Instructor, Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology

Contact Information:
Email: kstoke@lsuhsc.edu
Office Phone: 318-675-8420
Office Fax: 318-675-6005

Education/Training:
Postdoctoral Training, Physiology, 1998-2004, LSUHSC-Shreveport
Ph.D., Physiology, 2004, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
B.A. Mod., Physiology , 1993, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland

Major Research Interests:  
The Inflammatory Impact of Cytomegalovirus on the Microvasculature

Inflammation is a key player in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. In the case of several cardiovascular risk factors, including hypercholesterolemia, clinical signs of disease are preceded by the development of an inflammatory phenotype in the microvasculature, which may promote a low-grade systemic inflammation rendering tissues more susceptible to injurious stimuli or other risk factors. Recent epidemiological studies have revealed that infectious agents, for example cytomegalovirus (CMV), may contribute to cardiovascular disease. CMV is a b-herpesvirus that has been identified in atherosclerotic lesions, and accelerates disease progression in hyperlipidemic animals. CMV induces an inflammatory phenotype in isolated cells. Our preliminary data suggests that CMV also induces endothelial dysfunction in arterioles in vivo, and exacerbates hypercholesterolemia-induced blood cell recruitment in postcapillary venules. Therefore our focus is to investigate the underlying mechanisms involved in the microvascular responses to CMV, and its cooperation with hypercholesterolemia in the generation of a pro-inflammatory phenotype.

Representative Publications:

Stokes KY, Clanton EC, Clements KP, Granger DN. Role of interferon-gamma in hypercholesterolemia-induced leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion. Circulation. 2003 Apr 29;107(16):2140-5. Epub 2003 Apr 14.

Stokes KY, Russell JM, Jennings MH, Alexander JS, Granger DN. (2007). Platelet-associated NAD(P)H oxidase contributes to the thrombogenic phenotype induced by hypercholesterolemia. Free Radic Biol Med. 43: 22-30.

Vowinkel T, Anthoni C, Wood KC, Stokes KY, Russell J, Gray L, Bharwani S, Senninger N, Alexander JS, Krieglstein CF, Grisham MB, Granger DN. (2007). CD40-CD40 ligand mediates the recruitment of leukocytes and platelets in the inflamed murine colon. Gastroenterology 132:955-965.

Stokes KY, Calahan L, Russell JM, Gurwara S, Granger DN. (2006). Role of platelets in hypercholesterolemia-induced leukocyte recruitment and arteriolar dysfunction. Microcirculation 13(5):377-88.

Stokes KY. (2006). Microvascular responses to hypercholesterolemia: the interactions between innate and adaptive immune responses. Antioxid Redox Signal 8(7-8):1141-1151.

Stokes KY, Gurwara S, Granger DN.  T-cell derived interferon-g contributes to arteriolar dysfunction during acute hypercholesterolemia.  Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol (In press).