Ravindra K Sharma

Ravindra K Sharma,

Assistant Scientist

Department: MD-NEPHROLOGY
Business Phone: (352) 871-2497

Accomplishments

New Investigator Award
2018 · American Heart Association (AHA)

Research Profile

My current research focus revolves around understanding the possible mechanisms of vascular stiffness in chronic kidney disease and its new therapeutic approaches. We are also investigating the potential role of gut-microbiota and its metabolites in vascular stiffness during CKD. During my postdoctoral training, my focus was to investigate the role of neuroinflammation and gut microbiota in the regulation of hypertension. Utilizing multidisciplinary approaches, we have demonstrated for the first time that chemically modified tetracycline-3 inhibition of microglial activation in cardio-regulatory brain areas, primarily the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus, selectively impacts the gut microbiota and provide the protection against hypertension. In addition to this, I was also involved in a project investigating the involvement of gut microbiota and renin-angiotensin system components such as angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and angiotensin-(1-7) in pulmonary hypertension pathophysiology. I have successfully demonstrated the association of gut microbial dysbiosis in various models of pulmonary hypertension and revealed the beneficial actions of renin angiotensin system components particularly the ACE2 and angiotensin-(1-7) on restoring the pulmonary hypertension as well as gut microbiota dysbiosis. I have recently published that neuro-inflammation and other cellular events in the cardio-regulatory brain regions participate in autonomic dysfunctions which eventually perpetuate pulmonary hypertension with right heart pathologies. These studies led us to propose a dysfunctional brain-gut-lung communication in pulmonary hypertension. The overall aim of these studies to provide a significant therapeutic approach for the treatment of such diseases which can further be translated into the medicine.

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
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
Fecal matter transplant from Ace2 overexpressing mice counteracts chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension.
Pulmonary circulation. 12(1) [DOI] 10.1002/pul2.12015. [PMID] 35506083.
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. 76(1):206-216
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
Maternal Obesity, Birth Size, and Risk of Childhood Cancer Development.
American journal of epidemiology. 188(8):1503-1511 [DOI] 10.1093/aje/kwz118. [PMID] 31107539.
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.
2018
Systemic inflammatory markers associated with cardiovascular disease and acute and chronic exposure to fine particulate matter air pollution (PM2.5) among US NHANES adults with metabolic syndrome.
Environmental research. 161:485-491 [DOI] 10.1016/j.envres.2017.11.042. [PMID] 29223110.
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.
2017
Environmental lead and childhood blood lead levels in US children: NHANES, 1999-2006.
Archives of environmental & occupational health. 72(2):70-78 [DOI] 10.1080/19338244.2016.1157454. [PMID] 26942652.
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
Revisiting Nonresidential Environmental Exposures and Childhood Lead Poisoning in the US: Findings from Kansas, 2000-2005.
Journal of environmental and public health. 2016 [DOI] 10.1155/2016/8791686. [PMID] 27042184.
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
Air toxics and the risk of autism spectrum disorder: the results of a population based case-control study in southwestern Pennsylvania.
Environmental health : a global access science source. 14 [DOI] 10.1186/s12940-015-0064-1. [PMID] 26444407.
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
Never too old for congenital heart disease: sinus venosus atrial septal defect with anomalous pulmonary venous return in an octogenarian.
Pulmonary circulation. 5(3):587-9 [DOI] 10.1086/682429. [PMID] 26401261.
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.
2014
The association of respiratory hospitalization rates in WV counties, total, underground, and surface coal production and sociodemographic covariates.
Journal of occupational and environmental medicine. 56(11):1179-88 [DOI] 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000246. [PMID] 25376413.
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
Particulate air pollution exposure and C-reactive protein during early pregnancy.
Epidemiology (Cambridge, Mass.). 22(4):524-31 [DOI] 10.1097/EDE.0b013e31821c6c58. [PMID] 21516040.
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.
2011
The association between driving distance and glycemic control in rural areas.
Journal of diabetes science and technology. 5(3):494-500 [PMID] 21722565.

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

Phones:
Business:
(352) 871-2497
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