Sharina Iraida – Internal Medicine/Cardiology

The Iraida Sharina’s Laboratory
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston
Department of Internal Medicine /Cardiology
Grant Funded SRP Opportunity – Seeking One MS1 Student

My current research efforts are directed towards the discovery of new physiological functions of heterodimeric Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase (sGC) enzyme. sGC, the unique  receptor for Nitric Oxide (NO), catalyzes the synthesis of secondary messenger molecule cGMP. NO/cGMP pathway plays critical role in the cardiovascular function, including activation of the relaxation of vascular smooth muscle and inhibition of platelet aggregation. In the recent studies, our laboratory demonstrated decreased sGC activity in the brain tissue of older animals. Lack of this important enzyme causes increased stiffness of blood vessels, decreases cerebral blood flow and prevents proper oxygenation of brain tissue.  In our ongoing study, we are planning to investigate how the loss of sGC enzymatic activity affects cerebral blood flow (CBF) and brain function during aging. Significant decrease in CBF is a major hemodynamic alteration leading to the degeneration of neuronal tissue and age-related cognitive decline, including dementia. Currently, there is no effective treatments for dementia. Recent US demographic trend indicates that age-related dementia is becoming a serious public health crisis. Understanding the molecular processes that govern this disease is critical for the design of effective treatment measures. This represents an ultimate goal of research studies in my laboratory.

Contact:
Iraida Sharina, PhD, Assistant Professor
Department of Internal Medicine/Cardiology
1941 East Rd, BBSB 5302
Office tel. N 713-486-2480
[email protected]