Yajaira Suarez, PhD
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Appointments
Comparative Medicine
Primary
Pathology
Secondary
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About
Titles
Anthony N. Brady Professor of Comparative Medicine and of Pathology; Deputy Chair, Comparative Medicine
Biography
Yajaira studied Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University Autonoma of Madrid (1995). She did her PhD with Miguel Angel Lasuncion at the Hospital Ramón y Cajal and the University Autonoma de Madrid (Spain) (1996-2001). Yajaira also did two post-docs. The first one with Alberto Muñoz at the Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas "Alberto Sols" and the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (Spain) (2002-2005) and the second one with Jordan Pober and Bill Sessa at Yale University School of Medicine (2005-2009). Yajaira initiated her independent research career in the Division of Cardiology at New York University School of Medicine in 2009. She joined the Yale faculty in 2013 as an Assistant Professor of Comparative Medicine and Pathology. Yajaira is currently Anthony N. Brady Professor of Comparative Medicine and also serves as Deputy Chair for the Department of Comparative Medicine.
Appointments
Comparative Medicine
ProfessorPrimaryPathology
ProfessorSecondary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Cancer Signaling Networks
- Center for RNA Science and Medicine
- Comparative Medicine
- Diabetes Research Center
- Immunology
- Molecular Medicine, Pharmacology, and Physiology
- Obesity Research Working Group
- Pathology
- Pathology and Molecular Medicine
- Pathology Research
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program
- Yale Cancer Center
- Yale Center for Molecular and Systems Metabolism (YMSM)
- Yale Combined Program in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS)
- Yale Ventures
Education & Training
- PhD
- Universidad Autonoma (2001)
- BS
- Universidad Autonoma (1995)
- Post. Doc.
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
- Post. Doc.
- Yale University School of Medicine
Research
Overview
In our laboratory we study novel regulatory mechanisms involved in the regulation of endothelial cell and macrophage functions. Both cell types play major role in controlling both angiogenic and inflammatory responses and the interplay between these two cell types has been shown to be critical for several pathophysiological conditions like atherosclerosis, cancer (tumor growth), adipose tissue expansion and wound healing, among others.
To this end, we are utilizing different approaches combining molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry, together with genetically modified mouse models.
Our research program focuses in four different areas:
1) studying the role of non-coding RNAs, including microRNAs, on endothelial cell and macrophage responses to cytokines and growth factors in order to determine the molecular mechanisms that regulates their expression and their overall contribution in regulating angiogenic and inflammatory responses.
2) understanding the implication of endothelial metabolic rewiring on endothelial cell functions
3) understanding the relationship between macrophage inflammatory responses and metabolic regulation (immunometabolism)
4) identifying and characterizing novel mechanisms regulation of cholesterol and lipoprotein metabolism and their involvement in cardiometabolic diseases.
Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Angiogenesis Modulating Agents; Atherosclerosis; Cardiovascular Diseases; Inflammation; Metabolism
ORCID
0000-0003-4549-2953
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Yajaira Suarez's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Yajaira Suarez's research output by year.
Research Interests
Research topics Yajaira Suarez is interested in exploring.
Carlos Fernandez-Hernando, PhD
Tamas Horvath, DVM, PhD
Enric Esplugues, PhD
George Tellides, MD, PhD
Hanming Zhang, PhD
Inmaculada Ruz-Maldonado
109Publications
11,552Citations
Atherosclerosis
Cardiovascular Diseases
Inflammation
Publications
Featured Publications
Dynamic metabolism of endothelial triglycerides protects against atherosclerosis in mice
Boutagy N, Gamez-Mendez A, Fowler J, Zhang H, Chaube B, Esplugues E, Kuo A, Lee S, Horikami D, Zhang J, Citrin K, Singh A, Coon B, Lee M, Suarez Y, Fernandez-Hernando C, Sessa W. Dynamic metabolism of endothelial triglycerides protects against atherosclerosis in mice. Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2024, 134: e170453. PMID: 38175710, PMCID: PMC10866653, DOI: 10.1172/jci170453.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricSuppression of angiopoietin-like 4 reprograms endothelial cell metabolism and inhibits angiogenesis
