Skip to Main Content
DownloadHi-Res Photo

Zhenwu Zhuang, MD, MS

Senior Research Scientist in Medicine (Cardiology)

Contact Information

Zhenwu Zhuang, MD, MS

Mailing Address

  • Cardiovascular Medicine

    773C, 300 George Street

    New Haven, CT 06511

    United States

Research Summary

Dr. Zhuang’s research interests include multi-modality imaging in the cardiovascular system, the neurovascular system, and tumors. Currently his research is focusing on developing of micro-imaging approaches (microCT and micro-SPECT) for the assessment of angiogenesis, arteriogenesis, and vascular remolding. Because of his interventional radiologist’s background, he is also interested in the translational research to develop strategies for local gene or cellular therapies and evaluate the therapeutic efficacy using noninvasive imaging approaches.

Specialized Terms: Angiogenesis; Arteriogenesis; Vascular/Cardiac Remolding; Vascular Integrity; MicroCT; Micro-SPECT; MR; Molecular Imaging; Interventional Cardiology/Radiology; Gene Therapy; Cell Therapy; Cardiac Repair; Phenotype; Cardiovascular Development; Lung; Tumor; Nanoparticle; Thrombosis; Fibrinolysis; Coronary microvascular disease; Factor XIII

Extensive Research Description

Exercise-induced Vascular Changes are eNOS-NO Dependent in Mice with Hindlimb Ischemia. Exercise training is assumed to improve skeletal muscle function in the presence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD); however, the mechanisms are unclear. Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in the cardiovascular system in response to ischemic injury; however, controversy remains regarding the role of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS)-derived NO on angiogenesis, arteriogenesis, and vascular integrity after exercise. We have discovered that 99mTc-labeled RGD-peptide (activated av integrins) uptake was increased with hindlimb ischemia compared to sedentary mice both in wild type and eNOS-/- mice, however, swimming increased uptake of radiolabeled peptide only in eNOS-/- mice after hindlimb ischemia following swimming training. This later increase was associated with decreased capillary density and increased arteriogenesis (<48 _c2b5_m29_.="" in="" vivo="" contrast="" micro-computed="" tomography="" demonstrated="" late="" retention="">-/- hindlimb ischemia mice suggesting disruption of vascular integrity, which worsened with swimming training. So we believe that Integrin activation was greater in eNOS-/- hindlimb ischemia mice and was augmented with swimming. However, this increase was associated with disruption of vascular integrity. NO does appear to play a role in the effects of exercise training in a model of PAD.

Novel molecular imaging for early detection of microthrombi in microvasculature. The exact mechanism and importance of coronary microvascular disease (MVD), under conditions of ischemic injury, are still unclear. Based on two notions: 1) endothelial cell can be damaged and platelets can be activated by photosensitizers irradiated by specific wavelength of laser in the heart of a mouse; 2) coagulation factor XIII is required for the impairment of microvascular function progress, we are establishing a novel animal model of MVD and applying non-invasive imaging strategy to dynamically monitor cross-linking thrombi formation and to document subsequent cardiac function in rodents following ischemic injury.

Coauthors

Research Interests

Cardiology; Coronary Disease; Fibrinolysis; Microscopy; Phenotype; Thrombosis; Genetic Therapy; Radiology, Interventional; Nanoparticles

