# positions[].organizations[].parent[].label
Texas A&M University Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine

# overview
Tumor cell metastasis to the regional or draining lymph nodes (LN) is the primary indicator of tumor aggressiveness. Tumor cells lodged in nodes acquire significant vulnerabilities that enable them to evade therapy. In addition, expansion of the vasculature near the primary tumor bed activates multiple pathways that induce lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis. The primary research focus of my laboratory is to determine how an inflammatory tumor-lymphatic microenvironment contributes to cancer metastasis and progression by reprograming molecular pathways in a) primary tumor niche and b) metastatic tumor draining LNs. We use tumor-LEC 3D spheroids, orthotopic tumor models and clinical samples to evaluate the tumor-lymphatic crosstalk in different solid tumors. In addition, we are also interested in delineating the role of the microbiota and specific tryptophan metabolites in cancer progression, tumor associated lymphangiogenesis and alterations to the metastatic node.

# keywords[]
2.2 Factors Relating To The Physical Environment

# keywords[]
1.1 Normal Biological Development And Functioning

# keywords[]
1.1 Normal Biological Development And Functioning

# keywords[]
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

# keywords[]
1.1 Normal Biological Development And Functioning

# keywords[]
1.1 Normal Biological Development And Functioning

# keywords[]
Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, Alpha Subunit

# keywords[]
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3

# keywords[]
1.1 Normal Biological Development And Functioning

# keywords[]
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

# keywords[]
1.1 Normal Biological Development And Functioning

# keywords[]
Squamous Cell Carcinoma Of Head And Neck

# keywords[]
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3

# educationAndTraining[].organization.label
Indian Institute of Science Bangalore - (Bengaluru, India)

# educationAndTraining[].organization.label
Texas A&M Health Science Center - (College Station, Texas, United States)

# awardsAndHonors[].label
Award for Excellence in Lymphatic Research

# awardsAndHonors[].label
Experimental Biology and Medicine (EBM) Outstanding Reviewer Award

# publications[].label
SUBSTANCE P REGULATES INFLAMMATORY PATHWAYS IN LYMPHATIC MUSCLE

# publications[].label
LPS induced changes in immune cell recruitment and impairment of lymphatic contractility during inflammation

# publications[].label
A microfluidic model of colonocyte-microbiota interaction mimicking the colorectal cancer microenvironment

# publications[].label
Inflammatory state of lymphatic vessels and miRNA profiles associated with relapse in ovarian cancer patients

# publications[].label
PKC activation increases Ca sensitivity of permeabilized lymphatic muscle via myosin light chain 20 phosphorylation-dependent and -independent mechanisms.

# publications[].label
Molecular Mechanism of Substance P Mediated Signaling in Lymphatic System

# publications[].label
Gene expression profiling of oral squamous cell carcinoma by differential display rt-PCR and identification of tumor biomarkers.

# publications[].label
Inflammation and Progression of Cholangiocarcinoma: Role of Angiogenic and Lymphangiogenic Mechanisms.

# publications[].label
Serotonin Induces Inflammatory Cytokine Production and Regulates Lymphatic Endothelial Cell Function

# publications[].label
MicroRNA signature of inflamed lymphatic endothelium and role of miR-9 in lymphangiogenesis and inflammation.

# publications[].label
Exercise-Induced Changes in Mechanotransduction Improve Myocardial Function in a Porcine Model of Chronic Occlusion

# publications[].label
Dietary Endotoxin Mediated Impairments in Mesenteric Lymphatic Vessel Contractility is Regulated by Neighboring Immune Cells in Mesentery

# publications[].label
KNOCKOUT OF BILIARY NEUROKININ 1 RECEPTOR (NK1R) AMELIORATES LIVER PHENOTYPES IN ALCOHOL ASSOCIATED LIVER DISEASE (ALD)

# publications[].label
Lymphatic system: a vital link between metabolic syndrome and inflammation.

# publications[].label
The Apelin-Apelin Receptor Axis Triggers Cholangiocyte Proliferation and Liver Fibrosis During Mouse Models of Cholestasis.

