Ravindra K Sharma

Ravindra K Sharma,

Assistant Scientist

Department: Department of Physiology and Aging

Accomplishments

New Investigator Award
2018 · American Heart Association (AHA)

Research Profile

My current research interests are to understand the mechanisms underlying cardio-vascular complications in chronic kidney disease (CKD). More specifically, I am investigating the role of central mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of vascular disorders such as hypertension, arterial stiffness in CKD. I am also interested in studying the role of circadian clock in the the regulation of cardiovascular disorders. My background in cardiovascular physiology and as a part of my work performed in previous projects, I have established my laboratory techniques to understand the heart, brain, kidney and vascular functions in animal models of cardiovascular diseases. I have more than 12 years of experience in recording of various cardiovascular parameters such as radio-telemetry blood pressure, right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP), ventricular pressure with Millar catheter and echocardiographic imaging to analyze heart and vessels functions. I routinely perform surgeries such as stereotaxic, 5/6 nephrectomy and ischemia re-perfusion in rodents. My primary responsibility is to run a research program, designing experiments, obtain regulatory approval, perform and supervise animal experiments, analyze the data and prepare manuscripts. I have developed collaborative projects with a highly successful team of researchers in the University of Florida, dedicated to studying the cardiovascular complications of kidney diseases. During my postdoctoral training, my research focus was to understand the role of neuroinflammation and other cellular mechanisms of central nervous system in the pathophysiology of hypertension and pulmonary hypertension. I have discovered that microglial cells in the cardio-regulatory areas of the brain have direct communication with gut microbiota in the regulation of gut-brain-axis in hypertension. In addition to that, my work on pulmonary hypertension (PH) showed that PH is a systemic disease involving interplay among multiorgan systems rather a disease of pulmonary vasculature. I have successfully demonstrated for the first time the association of gut microbial dysbiosis in two different rodent models of PH and further showed that overexpression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) alleviate PH and associated right heart pathologies. These findings led us to propose a dysfunctional brain-gut-lung axis in PH. For this work, I received “New Investigator Award” and received travel support from the American Heart Association (AHA) in Council on Hypertension Meeting 2018. I have demonstrated excellent productivity in research evidenced by my publications record which includes more than 16 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals including Circulation Research, Hypertension and Clinical Science. My recent publications that highlight my experience and qualification are listed under the subheading of “Contribution of Science”. I have expertise, motivation, multidisciplinary training and our laboratory has all of the primary equipment to carry out the proposed work. I believe our excellent research environment at the University of Florida will aid us in successfully completing the proposed research.

Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID)

0000-0001-8099-0697

Areas of Interest
  • Gut Microbiome
  • Hypertension
  • Pulmonary hypertension
  • chronic kidney disease
  • vascular stiffness

