EDUCATION AND TRAINING

M.B., Ch.B., University of Cape Town, South Africa, Medicine (equivalent of M.D.)

M.Sc., University of London, Biochemistry

M.D. (thes), University of Cape Town, South Africa, Medicine (equivalent of Ph.D.)

Senior House Physician, Hammersmith Hospital, London; Senior House Officer, St. James' Hospital, London; Medical Registrar, Hammersmith Hospital, London

Fellowship, University of Washington, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Gerontology

OFFICE ADDRESS

University of Washington School of Medicine
1959 NE Pacific Street
UW Mailbox 356426
Seattle, WA 98195-6426


CURRENT RESEARCH INTERESTS

The focus of the laboratory is on investigation of the cell biology of atherosclerosis, with particular emphasis on the roles of atherogenic lipoproteins, diabetes mellitus, and inflammation.  The molecular determinants of lipoprotein retention by extracellular matrix molecules secreted by vascular smooth muscle cells and macrophages is being studied using cell culture techniques, animal models and specimens of human arteries.  An additional aspect of interest relates to how inflammatory signals alter adipocyte biology and lipoprotein composition and function, and how these changes might play a role in atherogenesis.

REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS

Lewis KE, Kirk EA, McDonald TO, Wang S, Wight TN, O'Brien KD, Chait A:  Increase in serum amyloid a evoked by dietary cholesterol is associated with increased atherosclerosis in mice.  Circulation 110:540-545, 2004.

Tannock LR, O'Brien KD, Knopp RH, Retzlaff B, Fish B, Wener MH, Kahn SE, Chait A:  Cholesterol feeding increases C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A levels in lean insulin-sensitive subjects.  Circulation 111:3058-3062, 2005.

Chait A, Han CY, Oram JF, Heinecke JW:  Thematic review series:  The immune system and atherogenesis.  Lipoprotein-associated inflammatory proteins:  markers or mediators of cardiovascular disease?  J Lipid Res 46:389-403, 2005.

O'Brien KD, Chait A:  Serum amyloid A: the "other" inflammatory protein.  Curr Atheroscler Rep 8:62-68, 2006.

Han CY, Chiba T, Campbell JS, Fausto N, Chaisson M, Orasanu G, Plutzky J, Chait A:  Reciprocal and coordinate regulation of serum amyloid A versus apolipoprotein A-I and paraoxonase-1 by inflammation in murine hepatocytes.  Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 26:1806-1813, 2006.

Chang MY, Han CY, Wight TN, Chait A:  Antioxidants inhibit the ability of lysophosphatidylcholine to regulate proteoglycan synthesis.  Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 26:494-500, 2006.

Tannock LR, Kirk EA, King VL, LeBoeuf R, Wight TN, Chait A:  Glucosamine supplementation accelerates early but not late atherosclerosis in LDL receptor-deficient mice.  J Nutr 136:2856-2861, 2006.

Chira EC, McMillen TS, Wang S, Haw A III, O'Brien KD, Wight TN, Chait A:  Tesaglitazar, a dual peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha/gamma agonist, reduces atherosclerosis in female low density lipoprotein receptor deficient mice.  Atherosclerosis 2007 Jan 8; [Epub ahead of print]

Chiba T, Shinozaki S, Nakazawa T, Kawakami A, Ai M, Kaneko E, Kitagawa M, Kondo K, Chait A, Shimokado K:  Leptin deficiency suppresses progression of atherosclerosis in apoE-deficient mice.  Atherosclerosis 2007 Mar 14; [Epub ahead of print]

Han CY, Subramanian S, Chan CK, Omer M, Chiba T, Wight TN, Chait A:  Adipocyte-derived serum amyloid A3 and hyaluronan play a role in monocyte recruitment and adhesion.  Diabetes 2007 Jun 11; [Epub ahead of print]