# publications[].label
TNF mediated regulation of myosin light chain 20 phosphorylation in lymphatic muscle

# publications[].label
Quantifying Lymphatic Endothelial Cell Morphological Changes in Response to Fluid Shear Stress, Cyclic Strain, or Combined Stress and Strain In Vitro

# publications[].label
Identification of New Markers of Angiogenic Sprouting Using Transcriptomics: New Role for RND3.

# publications[].publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)

# publications[].label
INHIBITION OF THE SUBSTANCE P/NEUROKININ RECEPTOR (SP/NK1R) AXIS AMELIORATES LIVER PHENOTYPES IN A MODEL OF NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE (NAFLD)

# publications[].label
Dietary Fiber Modulates Macrophage Activity in a Microfluidic Model of Colonocyte-Microbiota Interactions in Colorectal Cancer

# publications[].label
233 KNOCKDOWN OF THE MT1 MELATONIN RECEPTOR AMELIORATES THE PHENOTYPES OF THE MDR2-/- MOUSE MODEL OF PRIMARY SCLEROSING CHOLANGITIS (PSC) BY DOWNREGULATION OF ORPHAN GPR50 RECEPTOR-PROMOTED CONSTITUTIVE TGF-1 RECEPTOR SIGNALING.

# publications[].label
Lipocalin2 Stimulates Proliferation and a Profibrotic Cholangiocyte Phenotype during Cholestasis

# publications[].label
Fr382 TUMOR-LYMPHATIC INTERACTIONS IN AN INFLAMED MICROENVIRONMENT ACTIVATES CXCR2-CXCL5-YAP SIGNALING AXIS AND ENHANCES LYMPHANGIOGENESIS AND TUMOR MIGRATION IN CHOLANGIOCARCINOMA

# publications[].label
Roles of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase pump in the impairments of lymphatic contractile activity in a metabolic syndrome rat model

# publications[].label
Hypertensive Stimuli Indirectly Stimulate Mouse Mesometrial Lymphangiogenesis Through Immune Cells

# publications[].label
Development and Characterization of Human Primary Cholangiocarcinoma Cell Lines.

# publications[].label
Identification of miR-203a, mir-10a, and miR-194 as predictors for risk of lymphovascular invasion in head and neck cancers.

# publications[].label
Substance P activates both inflammatory and contractile signaling pathways in the lymphatics through neurokinin receptors

# publications[].label
Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Identifies Response of Renal Lymphatic Endothelial Cells to Acute Kidney Injury.

# publications[].publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)

# publications[].label
Hyperglycemia- and hyperinsulinemia-induced insulin resistance causes alterations in cellular bioenergetics and activation of inflammatory signaling in lymphatic muscle.

# publications[].label
Identification of genes associated with tumorigenesis of retinoblastoma by microarray analysis.

# publications[].label
The Cellular, Molecular, and Pathologic Consequences of Stress on the Liver.

# publications[].label
Intracellular calcium dynamics of lymphatic endothelial and muscle cells co-cultured in a Lymphangion-Chip under pulsatile flow.

# publications[].label
The effects of substrate stiffness of lymphatic muscle cell phenotype in vitro

# publications[].label
Epigenetic-Metabolic Interplay in the DNA Damage Response and Therapeutic Resistance of Breast Cancer.

# publications[].publisher
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)

# publications[].label
Inhibition of myosin light chain phosphorylation decreases rat mesenteric lymphatic contractile activity.

# publications[].label
TNF-alpha mediated regulation of myosin light chain 20 phosphorylation in lymphatic muscle

# publications[].label
Hypertensive Stimuli Indirectly Stimulate Lymphangiogenesis through Immune Cell Secreted Factors.

# publications[].label
Substance P activates both contractile and inflammatory pathways in lymphatics through the neurokinin receptors NK1R and NK3R.

# publications[].label
The Functional Roles of Immune Cells in Primary Liver Cancer.

# publications[].label
Lymphangion-chip: a microphysiological system which supports co-culture and bidirectional signaling of lymphatic endothelial and muscle cells.

