Contributions to the Research & Society
Peripheral vascular disease is a common outcome for individuals
who are chronically exposed to arsenic through their drinking
water. Frequently, years of arsenic exposure results in
tissue ischemia which requires amputation of the hand or
foot. Thus, chronic arsenic exposure can be debilitating.
Our goal is to understand the mechanism by which arsenic
produces these effects. My laboratory is investigating
the mechanism by which arsenic affects the activity of
protein kinases in vascular smooth muscle cells. We have
identified a signal transduction pathway consisting of
tyrosine kinases, serine/threonine kinases, a tyrosine
phosphatase, and a calcium binding protein that appears
to be regulated by arsenic. Studies are ongoing to characterize
the molecular events that occur in this pathway with the
ultimate goal of finding ways to minimize arsenic toxicity
for individuals who have no choice but to drink arsenic-contaminated
water.
-Back
to Faculty Directory-
|
