Michael E. Widlansky, MD, MPH

Associate Professor, Medicine

Contact Information

Biography

Education

MD, University of Michigan, 1999

Research Interests

The vascular endothelium, once thought to be a thin layer of quiescent cells present only to allow smooth, laminar blood flow has discovered to be a central regulator of vascular homeostasis. Both traditional and novel cardiovascular risk factors have been shown to induce the endothelium to take on a phenotype characterized by inflammation, pro-thrombotic stimuli, and vasoconstriction. This state of endothelial “dysfunction” has been shown to precede the development of atherosclerosis and portend cardiovascular events in both those with and without clinically evident cardiovascular disease. Endothelium-derived nitric oxide (EDNO) has been shown to be a central paracrine hormone in the maintenance of normal endothelial function, and a central characteristic of endothelial dysfunction is a reduction in bioavailable EDNO. Measuring EDNO bioavailability in larger conduit vessels and in the microvasculature in vivo can be accomplished by multiple modalities, including high-resolution vascular ultrasound and venous plethysmography. We employ these methodologies to investigate the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the development of endothelial dysfunction in humans with a variety of disease states, including coronary artery disease and diabetes. Currently, we are investigating the role of disturbances in mitochondrial homeostasis in the modulation of vascular endothelial function in humans with Type II Diabetes. Many of our studies are small, clinical studies that apply different interventions to humans to assess their effects on vascular endothelial function, based on basic and animal work suggesting potential mechanisms for such a difference. Current protocols along this line include investigating the differential effects on vascular function of metformin and glipizide in Type II Diabetics. Our human vascular research laboratory has been formed to foster collaboration with investigators from other disciplines interested in the impact of vascular function on disease states relevant to their fields of interest. Current collaborative efforts include work with investigators from disciplines including Orthopedics, Dermatology, Geriatrics, Pediatric Endocrinology, and Pediatric Cardiology.

Mitochondrial regulation of diabetic vascular disease: an emerging opportunity.

(Widlansky ME, Hill RB.) Transl Res. 2018 12;202:83-98.
Lactobacillus plantarum 299v Supplementation Improves Vascular Endothelial Function and Reduces Inflammatory Biomarkers in Men With Stable Coronary Artery Disease.

(Malik M, Suboc TM, Tyagi S, Salzman N, Wang J, Ying R, Tanner MJ, Kakarla M, Baker JE, Widlansky ME.) Circ Res. 2018 Oct 12;123(9):1091-1102.
Tissue-specific effects of targeted mutation of Mir29b1 in rats.

(Xue H, Zhang G, Geurts AM, Usa K, Jensen DM, Liu Y, Widlansky ME, Liang M.) EBioMedicine. 2018 Sep;35:260-269.
Methods for imaging mammalian mitochondrial morphology: A prospective on MitoGraph.

(Harwig MC, Viana MP, Egner JM, Harwig JJ, Widlansky ME, Rafelski SM, Hill RB.) Anal Biochem. 2018 Jul 01;552:81-99.
Pattern Analysis of Sedentary Behavior Change after a Walking Intervention.

(Swartz AM, Cho CC, Welch WA, Widlansky ME, Maeda H, Strath SJ.) Am J Health Behav. 2018 May 01;42(3):90-101.
Routine Assessment and Promotion of Physical Activity in Healthcare Settings: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.

(Lobelo F, Rohm Young D, Sallis R, Garber MD, Billinger SA, Duperly J, Hutber A, Pate RR, Thomas RJ, Widlansky ME, McConnell MV, Joy EA, American Heart Association Physical Activity Committee of the Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health; Council on Epidemiology and Prevention; Council on Clinical Cardiology; Council on Genomic and Precision Medicine; Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia; and Stroke Council.) Circulation. 2018 May 01;137(18):e495-e522.
miR-29 contributes to normal endothelial function and can restore it in cardiometabolic disorders.

(Widlansky ME, Jensen DM, Wang J, Liu Y, Geurts AM, Kriegel AJ, Liu P, Ying R, Zhang G, Casati M, Chu C, Malik M, Branum A, Tanner MJ, Tyagi S, Usa K, Liang M.) EMBO Mol Med. 2018 03;10(3).
Patients with hypertensive responses to exercise or dobutamine stress testing differ in resting hypertensive phenotype.

(Kieu A, Shaikh A, Kaeppler M, Miles RJ, Widlansky ME.) J Am Soc Hypertens. 2018 02;12(2):108-116.
Impact of DPP-4 inhibition on acute and chronic endothelial function in humans with type 2 diabetes on background metformin therapy.

(Widlansky ME, Puppala VK, Suboc TM, Malik M, Branum A, Signorelli K, Wang J, Ying R, Tanner MJ, Tyagi S.) Vasc Med. 2017 06;22(3):189-196.
Redox Stress Defines the Small Artery Vasculopathy of Hypertension: How Do We Bridge the Bench-to-Bedside Gap?

(Touyz RM, Montezano AC, Rios F, Widlansky ME, Liang M.) Circ Res. 2017 May 26;120(11):1721-1723.
Effect of gender and adiposity on in vivo vascular function in young African Americans.

(Dass N, Kilakkathi S, Obi B, Moosreiner A, Krishnaswami S, Widlansky ME, Kidambi S.) J Am Soc Hypertens. 2017 May;11(5):246-257.
Dynamin-related protein 1 mediates low glucose-induced endothelial dysfunction in human arterioles.

(Tanner MJ, Wang J, Ying R, Suboc TB, Malik M, Couillard A, Branum A, Puppala V, Widlansky ME.) Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2017 Mar 01;312(3):H515-H527.

Michael E. Widlansky, MD, MPH