# publications[].label
TUMOR-LYMPHATIC INTERACTIONS IN AN INFLAMED MICROENVIRONMENT ACTIVATES CXCR2-CXCL5-YAP SIGNALING AXIS AND ENHANCES LYMPHANGIOGENESIS AND TUMOR MIGRATION IN CHOLANGIOCARCINOMA

# publications[].label
Identification of genes associated with tumorigenesis of meibomian cell carcinoma by microarray analysis.

# publications[].label
LPS mediated decreases in immune cells recruitment on or near lymphatics impairs lymphatic contractility

# publications[].label
The Effects of Taurocholic Acid on Biliary Damage and Liver Fibrosis Are Mediated by Calcitonin-Gene-Related Peptide Signaling.

# publications[].label
Sex Differences in Sepsis Survival Involve Effects of Gonadal Steroid Hormones

# publications[].label
Gutassociated lymphoid tissue, T cell trafficking, and chronic intestinal inflammation

# publications[].label
Bacterial Metabolite Indole Alters Inflammatory Signaling Cascades In Human Lymphatic Endothelial Cells

# publications[].label
Hypoxic tumor microenvironment: Implications for cancer therapy.

# publications[].label
Inflammatory state of lymphatic vessels and miRNA profiles associated with relapse in ovarian cancer patients.

# publications[].label
Development of siRNA strategy to knockdown the regulatory contractile proteins in lymphatic muscle

# publications[].label
Conjugated Bile Acids Promote Lymphangiogenesis by Modulation of the Reactive Oxygen Species-p90RSK-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 3 Pathway.

# publications[].label
Insulin resistance disrupts cell integrity, mitochondrial function, and inflammatory signaling in lymphatic endothelium.

# publications[].label
FGF1 Signaling Modulates Biliary Injury and Liver Fibrosis in the Mdr2-/- Mouse Model of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis.

# publications[].label
Conjugated Bile Acids Activate Lymphangiogenic Pathways, Induce Chemokine Production and Significantly Alter Cellular Metabolism in Lymphatic Endothelial Cells

# publications[].label
Molecular Mechanisms Linking Risk Factors to Cholangiocarcinoma Development.

# publications[].label
Differential effects of myosin light chain kinase inhibition on contractility, force development and myosin light chain 20 phosphorylation of rat cervical and thoracic duct lymphatics.

# publications[].label
MANIPULATION OF THE MIR-16/FGF-1 AXIS REDUCES PROFIBROTIC, PROLIFERATIVE, AND INFLAMMATORY PHENOTYPES IN THE MDR2-/- MOUSE MODEL OF PRIMARY SCLEROSING CHOLANGITIS (PSC)

# publications[].label
LYMPHATIC-CHOLANGIOCARCINOMA INTERACTIONS ALTER TUMOR METABOLISM AND CELLULAR SIGNALING PATHWAYS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO TUMOR PROGRESSION AND METASTASIS

# publications[].label
Cellular Senescence as a Brake or Accelerator for Oncogenic Transformation and Role in Lymphatic Metastasis.

# publications[].label
Fibronectin increases the force production of mouse papillary muscles via 51 integrin.

# publications[].label
Recent advancement of imaging strategies of the lymphatic system: Answer to the decades old questions.

# publications[].label
Cholangiocarcinoma: bridging the translational gap from preclinical to clinical development and implications for future therapy.

# publications[].label
Tumor Lymphatic Interactions Induce CXCR2-CXCL5 Axis and Alter Cellular Metabolism and Lymphangiogenic Pathways to Promote Cholangiocarcinoma.

# publications[].label
Neuropeptide Substance P Enhances Inflammation-Mediated Tumor Signaling Pathways and Migration and Proliferation of Head and Neck Cancers.

# publications[].label
Emerging Therapeutic Strategies in the Fight Against Primary Biliary Cholangitis

# publications[].label
Lymphatic filariasis: perspectives on lymphatic remodeling and contractile dysfunction in filarial disease pathogenesis.

