Vascular Pharmacology: Cytoskeleton and Extracellular Matrix

Vascular Pharmacology: Cytoskeleton and Extracellular Matrix, Volume 81, contains the latest information on the vascular cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix that is presented with helpful illustrations and supporting references by prominent scientists and highly-recognized experts in the vascular field. Topics of interest in this new release include Pharmacology of the Vascular Cytoskeleton and Extracellular Matrix, The Dynamic Actin Cytoskeleton in Smooth Muscle, The Role of the Actin Cytoskeleton in the Regulation of Vascular Inflammation, The Smoothelin Family of Proteins and the Smooth Muscle Cell Contractile Apparatus, Smooth Muscle Cytoskeletal Network Regulates Expression of the Profibrotic Genes PAI-1 and CTGF, and more.- Presents a must-read book on the vascular cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix- Contains up-to-date information on the structure, function and development of the vascular cell cytoskeleton- Includes contributors from prominent scientists and highly-recognized experts with major accomplishments in the fields of the vascular cytoskeleton, extracellular matrix, mechanotransduction and vascular remodeling

About the Author

Dr. Raouf Khalil is an MD PhD who is very interested in scientific research. After receiving his MD, he joined the graduate school and received his PhD in Pharmacology from the University of Miami, Florida. After doing postdoctoral training at Harvard University, he joined the faculty at University of Mississippi Medical Center. He then moved back to Harvard where he is now Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School and the Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Dr. Khalil has long been interested in vascular physiology and cell biology. The main focus of his research laboratory is to study the cellular mechanisms of vascular tone under physiological conditions and the changes in these mechanisms in pathological conditions such as coronary artery disease, salt-sensitive hypertension, hypertension in pregnancy, preeclampsia, pulmonary hypertension, and chronic venous disease. State-of-the-art equipment to study various aspects of the vascular system at the whole animal, tissue, cellular, and molecular level are available in his laboratory. Powerful techniques such as physiological bioassays, radioimmunoassays, mRNA and protein analysis, cell and organ culture, immunofluorescence, dgtl imaging and confocal microscopy are also available. Dr. Khalil's research projects include investigation of endothelium-dependent mechanisms of vascular relaxation, calcium-dependent and calcium-independent mechanisms of vascular and uterine contraction, role of protein kinases and phosphatases in vascular and uterine smooth muscle contraction, mechanisms of sex differences in vascular tone, the role of endothelin in salt-sensitive hypertension, and the role of matrix metalloproteinases in hypertension in pregnancy, preeclampsia, pulmonary hypertension, and chronic venous disease.