Publications by authors named "Claude F Albritton"

Article Synopsis
  • Salt sensitivity of blood pressure (SSBP) is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease, influenced by sodium intake and is associated with changes in antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and the JAK2 signaling pathway.
  • The study utilized various methods, including transcriptomic analyses, mouse models, and immunophenotyping, to investigate the effects of high salt on blood pressure and the underlying mechanisms involving JAK2, STAT3, and SMAD3.
  • Results showed that high salt increases the expression of genes in the JAK/STAT/SMAD pathway in human monocytes, and the knockout of JAK2 in APCs significantly reduced salt-induced hypertension in mice, indicating a crucial role of this pathway in S
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The liver, the largest internal organ and a metabolic hub, undergoes significant declines due to aging, affecting mitochondrial function and increasing the risk of systemic liver diseases. How the mitochondrial three-dimensional (3D) structure changes in the liver across aging, and the biological mechanisms regulating such changes confers remain unclear. In this study, we employed Serial Block Face-Scanning Electron Microscopy (SBF-SEM) to achieve high-resolution 3D reconstructions of murine liver mitochondria to observe diverse phenotypes and structural alterations that occur with age, marked by a reduction in size and complexity.

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The kidney filters nutrient waste and bodily fluids from the bloodstream, in addition to secondary functions of metabolism and hormone secretion, requiring an astonishing amount of energy to maintain its functions. In kidney cells, mitochondria produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and help maintain kidney function. Due to aging, the efficiency of kidney functions begins to decrease.

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Background: Salt sensitivity of blood pressure (SSBP) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, yet the etiology is poorly understood. We previously found that serum/glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 (SGK1) and epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) regulate epithelial sodium channel (ENaC)-dependent sodium entry into monocyte-derived antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and activation of NADPH oxidase, leading to the formation of isolevuglandins (IsoLGs) in SSBP. Whereas aldosterone via the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) activates SGK1 leading to hypertension, our past findings indicate that levels of plasma aldosterone do not correlate with SSBP, and there is little to no MR expression in APCs.

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Studying acute changes in vascular endothelial cells in humans is challenging. We studied ten African American women and used the J-wire technique to isolate vein endothelial cells before and after a four-hour lipid and heparin infusion. Dynamic changes in lipid-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory markers were measured with fluorescence-activated cell sorting.

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Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a global health issue, affecting over 6 million in the United States, with that number expected to increase as the aging population grows. As a neurodegenerative disorder that affects memory and cognitive functions, it is well established that AD is associated with cardiovascular risk factors beyond only cerebral decline. However, the study of cerebrovascular techniques for AD is still evolving.

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Article Synopsis
  • Hypertension is the leading preventable risk factor for serious health issues like heart and kidney diseases, affecting many people around the globe, with salt sensitivity being a significant aspect of this condition.
  • Studies show that the immune system significantly contributes to salt sensitivity, causing high blood pressure and related health problems via pro-inflammatory responses from immune cells when sodium levels are elevated.
  • Recent research is exploring the links between salt-sensitive hypertension, the gut microbiome, and immune system involvement, aiming to identify biomarkers and potential treatments for this condition.
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