# publications[].label
Immune cell mediated regulation of lymphatic contractility during inflammation

# publications[].label
Isolation of Lymphatic Muscle Cells (LMCs ) from Rat Mesentery.

# publications[].label
Targeting Lymphangiogenesis and Lymph Node Metastasis in Liver Cancer.

# publications[].label
Oxidative Stress-Induced Liver Damage and Remodeling of the Liver Vasculature.

# publications[].label
Knockout of secretin ameliorates biliary and liver phenotypes during alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity.

# publications[].label
Biliary Epithelial Senescence in Liver Disease: There Will Be SASP.

# publications[].label
KNOCKDOWN OF THE MT1 MELATONIN RECEPTOR AMELIORATES THE PHENOTYPES OF THE MDR2(-/-) MOUSE MODEL OF PRIMARY SCLEROSING CHOLANGITIS (PSC) BY DOWNREGULATION OF ORPHAN GPR50 RECEPTOR-PROMOTED CONSTITUTIVE TGF-beta 1 RECEPTOR SIGNALING

# publications[].label
Critical alterations in cellular bioenergetics and epithelial-mesenchymal transition mediated by crosstalk between tumor cells and lymphatic vasculature augments tumor progression in cholangiocarcinoma

# publications[].label
Involvement of TSC genes and differential expression of other members of the mTOR signaling pathway in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

# publications[].label
Macrophage alterations within the mesenteric lymphatic tissue are associated with impairment of lymphatic pump in metabolic syndrome.

# publications[].label
Emerging trends in the pathophysiology of lymphatic contractile function.

# publications[].label
Conjugated Bile Acids activate Reactive Oxygen Speciesp90RSKVascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 3 signaling axis to promote lymphangiogenesis

# publications[].label
Roles of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase pump in the impairments of lymphatic contractile activity in a metabolic syndrome rat model.

# publications[].label
Recent Advances in Intrahepatic Biliary Epithelial Heterogeneity.

# publications[].label
SUBSTANCE P REGULATES INFLAMMATORY PATHWAYS IN LYMPHATIC MUSCLE

# publications[].label
Lipopolysaccharide modulates neutrophil recruitment and macrophage polarization on lymphatic vessels and impairs lymphatic function in rat mesentery.

# publications[].label
Citrus nomilin down-regulates TNF--induced proliferation of aortic smooth muscle cells via apoptosis and inhibition of IB.

# publications[].label
FREE FATTY ACIDS-INDUCED ACTIVATION OF THE ALPHA-CALCITONIN GENE-RELATED PEPTIDE (ACGRP)/CALCITONIN RECEPTOR-LIKE RECEPTOR (CRLR)/RECEPTOR ACTIVITY-MODIFYING PROTEIN 1 (RAMP1) AXIS REGULATES MIR-125B EXPRESSION VIA TLR4 IN NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE (NAFLD)

# publications[].label
CXCL11-CXCR3 Axis Mediates Tumor Lymphatic Cross Talk and Inflammation-Induced Tumor, Promoting Pathways in Head and Neck Cancers.

# publications[].label
Role of nomilin in regulation of inflammatory pathways potentiated by Substance P and TNFalpha in cardiovascular cells

# publications[].label
The 1-integrin plays a key role in LEC invasion in an optimized 3-D collagen matrix model.

# publications[].label
Experimental validation of numerical predictions for"Deviant"density enhancement of protein emulsions in oil (Oleo-Nanofluids)

# researcherOn[].label
Role of microbiota dysbiosis on lymphatic dysfunction and progression of metabolic syndrome

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
American Heart Association - (New York, New York, United States)

# researcherOn[].label
Therapeutic inhibition of cholangiocarcinoma progression by targeting tumor-lymphatic crosstalk

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas - (Austin, Texas, United States)

# researcherOn[].label
Role of Sensory Innervation in High Fat Diet-Induced Hepatotoxicity

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - (Bethesda, Maryland, United States)

# streetAddress
Texas A&M Health Science Center; Medical Physiology; 2416 MREBII

# organizations[]
Texas A&M University Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine

# schools[]
Texas A&M University Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine