Dr. Zofia Zukowska

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Georgetown University
Physiology & Biophysics
ProfessorAppointed: 1995
Professional Headshot of Zofia Zukowska

Mailing Address

Department of Physiology and Biophysics
Georgetown University Medical Center
3900 Reservoir Rd, NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20007
United States

Contact Information

zzukow01@georgetown.edu

Qualifications

M.D., Ph.D., Warsaw Medical Academy, Warsaw, Poland, Medicine and Physiology, 1979.

Expertise and Research Interests

Neurogenic regulation of vascular functions - vasoconstriction and vascular remodeling - with focus on neuropeptide Y. An interative approach from the whole animal hemodynamic and sympathetic activity measurements, to in vitro assays of vasoconstriction and vascular and endothelial cell biology, to molecular biology of neuropeptide Y-related and neuropeptide Y receptor genes. Role of neuropeptide Y in ischemia-driven angiogenesis, atherosclerosis and hypertension.

Our laboratory discovered that neuropeptide Y, previously known as a vasocostrictive sympathetic neurotransmitter, is a potent vascular mitogenic and angiogenic factor (see Circ Res 83:187-95, 1998; TCM 13:86-91, 2003; ATVB June 2003; JCI June 2003). We have already identified multiple receptors responsible for these effects and current research deals with cellular and molecular mechanisms of neuropeptide actions in in-vitro and in-vivo models of vascular diseases.

Other Expertise

Testing of adrenergic receptor function using in vitro and in vivo models such as Mulvany myograph and the pithed rat
Stress testing in rats and mice
Models of tumor angiogenesis and retinopathy

Future Research

Genomics and proteomics of the neuropeptide Y system in human diseases

Industrial Relevance

Testing of adrenergic and NPY agonists and antagonists for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases

Keywords

COS Keywords:

Angiogenesis, Arteriosclerosis or Atherosclerosis, Physiology, Vascular Biology.

Additional Terms:

Adrenergic and Neuropeptide Y Receptors, Angiogenesis, Atherosclerosis, Neural and Vascular Biology.

Languages

(Reading, Writing, Speaking)

English: (Fluent, Fluent, Fluent)
Polish: (Fluent, Fluent, Fluent)
French: (Basic, Basic, Basic)
Russian: (Basic, Basic, Basic)

Memberships

American Physiological Society
Council for High Blood Pressure Research, Council on Atherosclerosis
Society for Hypertension, Polish Academy of Sciences
Society for Neuroscience

Honors and Awards

2002, Nicolaus Copernicus Award for Excellence in Neuropeptide Research, European Neuropeptide Club and University of Warmia and Mazury, Neuropeptides in Physiology and Medicine
2000, Outstanding Scientists of the 20th Century,
1999-2001, Who is Who in America,
1989-1991, Adele Melbourne Holmes Award, American Heart Association, American Heart Association, DC Affiliate, Established Investigator in Cardiovascular Research
1980, Outstanding Research Award, Polish Society for Cardiology, Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine

Previous Positions

1991-1995, Associate Professor, Georgetown University, Physiology & Biophysics
1986-1991, Assistant Professor, Georgetown University, Physiology & Bioiphysics
1980-1986, Visiting Fellow and Associate, National Institute of Health (NIH)
1978-1980, Assistant Professor, Department of Hypertension and Angiology, Medical Academy of Warsaw, Poland

Funding Received

  • National Institutes of Health (NIH): Does Neuropeptide Y (NPY) Promote Atherosclerosis?, Apr 1, 2003 to Mar 30, 2008.
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH): Neuropeptide Y and Ischemia-driven Angiogenesis, 2000 to 2004.
  • AstraZeneca: NPY Receptor Antagonists in Cardiovascular Diseases, 1998 to 2001.
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH): NPY in Vascular Remodeling, 1996 to 2003.
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH): Gender and Neuropeptide Y-Adrenergic Interactions, 1990 to 1995.
  • American Heart Association: Neuropeptide Y and Vasoconstriction, 1989 to 1994.

