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Clinical Activities

Keywords: anatomical pathology, gastrointestinal and liver pathology, ocular pathology, transplant pathology, molecular pathology

My clinical activities focus on various areas related to anatomical pathology and molecular pathology. I am involved in providing ocular pathology, gastrointestinal and liver pathology, autopsy pathology and transplant Pathology services. I also run a molecular pathology laboratory at the London Health Sc. Ctr.

Research Interests

Keywords: Chronic Diabetic Complications, Diabetic Retinopathy, Diabetic Cardiomyopathy, Vasoactive Factors, Extracellular Matrix Proteins, Angiogenesis, epigenetics

Description of Research Activities: Chronic diabetic complications are the main research focus in this laboratory. Hyperglycemia is the key initiating factor in the pathogenesis of chronic diabetic complications. Several secondary and tertiary biochemical mechanisms may be triggered as a result of sustained hyperglycemia. These mechanisms may in turn modulate several proteins which may be of importance in chronic diabetic complications. Mechanisms of several of these chronic diabetic complications are being investigated in an attempt to identify potential treatment targets. Diabetic retinopathy and cardiomyopathy are two major areas of research in our laboratory. Current projects involve analysis of various mechanisms involved in the regulation of vasoactive factor and extracellular matrix protein gene expression and correlation of such changes with the structural changes in the retina and the heart. We investigate several putative signaling mechansims of microvascular injury using cell culture, animal experiments and in human tissues. The investigations also involve glucose induced DNA damage, alterations of histone acetylation, deacetylation and miRNA We are also involved in several multi-disciplinary research groups. As a part of the Ontario ginseng innovation research centre (OGIRC), we are involved in the investigation of the potential preventive role of ginseng in chronic diabetic complications. Through our collaboration we are involved in the investigation of various mechanistic aspects of heart failure, its causes, pathogenesis and treatment.

Selected Publications

1. George B, Chen S, Chaudhary V, Gonder J and Chakrabarti S. Extracellular matrix proteins in epiretinal membranes and in diabetic retinopathy. Curr. Eye. Res. 34;134-44,2009.
2. Chiu J., Khan ZA, Farhangkhoee H, Chakrabarti S. Curcumin prevents diabetes-associated abnormalities in the kidneys by inhibiting p300 and nuclear factor κB. Nutrition ;25:964-72. 2009.
3. Chen S, Feng B, George B, Chakrabarti R, Chen M, Chakrabarti S. Transcriptional Co-activator p300 regulates Glucose Induced Gene Expression in the Endothelial Cells Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab.2010; 298: E127-E137 [Epub Nov 10,2009].
4. Feng B, Chen S, George B,  Chakrabarti S. miR133a regulates cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in diabetes. Diabetes Metab Res Rev. 26:40-9, 2010.
5. Wu Y, Feng B, Chen S, Chakrabarti S. ET-1 is regulated by Erk5 in diabetic retinopathy. Canad. J. Physiol. Pharmacol  88:607-615, 2010.
6. Wu Y, Zuo Y, Chakrabarti R, Feng B, Chen S, Chakrabarti S. ERK5 contributes to VEGF alteration in diabetic retinopathy. J. Ophthalmol 2010: Article ID 465824, 2010.
7. Chiu J, Farhangkhoee H, Xu BY, Chen S, George B, Chakrabarti S. PARP mediates structural alterations in diabetic cardiomyopathy. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2008 Jul 8.
8. Feng B, Chen S, Chiu J, George B, Chakrabarti S. Regulation of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in diabetes at the transcriptional level. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2008 Jun;294(6):E1119-26. Epub 2008 Apr 15.
9. Xin X, Chen S, Khan ZA, Chakrabarti S. Akt activation and augmented fibronectin production in hyperhexosemia. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2007 Oct;293(4):E1036-44. Epub 2007 Jul 31.
10. Kaur H, Chen S, Xin X, Chiu J, Khan ZA, Chakrabarti S. Diabetes-induced extracellular matrix protein expression is mediated by transcription coactivator p300. Diabetes. 2006 Nov;55(11):3104-11.
11. Chiu J, Khan ZA, Farhangkhoee H, Chakrabarti S. Curcumin prevents diabetes-associated abnormalities in the kidneys by inhibiting p300 and nuclear factor-kappaB. Nutrition. 2009 Mar 4. [Epub ahead of print]
12. Majumdar P, Chen S, George B, Sen S, Karmazyn M, Chakrabarti S. Leptin and endothelin-1 mediated increased extracellular matrix protein production and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in diabetic heart disease. Diabetes Metab Res Rev. 2009 Jul;25(5):452-63.