We are interested in molecular regulation of cardiovascular, metabolic and kidney diseases. Particular focuses are on chronic inflammation.. We are also actively studying transcriptional and epigenetic control of macrophages and smooth muscle cells.
1. KLF5 in cardiometabolic disease. Members of the Krüppel-like factor (KLF) family of transcription factors are important regulators of development, cellular differentiation and growth, and pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and in tumor development. We identified KLF5 as a positive regulator of SMemb, a marker gene for activated smooth muscle cells in vascular disease (Circ Res 85:182-191, 1999).