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Catherine  C. "Lynn"  Hedrick
Degree(s): Ph.D.
Graduate School: Wake Forest University
Primary Appointment: Associate Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics
Research Interests:
Atherogenesis; hyperglycemia and insulin resistance

Email Address: cch6n@virginia.edu
Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program(s)
  • Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Genetics
    • Research Description

    Early events in the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in the vascular wall include lipid oxidation , endothelial cell activation , and macrophage foam cell formation. A major complication of diabetes is atherosclerosis; in fact , in the US , there is a 4-fold higher incidence of heart attack in patients with Type 2 diabetes compared to the normal population. We have discovered that an ATP transporter, ABCG1, is reduced in macrophages isolated from patients with type 2 diabetes.  ABCG1 regulates the transfer of cholesterol from cells , including macrophages , to HDL for reverse cholesterol transport to the liver.  Thus , ABCG1 function is important for preventing macrophage foam cell formation in the artery wall.  We also study how the sphingolipid , sphingosine-1-phosphate , regulates inflammation in endothelial cells and macrophages of the arterial wall in the setting of diabetes.  Current research projects in the laboratory are focused upon 1) understanding how ABCG1 is regulated in Type 2 diabetes, and  2) how ABCG1 and sphingosine-1-phosphate influence inflammation and immunity.  The results of these research projects will identify key regulatory mechanisms that accelerate early vascular complications in diabetes , and may lead to beneficial therapies for reducing onset of inflammation in diabetes.

    Selected Publications
  • Srinivasan S, Lappas C, Bolick DT, Lukashev D, Sitkovsky M, Lynch KR, and Hedrick CC. 2008. Sphingosine-1-phosphate reduces CD4+ T lymphocyte activation in Type 1 diabetes through regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor short isoform I.1 and CD69. Diabetes. 57:484-493.
  • Hughes JE, Srinivasan S, Lynch KR, Proia RL, Ferdek P, and Hedrick CC. 2008. Sphingosine-1-phosphate induces an anti-inflammatory phenotype in macrophages. Circulation Research, In press. [Epub March 2008]
  • Wojcik AJ, Skaflen MD, Srinivasan S, and Hedrick CC. 2008. A Critical role for ABCG1 in macrophage inflammation and lung homeostasis. Journal of Immunology, In press. [Epub March 2008]
  • Mauldin JP, Nagelin MH, Wojcik AJ, Srinivasan S, Skaflen MD, Ayers CR, McNamara CA, and Hedrick CC. 2008. Reduced expression of ABCG1 increases cholesterol accumulation in macrophages of patients with type 2 diabetes. Circulation, In press.
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    Contact Information
      Office Address: PO Box 801394, MR-5 Rm G123, 
      Office Phone: +1 434-982-4065, +1 434-243-5739
      Fax Phone: +1 434-924-2828

    Other Web sites for this mentor:
    http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/CVRC/Faculty/Hedrick.cfm

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