Publications

  • Li, J., Lee, E.W., Ji., and Zukowska, Z., Neuropeptide Y-induced acceleration of post-angioplasty occlusion of rat carotid artery, ATVB, June 2003
  • Lee, E.W., Michalkiewicz, M., Kitlinska, J., Kalezic, I., Switalska, H., Yoo, P., Sanghart, A., Ji., H., Li, L., Michalkiewicz, T., Ljubisavljevic, M., Johansson, H., Grant, D.S., and Zukowska, Z., Neuropeptide Y induces ischemic angiogenesis and restores function of ischemic skeletal muscles, JCI, June 2003
  • Lee, E.W., Grant D.S., and Zukowska, Z., Neuropeptide Y: A novel mechanism for ischemic angiogenesis, Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine, 13(2), 86-91, February 2003
  • Lee, E.W., Grant, D.S., Movafagh, S., and Zukowska, Z., Impaired angiogenesis in neuropeptide Y (NPY)-Y2 receptor knockout mice, Peptides, 24, 99-106, 2003
  • Pons, J., Kitlinska, J., Ji, H., Lee, E.W. and Zukowska, Z., Mitogenic actions of neuropeptide Y in vascular smooth muscle cells: synergistic interactiosn with beta-adrenergic system, Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, 81, 177-185, 2003
  • Zukowska, Z., POns, J., Lee, E.W., and Li, L., Neuropeptide Y: and new mediator linking sympathetic nerves, blood vessels and immune system?, Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, 81, 89--94, 2003
  • Zukowska, Z., Roles and perspectives of neuropeptides in medicine, Neuropeptides, 36(6), 435-495, December 2002
  • Kitlinska, J., Lee, E.W., Movafagh, S., Pons, J., and Zukowska, Z., Neuropeptide Y-induced angiogenesis in aging, Peptides, 23, 71-77, 2002
  • Ghersi G, Chen W, Lee EW, Zukowska Z, Critical role of dipeptidyl peptidase IV in neuropeptide Y-mediated endothelial cell migration in response to wounding, Peptides, 22(3), 453-8, March 2001 Abstract
  • Grant DS, Zukowska Z, Revascularization of ischemic tissues with SIKVAV and neuropeptide Y (NPY), Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 476, 139-54, 2000 Abstract
  • Zukowska-Grojec Z, Karwatowska-Prokopczuk E, Fisher TA, Ji H, Mechanisms of vascular growth-promoting effects of neuropeptide Y: role of its inducible receptors, Regulatory Peptides, 75-76, 231-8, 1998 Abstract
  • Qureshi NU, Dayao EK, Shirali S, Zukowska-Grojec Z, Hauser GJ, Endogenous neuropeptide Y mediates vasoconstriction during endotoxic and hemorrhagic shock, Regulatory Peptides, 75-76, 215-20, 1998 Abstract
  • Kim J, Ruff M, Karwatowska-Prokopczuk E, Hunt L, Ji H, Pert CB, Zukowska-Grojec Z, HIV envelope protein gp120 induces neuropeptide Y receptor-mediated proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells: relevance to AIDS cardiovascular pathogenesis, Regulatory Peptides, 75-76, 201-5, 1998 Abstract
  • Lewandowski J, Pruszczyk P, Elaffi M, Chodakowska J, Wocial B, Switalska H, Januszewicz W, Zukowska-Grojec Z, Blood pressure, plasma NPY and catecholamines during physical exercise in relation to menstrual cycle, ovariectomy, and estrogen replacement, Regulatory Peptides, 75-76, 239-45, 1998 Abstract
  • Zukowska-Grojec Z, Karwatowska-Prokopczuk E, Rose W, Rone J, Movafagh S, Ji H, Yeh Y, Chen WT, Kleinman HK, Grouzmann E, Grant DS, Neuropeptide Y: a novel angiogenic factor from the sympathetic nerves and endothelium, Circulation Research, 83(2), 187-95, 1998 Abstract
  • Zukowska-Grojec Z, Neuropeptide Y: an adrenergic cotransmitter, vasoconstrictor, and a nerve-derived vascular growth factor, Advances in Pharmacology, 42, 125-8, 1998 Abstract