Chaube B, Citrin K, Sahraei M, Singh A, de Urturi D, Ding W, Pierce R, Raaisa R, Cardone R, Kibbey R, Fernández-Hernando C, Suárez Y. Suppression of angiopoietin-like 4 reprograms endothelial cell metabolism and inhibits angiogenesis. Nature Communications 2023, 14: 8251. PMID: 38086791, PMCID: PMC10716292, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43900-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetric
2024
Fatty acid binding protein 5 suppression attenuates obesity-induced hepatocellular carcinoma by promoting ferroptosis and intratumoral immune rewiring
Sun J, Esplugues E, Bort A, Cardelo M, Ruz-Maldonado I, Fernández-Tussy P, Wong C, Wang H, Ojima I, Kaczocha M, Perry R, Suárez Y, Fernández-Hernando C. Fatty acid binding protein 5 suppression attenuates obesity-induced hepatocellular carcinoma by promoting ferroptosis and intratumoral immune rewiring. Nature Metabolism 2024, 6: 741-763. PMID: 38664583, DOI: 10.1038/s42255-024-01019-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsFatty acid binding protein 5Tumor-associated macrophagesHepatocellular carcinomaImmunosuppressive phenotype of tumor-associated macrophagesIncreased CD8+ T cell activationCD8+ T cell activationPhenotype of tumor-associated macrophagesPro-inflammatory tumor microenvironmentCo-stimulatory molecules CD80T cell activationHepatocellular carcinoma burdenTransformation of hepatocytesBinding protein 5Potential therapeutic approachImmunosuppressive phenotypeTumor microenvironmentFerroptosis-induced cell deathMale miceEnhanced ferroptosisTherapeutic approachesPharmacological inhibitionGenetic ablationIncreased expressionSingle-cell atlasAnalysis of transformed cellsmicroRNA-33 controls hunger signaling in hypothalamic AgRP neurons
Price N, Fernández-Tussy P, Varela L, Cardelo M, Shanabrough M, Aryal B, de Cabo R, Suárez Y, Horvath T, Fernández-Hernando C. microRNA-33 controls hunger signaling in hypothalamic AgRP neurons. Nature Communications 2024, 15: 2131. PMID: 38459068, PMCID: PMC10923783, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46427-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAgRP neuronsFeeding behaviorFatty acid metabolismNon-coding RNAsMitochondrial biogenesisRegulatory pathwaysTarget genesHypothalamic AgRP neuronsExcessive nutrient intakeCentral regulatorBioenergetic processesAcid metabolismActivation of AgRP neuronsModulate feeding behaviorCentral regulation of feeding behaviorRegulation of feeding behaviorMiR-33Hunger signalsMicroRNA-33Metabolic diseasesAlternative therapeutic approachLoss of miR-33Mouse modelMetabolic dysfunctionRegulationHeterogeneity of hepatocyte dynamics restores liver architecture after chemical, physical or viral damage
Ruz-Maldonado I, Gonzalez J, Zhang H, Sun J, Bort A, Kabir I, Kibbey R, Suárez Y, Greif D, Fernández-Hernando C. Heterogeneity of hepatocyte dynamics restores liver architecture after chemical, physical or viral damage. Nature Communications 2024, 15: 1247. PMID: 38341404, PMCID: PMC10858916, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45439-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetric
2022
Macrophage-Derived 25-Hydroxycholesterol Promotes Vascular Inflammation, Atherogenesis, and Lesion Remodeling
Canfrán-Duque A, Rotllan N, Zhang X, Andrés-Blasco I, Thompson B, Sun J, Price N, Fernández-Fuertes M, Fowler J, Gómez-Coronado D, Sessa W, Giannarelli C, Schneider R, Tellides G, McDonald J, Fernández-Hernando C, Suárez Y. Macrophage-Derived 25-Hydroxycholesterol Promotes Vascular Inflammation, Atherogenesis, and Lesion Remodeling. Circulation 2022, 147: 388-408. PMID: 36416142, PMCID: PMC9892282, DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.122.059062.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsLipid-loaded macrophagesLineage-tracing mouse modelsSREBP transcriptional activityCholesterol biosynthetic intermediatesWestern diet feedingAccessible cholesterolDifferent macrophage populationsTranscriptomic analysisKey immune regulatorsPlasma membraneAtherosclerosis progressionImmune activationTranscriptional activityGene expressionDiet feedingInflammatory responseMouse bone marrowLiver X receptorBiosynthetic intermediatesSterol metabolismApoptosis susceptibilityToll-like receptor 4Proinflammatory gene expressionHuman coronary atherosclerotic lesionsMouse atherosclerotic plaquesAntagonism of miR-148a attenuates atherosclerosis progression in APOB TG Apobec -/- Ldlr +/- mice: A brief report
Rotllan N, Zhang X, Canfrán-Duque A, Goedeke L, Griñán R, Ramírez CM, Suárez Y, Fernández-Hernando C. Antagonism of miR-148a attenuates atherosclerosis progression in APOB TG Apobec -/- Ldlr +/- mice: A brief report. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy 2022, 153: 113419. PMID: 36076541, PMCID: PMC11140622, DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113419.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsProgression of atherosclerosisMiR-148aLipoprotein cholesterolAtherosclerotic lesionsHigh-density lipoprotein cholesterolLow-density lipoprotein cholesterolAnti-inflammatory effectsAnti-inflammatory genesMacrophage cholesterol effluxWestern-style dietMiR-148a levelsHepatic gene expressionMurine primary macrophagesAntiatherogenic effectsAtherosclerosis progressionInflammatory responseTherapeutic silencingLipoprotein metabolismPlaque stabilityCholesterol effluxPrimary macrophagesPlaque sizeCholesterol homeostasisLesionsMRNA levelsTargeted Suppression of miRNA-33 Using pHLIP Improves Atherosclerosis Regression