Publications

2023
Circadian Disruption and the Molecular Clock in Atherosclerosis and Hypertension.
The Canadian journal of cardiology. 39(12):1757-1771 [DOI] 10.1016/j.cjca.2023.06.416. [PMID] 37355229.
2023
Involvement of lysyl oxidase in the pathogenesis of arterial stiffness in chronic kidney disease
American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology. 324(4):F364-F373 [DOI] 10.1152/ajprenal.00239.2022. [PMID] 36825626.
2022
Involvement of Lysyl Oxidase in the Pathogenesis of Arterial Stiffness in Chronic Kidney Disease
The FASEB Journal. 36(S1) [DOI] 10.1096/fasebj.2022.36.s1.r3425.
2022
SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) as a possible risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders.
Frontiers in neuroscience. 16 [DOI] 10.3389/fnins.2022.1021721. [PMID] 36590303.
2021
Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and COVID-19 in cardiorenal diseases
Clinical Science. 135(1):1-17 [DOI] 10.1042/cs20200482.
2021
Central Administration of Hydrogen Sulfide Donor NaHS Reduces Iba1-Positive Cells in the PVN and Attenuates Rodent Angiotensin II Hypertension.
Frontiers in neuroscience. 15 [DOI] 10.3389/fnins.2021.690919. [PMID] 34602965.
2020
ACE2 (Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2) in Cardiopulmonary Diseases: Ramifications for the Control of SARS-CoV-2.
Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979). 76(3):651-661 [DOI] 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.120.15595. [PMID] 32783758.
2020
Gut Pathology and Its Rescue by ACE2 (Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2) in Hypoxia-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension.
Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979). 76(1):206-216 [DOI] 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.120.14931. [PMID] 32418496.
2020
Pulmonary arterial hypertension-associated changes in gut pathology and microbiota
ERJ Open Research. 6(3):00253-2019 [DOI] 10.1183/23120541.00253-2019. [PMID] 32743008.
2019
Microglial Cells Impact Gut Microbiota and Gut Pathology in Angiotensin II-Induced Hypertension.
Circulation research. 124(5):727-736 [DOI] 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.118.313882. [PMID] 30612527.
2019
Transcriptome-wide analysis associates ID2 expression with combined pre- and post-capillary pulmonary hypertension.
Scientific reports. 9(1) [DOI] 10.1038/s41598-019-55700-y. [PMID] 31862991.
2018
Involvement of Microglial Cells in Hypoxia-induced Pulmonary Hypertension
. 59(2):271-273
2018
Involvement of Microglial Cells in Hypoxia-induced Pulmonary Hypertension.
American journal of respiratory cell and molecular biology. 59(2):271-273 [DOI] 10.1165/rcmb.2018-0042LE. [PMID] 30067089.
2018
Involvement of Neuroinflammation in the Pathogenesis of Monocrotaline-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension.
Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979). 71(6):1156-1163 [DOI] 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.118.10934. [PMID] 29712738.
2017
A Single Angiotensin II Hypertensive Stimulus Is Associated with Prolonged Neuronal and Immune System Activation in Wistar-Kyoto Rats.
Frontiers in physiology. 8 [DOI] 10.3389/fphys.2017.00592. [PMID] 28912720.
2016
Association of exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution and biomarkers of cardiovascular disease risk in adult NHANES participants (2001-2008).
International journal of hygiene and environmental health. 219(3):301-10 [DOI] 10.1016/j.ijheh.2015.12.002. [PMID] 26725170.
2016
Role of the paraventricular nucleus in the reflex diuresis to pulmonary lymphatic obstruction in rabbits.
Canadian journal of physiology and pharmacology. 94(1):18-27 [DOI] 10.1139/cjpp-2015-0109. [PMID] 26497164.
2015
Fine particulate matter and the risk of autism spectrum disorder.
Environmental research. 140:414-20 [DOI] 10.1016/j.envres.2015.04.021. [PMID] 25957837.
2015
Is there an association of circulatory hospitalizations independent of mining employment in coal-mining and non-coal-mining counties in west virginia?
Journal of occupational and environmental medicine. 57(4):e30-6 [DOI] 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000425. [PMID] 25851190.
2015
Role of posterior hypothalamus in hypobaric hypoxia induced pulmonary edema.
Respiratory physiology & neurobiology. 205:66-76 [DOI] 10.1016/j.resp.2014.10.010. [PMID] 25448396.
2013
Do US ambient air lead levels have a significant impact on childhood blood lead levels: results of a national study.
Journal of environmental and public health. 2013 [DOI] 10.1155/2013/278042. [PMID] 23983719.
2012
Ambient air pollution exposure and blood pressure changes during pregnancy.
Environmental research. 117:46-53 [DOI] 10.1016/j.envres.2012.05.011. [PMID] 22835955.
2011
Advances and current themes in occupational health and environmental public health surveillance.
Annual review of public health. 32:109-32 [DOI] 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-082310-152811. [PMID] 21219165.
2011
PM10 air pollution exposure during pregnancy and term low birth weight in Allegheny County, PA, 1994-2000.
International archives of occupational and environmental health. 84(3):251-7 [DOI] 10.1007/s00420-010-0545-z. [PMID] 20496078.

Grants

May 2021 ACTIVE
Endothelial Circadian Clock Protein PER1 Modulates Salt-sensitive Hypertension
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding: FL DEPT OF HLTH BIOMED RES PGM/J&E KING

Education

Postdoctoral Research Associate
2015-2020 · Department of Physiology and Functinal Genomics at University of Florida
PhD in Medical Physiology
2015 · University of Delhi

Contact Details

Addresses:
Business Mailing:
CG98C Nephrology
PO Box 100224
1600 SW Archer Road
Gainesville FL 32610
Business Street:
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
GAINESVILLE FL 326100001