  • Zukowska-Grojec Z, Dayao EK, Karwatowska-Prokopczuk E, Hauser GJ, Doods HN, Stress-induced mesenteric vasoconstriction in rats is mediated by neuropeptide Y Y1 receptors, American Journal of Physiology, 270(2 Pt 2), H796-800, February 1996 Abstract
  • Zukowska-Grojec Z, Neuropeptide Y. A novel sympathetic stress hormone and more, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 771, 219-33, 1995 Abstract
  • Hauser GJ, Dayao EK, Zukowska-Grojec Z, Effect of neuropeptide Y on endotoxin-induced suppression of the response to various agonists in conscious rats, Life Sciences, 57(3), 235-44, 1995 Abstract
  • Hauser GJ, Myers AK, Dayao EK, Zukowska-Grojec Z, Neuropeptide Y infusion improves hemodynamics and survival in rat endotoxic shock, American Journal of Physiology, 265(4 Pt 2), H1416-23, October 1993 Abstract
  • Zukowska-Grojec Z, Pruszczyk P, Colton C, Yao J, Shen GH, Myers AK, Wahlestedt C, Mitogenic effect of neuropeptide Y in rat vascular smooth muscle cells, Peptides, 14(2), 263-8, 1993 Abstract
  • Zukowska-Grojec Z, Shen GH, Capraro PA, Vaz CA, Cardiovascular, neuropeptide Y, and adrenergic responses in stress are sexually differentiated, Physiology and Behavior, 49(4), 771-7, April 1991 Abstract
  • Wahlestedt C, Hakanson R, Vaz CA, Zukowska-Grojec Z, Norepinephrine and neuropeptide Y: vasoconstrictor cooperation in vivo and in vitro, American Journal of Physiology, 258(3 Pt 2), R736-42, March 1990 Abstract
  • Deka-Starosta A, Garty M, Zukowska-Grojec Z, Keiser HR, Kopin IJ, Goldstein DS, Renal sympathetic nerve activity and norepinephrine release in rats, American Journal of Physiology, 257(1 Pt 2), R229-36, July 1989 Abstract
  • Zukowska-Grojec Z, Vaz AC, Role of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in cardiovascular responses to stress, Synapse, 2(3), 293-8, 1988 Abstract
  • Zukowska-Grojec Z, Marks ES, Haass M, Neuropeptide Y is a potent vasoconstrictor and a cardiodepressant in rat, American Journal of Physiology, 253(5 Pt 2), H1234-9, November 1987 Abstract
  • Zamir N, Haass M, Dave JR, Zukowska-Grojec Z, Anterior pituitary gland modulates the release of atrial natriuretic peptides from cardiac atria, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA), 84(2), 541-5, January 1987 Abstract
  • Zukowska-Grojec Z, Haass M, Kopin IJ, Zamir N, Interactions of atrial natriuretic peptide with the sympathetic and endocrine systems in the pithed rat, Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 239(2), 480-7, November 1986 Abstract
  • Zukowska-Grojec Z, Haass M, Bayorh MA, Neuropeptide Y and peptide YY mediate nonadrenergic vasoconstriction and modulate sympathetic responses in rats, Regulatory Peptides, 15(2), 99-110, September 1986 Abstract
  • Eskay R, Zukowska-Grojec Z, Haass M, Dave JR, Zamir N, Circulating atrial natriuretic peptides in conscious rats: regulation of release by multiple factors, Science, 232(4750), 636-9, 1986 Abstract
  • Haass M, Kopin IJ, Goldstein DS, Zukowska-Grojec Z, Differential inhibition of alpha adrenoceptor-mediated pressor responses by rat atrial natriuretic peptide in the pithed rat, Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 235(1), 122-7, October 1985 Abstract
  • Eimerl J, Bayorh MA, Zukowska-Grojec Z, Faden AI, Ezra D, Feuerstein G, Substance K: vascular and cardiac effects in rat and pig, Peptides, 6 Suppl 2, 149-53, 1985 Abstract

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Last Updated: 5/28/2003

COS Expertise ID #354352
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