Zhang X, Rotllan N, Canfrán-Duque A, Sun J, Toczek J, Moshnikova A, Malik S, Price NL, Araldi E, Zhong W, Sadeghi MM, Andreev OA, Bahal R, Reshetnyak YK, Suárez Y, Fernández-Hernando C. Targeted Suppression of miRNA-33 Using pHLIP Improves Atherosclerosis Regression. Circulation Research 2022, 131: 77-90. PMID: 35534923, PMCID: PMC9640270, DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.121.320296.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsMiR-33Gene expressionNature of miRNAsSingle-cell RNA sequencing analysisSingle-cell RNA transcriptomicsAnti-miRNA technologiesRNA sequencing analysisExpression of miRNAsRNA transcriptomicsNew therapeutic opportunitiesEntire pathwayMiRNA therapeuticsAtherosclerotic plaque macrophagesHuman diseasesMiRNAsSequencing analysisSpecific tissuesMetabolic tissuesTargeted suppressionMiR-33 inhibitionProtective miRNAsNumerous diseasesPharmacological inhibitionLipid accumulationTarget effects
2021
Desmosterol suppresses macrophage inflammasome activation and protects against vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis
Zhang X, McDonald JG, Aryal B, Canfrán-Duque A, Goldberg EL, Araldi E, Ding W, Fan Y, Thompson BM, Singh AK, Li Q, Tellides G, Ordovás-Montanes J, García Milian R, Dixit VD, Ikonen E, Suárez Y, Fernández-Hernando C. Desmosterol suppresses macrophage inflammasome activation and protects against vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2021, 118: e2107682118. PMID: 34782454, PMCID: PMC8617522, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2107682118.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsCholesterol biosynthetic intermediatesBiosynthetic intermediatesDependent inflammasome activationSingle-cell transcriptomicsMitochondrial reactive oxygen species productionFoam cell formationMacrophage foam cellsReactive oxygen species productionHuman coronary artery lesionsConversion of desmosterolTranscriptomic analysisMacrophage cholesterol metabolismPhysiological contextOxygen species productionLiver X receptor ligandsApoptosis-associated speck-like proteinRetinoid X receptor activationX receptor ligandsInflammasome activationAtherosclerotic plaquesSpeck-like proteinCholesterol homeostasisMacrophage inflammasome activationKey moleculesCell formationMMAB promotes negative feedback control of cholesterol homeostasis
Goedeke L, Canfrán-Duque A, Rotllan N, Chaube B, Thompson BM, Lee RG, Cline GW, McDonald JG, Shulman GI, Lasunción MA, Suárez Y, Fernández-Hernando C. MMAB promotes negative feedback control of cholesterol homeostasis. Nature Communications 2021, 12: 6448. PMID: 34750386, PMCID: PMC8575900, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26787-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsMeSH KeywordsAlkyl and Aryl TransferasesAnimalsCell Line, TumorCholesterolCholesterol, LDLFeedback, PhysiologicalGene Expression ProfilingHeLa CellsHep G2 CellsHomeostasisHumansHydroxymethylglutaryl CoA ReductasesLiverMice, Inbred C57BLMice, KnockoutPromoter Regions, GeneticReceptors, LDLRNA InterferenceSterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 2ConceptsCholesterol biosynthesisCholesterol homeostasisMouse hepatic cell lineIntegrative genomic strategyIntricate regulatory networkMaster transcriptional regulatorCellular cholesterol levelsHMGCR activityLDL-cholesterol uptakeCholesterol levelsHuman hepatic cellsSterol contentGenomic strategiesTranscriptional regulatorsRegulatory networksIntracellular cholesterol levelsGene expressionUnexpected roleHepatic cell linesBiosynthesisMMABIntracellular levelsCell linesHomeostasisExpression of SREBP2
Academic Achievements and Community Involvement
honor Werner Risau New Investigator Award in Vascular Biology
International AwardAmerican Heart Association- Journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology.DetailsUnited Stateshonor Kingsley Award in Medical Research
Yale School of Medicine AwardDetailsUnited Stateshonor Fellowship-Grant Award, CNIC P3+3 programme for Post-doctoral Careers in Biomedicine.
International AwardFundación Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III, SpainDetailsUnited States
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News
- March 27, 2022
Attacking Cancer Cells from the Outside
- February 21, 2022
Newly Elected Members of Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering
- March 22, 2018
Study probes the role of key protein linked to heart disease, diabetes
- September 08, 2008
RNA ‘Snippets’ Play Big Role in Blood Vessel Formation, Yale Scientists Find
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