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Victor Garcia, Ph.D.

Victor GarciaAssistant Professor of Pharmacology

Mail:    

Department of Pharmacology
Basic Science Building, Rm. 533
15 Dana Road
Valhalla, NY  10595

Telephone:  914-594-4127

Email:  Victor_Garcia@nymc.edu

Visit the Garcia Laboratory website

Professional Interests:

Our research explores the role of the vasoactive cytochrome P450 (CYP)-derived eicosanoid, 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) across the vasculature with a focus on endothelial and vascular smooth muscle signaling. Recently, our lab identified the orphan receptor GPR75 as a specific cellular target of 20-HETE through the use of a variety of novel compounds and techniques including crosslinking analogs, click-chemistry, proteomic, binding and functional assays. Through our collaborations across various fields we have illustrated a direct relationship between the production of 20-HETE and blood pressure in animal models of hypertension. Our work has shown 20-HETE to be a potent inducer of endothelial angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) expression and activity through a EGFR-/MAPK-/IKK-/NF-kB- dependent signaling mechanism. Increased vascular synthesis of 20-HETE in vivo was shown to also be associated with increased ACE expression, circulating angiotensin II (Ang II) levels, blood pressure elevations and vascular remodeling. These changes are prevented or reversed by 20-HETE antagonists. Our research goals include exploring the 20-HETE-GPR75 pairing and its contribution in reducing nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, increases in inflammatory cytokine production and the induction of ACE expression and activity. The knowledge gained from our continued pursuits will allow us to better understand the mechanisms governing vascular dysfunction, hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

Selected Bibliography:

  1. Garcia V, Gilani A, Shkolnik B, Pandey V, Zhang FF, Dakarapu R, Gandham SK, Reddy NR, Graves JP, Gruzdev A, Zeldin DC, Capdevila JH, Falck JR and Schwartzman ML. 20-HETE Signals Through G Protein-Coupled Receptor GPR75 (Gq) to Affect Vascular Function and Trigger Hypertension. Circ Res. 2017.
  2. Garcia V, Joseph G, Shkolnik B, Ding Y, Zhang FF, Gotlinger K, Falck JR, Dakarapu R, Capdevila JH, Bernstein KE and Schwartzman ML. Angiotensin II receptor blockade or deletion of vascular endothelial ACE does not prevent vascular dysfunction and remodeling in 20-HETE-dependent hypertension. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2015;309:R71-8.

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