Pathobiology of Pregnancy
Liliya M. Yamaleyeva, MD, MS
Liliya M. Yamaleyeva, MD, MS
My primary research interests are in the endocrine mechanisms of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) particular the regulatory role of the renin-angiotensin system on inflammatory and angiogenic factors. Our lab has identified ACE2 as a novel factor positively influencing fetal growth via its regulatory actions on the balance between Ang II and Ang-(1-7) by using the ACE2KO model. The hypothesis of my studies is that ACE2 regulates essential events at early (decidualization, vascular permeability, and apoptosis) and mid- (angiogenesis, proliferation) pregnancy via its effects on inflammatory and angiogenic factors to establish adequate uteroplacental flow to support fetal weight gain. In addition, circulating and paracrine maternal and placental components leading to maternal weight restriction will be elucidated in this model. Major collaborators on this project are Dr. Bridget Brosnihan, PhD of the Hypertension and Vascular Research Center and Dr. Kai Chen, MD, PhD of the Perinatal Research group of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Wake Forest University.
Other collaborative projects:
1) The feasibility of using cell therapy for treatment of chronic degenerative diseases by utilizing specific human renal cells populations with therapeutic potential including cell fractions enriched in the erythropoietin- and progenitor cells. This work is a part of collaboration with James Yoo, PhD and Tamer Aboushwareb, MD of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine.
2) The influence of the renin-angiotensin system and steroid hormones in diabetic hypertensive rat. This project is in collaboration with Mark Chappell, PhD and Jasmina Varagic, MD, PhD of the Hypertension and Vascular Research Center.