Research Interest

The focus of my laboratory is to study mechanisms that regulate the diameter of small arteries and arterioles that modulate systemic blood pressure and organ blood flow.  Smooth muscle cells within the vascular wall determine arterial diameter.  Our major focus is to investigate the functional significance of arterial smooth muscle cell plasma membrane and intracellular ion channels and local and global calcium signals in regulating arterial smooth muscle cell contractility.  Research in the laboratory involves a multi-faceted approach, studying events at molecular, cellular and intact artery levels.  Techniques include patch clamp electrophysiology, rapid confocal calcium imaging, conventional calcium imaging, immunofluoresence, FRET, diameter measurement of pressurized arteries, use of knockout models, and molecular biology.  Please click on My Laboratory for more detailed information.

Research Support

04/01/02 - 03/31/13, NIH R01 HL67061, Calcium Signaling in Cerebral Arteries. P.I.
06/01/09 - 05/31/13, NIH R01 HL94378, Calcium Channels in Arterial Smooth Muscle Cells. P.I.
07/01/11 - 06/30/16, NIH R01 HL110347, Arterial Smooth Muscle Chloride Channels, P.I.
04/01/85 - 03/31/12, NIH R01 HL34059, Carbon Monoxide in Newborn Circulation, Co-I.
07/01/09 - 06/01/14, NIH R01 AA11560, Ethanol Actions on Slo1 Channels from Arteries versus Brain. Co-I.
07/01/10 - 06/30/15, NIH R01 HL104631, Vasodilation via Selective Pharmacological Targeting of BK channel Beta1 Subunits. Co-I.
08/01/90 - 07/01/15, NIH R01 HL42851, Hydrogen Sulfide in Newborn Cerebral Circulation, Co-I.

Selected Publications

1.    Xi Q, Cheranov SY,  Jaggar JH. Mitochondria-derived reactive oxygen species dilate cerebral arteries by activating Ca²⁺ sparks.  Circ Res 2005; 97:354-362.  Editorial by D.D. Gutterman.

2.    Jaggar JH, Li A, Parfenova H, Liu J., Umstot ES, Dopico AM, Leffler CW. Heme is a carbon monoxide receptor for large-conductance Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channels.  Circ Res 2005; 97: 805-812.

3.    Cheng, X., Liu, J., Asuncion-Chin, M., Blaskova, E., Bannister, J.P., Dopico, A.M. and Jaggar J.H.  A novel Ca_V1.2 N-terminus expressed in smooth muscle cells of resistance-size arteries modifies channel regulation by auxiliary subunits.  J Biol Chem 2007; 282: 29211-29221.

4.    Li, A., Xi, Q., Umstot, E.S, Bellner, L., Laniado-Schwartzman, M., Jaggar, J.H., and Leffler, C.W.  Astrocyte-derived CO is a diffusible messenger that mediates glutamate-induced cerebral arteriolar dilation by activating smooth muscle cell K_Ca channels.  Circ Res 2008; 102(2):234-41.

5.  Xi, Q. Adebiyi, A., Zhao, G, Chapman, K.E., Waters, C.M., Hassid, A., and Jaggar, J.H.  IP₃ constricts cerebral arteries via IP₃ receptor-mediated TRPC3 channel activation and independently of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ release.  Circ Res 2008; 102(9): 1118-1126.

6.  Adebiyi, A., McNally, E.M., and Jaggar, J.H. Sulphonylurea receptor-dependent and -independent pathways mediate vasodilation induced by K_ATP channel openers. Mol Pharmacol 2008; 74: 736-743. 

7.  Bannister, J.P., Adebiyi, A., Zhao, G., Narayanan, N., Thomas, C.M., Feng, J.Y.,  Jaggar, J.Y.  Smooth muscle cell alpha₂delta-1 subunits are essential for vasoregulation by Ca_V1.2 channels.  Circ Res 2009; 105: 948-955.

8.  Adebiyi, A., Zhao, G., Narayanan, D., Thomas, C.M., Bannister, J.P., Jaggar, J.H.  Isoform-selective physical coupling of TRPC3 channels to IP₃  receptors in smooth muscle cells regulates arterial contractility. Circ Res 2010; 106(10): 1603-1612.

9.  Narayanan, D., Xi, Q, Pfeffer, L, Jaggar, J.H.  Mitochondria control functional Ca_V1.2 expression in smooth muscle cells of cerebral arteries.  Circ Res 2010; 107(5): 631-641.  Circ Res Editors' Pick and Faculty of 1000 Must Read Article.

10.  Zhao, G, Neeb, Z, Leo, MD, Pachuau, J, Adebiyi, A., Ouyang, K., Chen, J., and Jaggar J.H. Type 1 IP₃ receptors activate BK_Ca channels via local molecular coupling in arterial smooth muscle cells.  J Gen Physiol 2010; 136(3): 283-291. JGP Journal Club Article by Mujica and Gonzalez and JGP Facebook Discussion.

11.   Adebiyi, A., Narayanan, D., and Jaggar, J.H.  Caveolin-1 assembles type 1 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors and canonical transient receptor potential 3 channels into a functional signaling complex in arterial smooth muscle cells.  J. Biol. Chem. 2011; 286 (6): 4341-4348.  Editors Choice:  Coupled by Caveolin.  Science Signaling, Vol. 4, Issue 160, p. ec50. Featured in NAVBO Publications Alert, March 2011.

12. Bannister, J.P., Thomas-Gatewood, C.M., Neeb, Z.P., Adebiyi, A., Cheng, X. and Jaggar, J.H.  Ca_v1.2 channel N-terminus splice variants modulate functional surface expression in resistance-size artery smooth muscle cells.  J. Biol. Chem.  2011; 286 (17): 15058-15066.