Selected Publications

  • NO triggers RGS4 degradation to coordinate angiogenesis and cardiomyocyte growth.Jaba IM, Zhuang ZW, Li N, Jiang Y, Martin KA, Sinusas AJ, Papademetris X, Simons M, Sessa WC, Young LH, Tirziu D. NO triggers RGS4 degradation to coordinate angiogenesis and cardiomyocyte growth. The Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2013, 123: 1718-31. PMID: 23454748, PMCID: PMC3613910, DOI: 10.1172/JCI65112.
  • Endothelial cell-dependent regulation of arteriogenesis.Moraes F, Paye J, Mac Gabhann F, Zhuang ZW, Zhang J, Lanahan AA, Simons M. Endothelial cell-dependent regulation of arteriogenesis. Circulation Research 2013, 113: 1076-86. PMID: 23897694, PMCID: PMC3865810, DOI: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.113.301340.
  • Vascular adaptation to a dysfunctional endothelium as a consequence of Shb deficiency.Christoffersson G, Zang G, Zhuang ZW, Vågesjö E, Simons M, Phillipson M, Welsh M. Vascular adaptation to a dysfunctional endothelium as a consequence of Shb deficiency. Angiogenesis 2012, 15: 469-80. PMID: 22562363, PMCID: PMC4059510, DOI: 10.1007/s10456-012-9275-z.
  • Macrophage skewing by Phd2 haplodeficiency prevents ischaemia by inducing arteriogenesis.Takeda Y, Costa S, Delamarre E, Roncal C, Leite de Oliveira R, Squadrito ML, Finisguerra V, Deschoemaeker S, Bruyère F, Wenes M, Hamm A, Serneels J, Magat J, Bhattacharyya T, Anisimov A, Jordan BF, Alitalo K, Maxwell P, Gallez B, Zhuang ZW, Saito Y, Simons M, De Palma M, Mazzone M. Macrophage skewing by Phd2 haplodeficiency prevents ischaemia by inducing arteriogenesis. Nature 2011, 479: 122-6. PMID: 21983962, PMCID: PMC4659699, DOI: 10.1038/nature10507.
  • Development and application of a multimodal contrast agent for SPECT/CT hybrid imaging.Criscione JM, Dobrucki LW, Zhuang ZW, Papademetris X, Simons M, Sinusas AJ, Fahmy TM. Development and application of a multimodal contrast agent for SPECT/CT hybrid imaging. Bioconjugate Chemistry 2011, 22: 1784-92. PMID: 21851119, PMCID: PMC3204385, DOI: 10.1021/bc200162r.
  • FGF-dependent regulation of VEGF receptor 2 expression in mice.Murakami M, Nguyen LT, Hatanaka K, Schachterle W, Chen PY, Zhuang ZW, Black BL, Simons M. FGF-dependent regulation of VEGF receptor 2 expression in mice. The Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2011, 121: 2668-78. PMID: 21633168, PMCID: PMC3223828, DOI: 10.1172/JCI44762.
  • Challenging the surgical rodent hindlimb ischemia model with the miniinterventional technique.Zhuang ZW, Shi J, Rhodes JM, Tsapakos MJ, Simons M. Challenging the surgical rodent hindlimb ischemia model with the miniinterventional technique. Journal Of Vascular And Interventional Radiology : JVIR 2011, 22: 1437-46. PMID: 21459613, PMCID: PMC3367666, DOI: 10.1016/j.jvir.2010.12.039.
  • Tissue-engineered lungs for in vivo implantation.Petersen TH, Calle EA, Zhao L, Lee EJ, Gui L, Raredon MB, Gavrilov K, Yi T, Zhuang ZW, Breuer C, Herzog E, Niklason LE. Tissue-engineered lungs for in vivo implantation. Science (New York, N.Y.) 2010, 329: 538-41. PMID: 20576850, PMCID: PMC3640463, DOI: 10.1126/science.1189345.
  • VEGF receptor 2 endocytic trafficking regulates arterial morphogenesis.Lanahan AA, Hermans K, Claes F, Kerley-Hamilton JS, Zhuang ZW, Giordano FJ, Carmeliet P, Simons M. VEGF receptor 2 endocytic trafficking regulates arterial morphogenesis. Developmental Cell 2010, 18: 713-24. PMID: 20434959, PMCID: PMC2875289, DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2010.02.016.
  • ERK1/2-Akt1 crosstalk regulates arteriogenesis in mice and zebrafish.Ren B, Deng Y, Mukhopadhyay A, Lanahan AA, Zhuang ZW, Moodie KL, Mulligan-Kehoe MJ, Byzova TV, Peterson RT, Simons M. ERK1/2-Akt1 crosstalk regulates arteriogenesis in mice and zebrafish. The Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2010, 120: 1217-28. PMID: 20237411, PMCID: PMC2846043, DOI: 10.1172/JCI39837.
  • The FGF system has a key role in regulating vascular integrity.Murakami M, Nguyen LT, Zhuang ZW, Moodie KL, Carmeliet P, Stan RV, Simons M. The FGF system has a key role in regulating vascular integrity. The Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2008, 118: 3355-66. PMID: 18776942, PMCID: PMC2528913, DOI: 10.1172/JCI35298.
  • Arteriogenesis: noninvasive quantification with multi-detector row CT angiography and three-dimensional volume rendering in rodents.Zhuang ZW, Gao L, Murakami M, Pearlman JD, Sackett TJ, Simons M, de Muinck ED. Arteriogenesis: noninvasive quantification with multi-detector row CT angiography and three-dimensional volume rendering in rodents. Radiology 2006, 240: 698-707. PMID: 16926325, DOI: 10.1148/radiol.2403050976.
Edit Profile