Department of Cell Biology and Physiology

Faculty

 

Thomas C. Resta, Ph.D.

Research Interests

Mechanisms of chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension
Pulmonary vasoreactivity
Vascular smooth muscle nitric oxide and RhoA signaling
Regulation of vascular smooth muscle [Ca2+]i
Effects of estrogen on pulmonary vascular function


Changes in VSM [Ca2+]i (F340/F380, top) and vessel inner diameter (mm, bottom) in an endothelium-denuded, pressurized small pulmonary artery demonstrating cyclopiazonic acid (CPA)-induced capacitative Ca2+ entry and UTP-induced receptor-operated Ca2+ entry and associated vasoconstriction


Connexin 43 expression in a rat pulmonary artery assessed by laser scanning confocal microscopy.

Education and Professional Positions

1990

B.S., Biology, University of New Mexico

1995

Ph.D., Physiology, University of New Mexico

1995-1998

Postdoctoral Fellow, Physiology, University of New Mexico

1998-2000

Research Assistant Professor, University of New Mexico

2000-2006

Assistant Professor, University of New Mexico

2006-present

Associate Professor, University of New Mexico

Honors and Professional Activities

1991

Regents Endowed Fellowship, University of New Mexico.

1992

Graduate Achievement Award, University of New Mexico

1996-1997

American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship, New Mexico Affiliate

1997-1999

NIH/NHLBI National Research Service Award Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship

1998

Sidney Solomon Memorial Award for Excellence in Integrative Physiology, University of New Mexico

2000

Dean's Award of Distinction in Recognition of Outstanding Faculty Performance, University of New Mexico

2000-2003

Parker B. Francis Fellowship in Pulmonary Research, Harvard School of Public Health

2004-2007

Topic Editor, American Thoracic Society Pulmonary Circulation Journal Club, Pulmonary
Hypertension/Vascular Remodeling Section

2004-2005

Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award, Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, UNM School of Medicine

2004, 2008

Temporary Member, NIH-NHLBI Respiratory Integrative Biology and Translational Research (RIBT) Study Section

2004-present

Member, Editorial Board, Am. J. Physiol. Lung Cell. Mol. Physiol.

2005

New Investigator Award, American Physiological Society, Respiration Section

2007-present

Member, American Heart Association Lung, Resuscitation and Respiration National Peer Review Committee

2007-present

Member, American Heart Association South Central Affiliate Research Committee

2008-present

Member, American Physiological Society Respiration Section Program Committee

2008-present

Member, American Physiological Society Respiration Section Steering Committee

2008-present

Co-Chair, American Physiological Society Respiration Section Nominations Committee

Current Lab Personnel (NIH-funded graduate and postdoctoral positions available - Contact Dr. Resta at tresta@salud.unm.edu)

Nikki Jernigan, Ph.D., Research Assistant Professor
Jessica Snow, Doctoral Student
Chuck Norton, Undergraduate Student
Minerva Murphy, B.S., Technician

Selected Recent Publications

Broughton, B.R.S., B.R. Walker, and T.C. Resta.  Chronic hypoxia induces Rho kinase-dependent myogenic tone in small pulmonary arteries.  Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 294(4):L787-L806, 2008.

Gonzales, R.J., J.M. Bryant, J.S. Naik, T.C. Resta, and B.R. Walker.  Gender differences in mesenteric vasoconstrictor reactivity following chronic hypoxia.  Microcirculation.  In press.

Snow, J.B., V. Kitzis, C.E. Norton, S.N. Torres, K.D. Johnson, N.L. Kanagy, B.R. Walker, and T.C. Resta.  Differential effects of chronic hypoxia and intermittent hypocapnic and eucapnic hypoxia on pulmonary vasoreactivity.  J. Appl. Physiol. 104:110-118, 2008.

Chicoine, L.G., M.L. Paffett, M. Metroupolus, T.C. Resta, L.D. Nelin, and B.R. Walker.  Maturational changes in the regulation of pulmonary vascular tone by nitric oxide in neonatal rats.  Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 293(5):L1261-L1270, 2007.

Paffett, M.L., J.S. Naik, T.C. Resta, and B.R. Walker.  Membrane depolarization and reduced store-operated Ca2+ entry in pulmonary endothelial cells from chronically hypoxic rats.  Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 293(5):L1135-L1142, 2007.

Jernigan, N.L., B.R.S. Broughton, B.R. Walker, and T.C. Resta.  Impaired NO-dependent inhibition of store and receptor-operated calcium entry in pulmonary vascular smooth muscle following chronic hypoxia.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 290:L517-L525, 2006.

Naik, J.S., S. Earley, T.C. Resta, and B.R. Walker.  Pressure-induced smooth muscle cell depolarization in pulmonary arteries from control and chronically hypoxic rats does not cause myogenic vasoconstriction.
J. Appl. Physiol. 98:1119-1124, 2005.

Earley, S., T.C. Resta, and B.R. Walker.  Disruption of smooth muscle gap junctions attenuates myogenic vasoconstriction of rat mesenteric resistance arteries.
Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol. 287:H2677-H2686, 2004.

Jernigan, N.L., B.R. Walker, and T.C. Resta.  Chronic hypoxia augments protein kinase G-mediated Ca2+ desensitization in pulmonary vascular smooth muscle through inhibition of RhoA/Rho kinase signaling.
Am. J. Physiol. Lung Cell. Mol. Physiol. 287: L1220-L1229, 2004.

Chicoine, L.G., E. Tzeng, R. Bryan, S. Saenz, M.L. Paffett, J. Jones, C.R. Lyons, T.C. Resta, L.D. Nelin, and B.R. Walker. Intra-tracheal adenoviral-mediated delivery of iNOS decreases pulmonary vasoconstrictor responses in rats.
J. Appl. Physiol. 97(5):1814-1822, 2004.

Jernigan, N.L., B.R. Walker, and T.C. Resta.  Endothelium-derived reactive oxygen species and endothelin-1 attenuate NO-dependent pulmonary vasodilation following chronic hypoxia.
Am. J. Physiol. Lung Cell. Mol. Physiol. 287:L801-L808, 2004.

Mukundan H., N.L. Kanagy, and T.C. Resta.  17-b estradiol attenuates hypoxic induction of HIF-1a and erythropoietin in Hep3B cells.
J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol. 44(1):93-100, 2004.

Jernigan, N.L., T.C. Resta, and B.R. Walker. Contribution of oxygen radicals to altered NO-dependent pulmonary vasodilation in acute and chronic hypoxia.
Am. J. Physiol. Lung Cell. Mol. Physiol. 286:L947-L955, 2004.

Mukundan H., T.C. Resta, and N.L. Kanagy.  17-b estradiol independently regulates erythropoietin synthesis and NOS activity during hypoxia.
J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol. 43(2):312-317, 2004.

Jernigan, N.L., B.R. Walker, and T.C. Resta.  Pulmonary PKG-1 is upregulated following chronic hypoxia.
Am. J. Physiol. Lung Cell. Mol. Physiol. 285:L634-L642, 2003.

Resta, T.C. Hypoxic regulation of nitric oxide signaling in vascular smooth muscle.
Am. J. Physiol. Lung Cell. Mol. Physiol. 285:L293-L295, 2003. [Invited Editorial]

O'Donaughy, T.L., T.C. Resta, and B.R. Walker. Laboratory demonstration of baroreflex control of heart rate in conscious rats.
Adv. Physiol. Educ. 26:309-316, 2002.

Resta, T.C., B.R. Walker, M.R. Eichinger, and M.P. Doyle.  Rate of NO scavenging alters effects of recombinant hemoglobin solutions on pulmonary vasoreactivity.
J. Appl. Physiol. 93:1327-1336, 2002.

Mukundan, H., T.C. Resta, and N.L. Kanagy. 17b-estradiol decreases hypoxic induction of erythropoietin gene expression.
Am. J. Physiol. Regulatory Integrative Comp. Physiol. 283:R496-R504, 2002.

Jernigan, N.L., and T.C. Resta. Chronic hypoxia attenuates cGMP-dependent pulmonary vasodilation.
Am. J. Physiol. Lung Cell. Mol. Physiol. 282:L1366-L1375, 2002.

Earley, S., and T.C. Resta. Estradiol attenuates hypoxia-induced pulmonary endothelin-1 gene expression.
Am. J. Physiol. Lung Cell. Mol. Physiol. 283:L86-L93, 2002.