Jing Wu, Ph.D.

I was trained in vascular biology and immunology in hypertension research. My laboratory investigates the roles of PPARg (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma), Cullin3 ubiquitin ligase, and their downstream signaling in renal physiology, immunobiology, and cardiometabolic diseases. Dominant negative mutations in PPARg (P467L, V290M, etc) and Cullin3 cause severe early onset hypertension in humans, while global PPARg activation reduces blood pressure in multiple clinical trials/studies. We and others have provided compelling evidence that the PPARg-Cullin3 axis regulates cardiovascular and renal physiology through actions in vascular and immune cells.

My current K01 award (2021-2025) aims to understand the roles of vascular PPARg in renal physiology and salt sensitive hypertension. Using the inducible cre-loxP system, we created transgenic mice carrying human hypertension-causing mutations in PPARg selectively in vascular smooth muscle (S-P467L), which in response to salt loading develop impaired renal perfusion and enhanced sodium retention that ultimately leads to salt sensitive hypertension. These model systems are valuable tools to understand the renal hemodynamic mechanisms of salt sensitivity of blood pressure, the ability of the vascular-tubular interface to regulate renal electrolyte handling, and the vulnerability of these processes to genetic polymorphisms, oxidative stress, and inflammation.

A second area of interest is to understand T cell PPARg and Cullin3 in hypertension and metabolic disorders. We have generated mouse models with genetic modifications in PPARg and Cullin3 selectively in T lymphocytes, which exhibit exaggerated hypertension, target organ damage, and altered adiposity/glucose homeostasis. The goal of this project is to elucidate immune mechanisms of hypertension and the ability of the immune cells to regulate the function of metabolic organs (pancreas, liver, adipose tissue).

I am committed to promoting innovative, collaborative, inclusive academic research and to mentoring young members of the research team. My ultimate career goal is to apply our findings to translational research that may lead to the development of novel therapies for cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic diseases.

Email Address: Jing_Wu@URMC.Rochester.edu
Twitter Handle: @JingWu_URMC