Acute Care & Trauma Research
Zequan Yang, MD
Dr. Yang’s research interests include looking at myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury using in vivo mouse model and hypothermia with cardiopulmonary bypass for treatment of cardiac arrest and exsanguinating hemorrhagic shock.
Yang Lab
Yang Lab research focuses on 2 main fields: Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) and septic shock.
Myocardial IRI
We aim to define cellular and molecular mechanisms of myocardial IRI to identify novel therapeutic targets. We are currently exploring the role of DAMP molecules, especially HMGB1 and cell-free DNA in enhancing inflammatory responses during post-ischemic reperfusion injury. We have found that HMGB1 and cell-free DNA are released from ischemic myocardium into the blood stream during reperfusion and activate RAGE and TLR9 of the leukocytes to aggravate inflammatory responses and myocardial infarction. The animal model is in vivo mouse model. The IRI is induced by ligation of left coronary artery.
Septic Shock
We aim to define the role splenic leukocytes in septic shock and identify how topical neck cooling can modify the spleen and prolong the survival of septic animal. The septic shock is induced in rats by cecal ligation and perforation. We have found that topical neck cooling produced similar protective effect as global hyperthermia to prolong the animal survival. Preliminary clinical trial on neck cooling is under way now.