
• Fellow of the American Heart Association and the American Physiological Society
• Recipient of an Established Investigatorship from the American Heart Association
• Served as a member of the Research Peer Review Steering Committee of the American Heart Association
• Past President of the Executive Board of the American Heart Association, Southeast Affiliate
• Served as a member of Editorial Boards for Microcirculation, American Journal of Physiology, and Cardiovascular Research
• Served as a member of the Cardiovascular and Renal B and F10 Fellowship study sections of the National Institutes of Health
• Appointed as Charter member of the Vascular Cell and Molecular Biology Student Section of the National Institutes of Health
• Joint Programming Committee and Finance Committee Member for The American Physiological Society
• Research funded by the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association

Selected Publications

• Gaskin, FS, K Kamada, M Yusof, and RJ Korthuis. 5’-AMP-acivated protein kinase activation prevents postischemic leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesive interactions. Am J Physio Heart Circ Physiol 292:H326-H332, 2007
• Yamaguchi, T, K Kamada, CB Dayton, P Carter, DC Gute, and RJ Korthuis. Role of eNOS-derived NO in the postichemic anti-inflammatory effects of antecedent ethanol ingestion in murine small intestine. Am J Physiol 292:H1435-H1442, 2007.
• Yusof, M, K Kamada, FS Gaskin, and RJ Korthuis. Angiotensin II mediates postischemic leukocyte-endothelial interactions: Role of calcitonin gene-related peptide. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 292:H3032-H3037, 2007.
• Wang Q, KD Tompkins, A Siumonyi, AY Sun, GY Sun, and RJ Korthuis. Ethanol preconditioning protects against ischemia/reperfusion-induced brain damage: Role of NADPH oxidase-derived ROS. Free Rad Biol Med 43:1048-1060, 2007.
• Haukoos, J, RJ Korthuis, and C Schneemilch. Inflammatory and immunologic responses to ischemia and reperfusion. In: Cardiac Arrest – The Science and Practice of Resuscitation Medicine, 2nd edition, edited by NA Paradis, H Halperin, KB Kern, V Wenzel, and DA Chamberlain. Cambridge University Press, Chap 8, pp 163-176, 2007.

Methodology/Techniques
Intravital (brightfield and fluorescence) microscopy, assessment of permeability using quantitative fluorescence microscopy in single microvessels in vivo and isolated venules ex vivo, vascular reactivity in single arterioles in vivo and isolated arterioles ex vivo, quantitation of leukocyte and tumor cell adhesion/emigration, adhesion molecule expression, diffusive permeability in endothelial cell monolayers, computerized video imaging and analysis.