Lawrence Young, MD

Our laboratory is studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for the metabolic adaptation to the hypoxic stress associated with myocardial ischemia, recently focusing on the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway. AMPK has emerged as a key regulator of glucose transporter (GLUT4) translocation, cellular metabolism, ion channel activity, and cell survival and apoptosis in the heart.

Combining physiologic models of ischemia with cellular and molecular techniques, we are interested in the cardio-protective action of AMPK in the heart, the upstream mechanisms of AMPK activation and its downstream interaction with other signaling pathways, as well as the discovery of novel AMPK targets. The use of transgenic mouse models allows us to dissect the role of AMPK and other signaling pathways in the intact perfused heart and in vivo. The goal of this research is to develop novel strategies to protect the heart against injury during myocardial ischemia.

• Stress signaling pathways is the heart.
• Alterations in metabolism in cardiac disease.
• AMPK as a target for protecting the heart against ischemic injury.
• LKB1 regulation of metabolic signaling and cardic growth.
• Cardiac-derived autocrine-paracrine secreted proteins in the regulation of cardiac signaling pathways.
• Insulin resistance and diabetes in cardiovascular disease.