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College of Medicine: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Sung W. Rhee, Ph.D.

Rhee

Professor
Phone: 501-686-5467
Fax: 501-686-5510
Email: rheesung@uams.edu

Education

University of Washington, 2003

Research Interests

Calcium and potassium channels on the surface membrane of vascular muscle cells control calcium influx and potassium efflux, respectively, and thereby regulate arterial diameters. My research interests are 1) using ion channel genes as therapeutic agents to normalize blood pressure, and 2) understanding molecular mechanisms that regulate traffic and expression of ion channels in vascular muscle cells during hypertension and related conditions. We use a wide range of techniques including molecular biology, biochemistry, viral gene transduction, patch clamp, vessel perfusion, confocal and super-resolution imaging, and in vivo microscopy.

Meet Dr. Rhee’s Research Team

Recent Research Support

Ongoing Research

  • American Heart Association 19TPA34880019 (PI)  (07/01/19 – 06/30/22)
    “Impaired Cerebral Collateral Dilation in Hypertension: Implications for Stroke Damage and Antihypertensive Therapy”
  • NIH R01 HL146713 (Co-I) (04/01/19 – 03/31/24)
    “T Cell Homing to the Kidney Contributes to Salt Retention and Blood Pressure Regulation”

Completed Research

  • American Heart Association 17GRNT33670970 (PI)  (07/01/17 – 06/30/19)
    “Beta Adrenergic Receptor-Mediated Vasodilation of Cerebral Collateral Arteries”
  • NIH R01 HL097107-01A1  (PI)   (03/15/10 – 02/28/16)
    “PSD95 Scaffolding of Vascular K+ Channels in Hypertension”
  • American Heart Association 13PRE17070035  (Sponsor)   (07/01/13 – 06/30/15)
    “Role of PSD95 Scaffolding in Cerebral Vasodilation: Implications for Stroke in Beta-blocker Therapy”
  • NIH/NHLBI R01 HL093526    (Co-I)    (05/05/09 – 04/30/13)
    “Long-term Antihypertensive Therapy by Delivery of the BK channel Gene to VSMCs”
  • NIH/NHLBI Ro1HL095846    (Co-I)    (12/01/09 – 04/30/13)
    “MicroRNA to Decrease Vascular Cav1.2 in Hypertension”
  • NIH R01 HL 64806-07A1  (Co-I)   (01/01/09 – 12/31/12)
    “Vascular Calcium Channel Expression in Hypertension”
  • American Heart Association SDG 0830060N (PI)  (01/01/08 – 12/31/11)
    “AAV-Mediated Transduction of BK Channel Gene in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells as Long-Lasting Antihypertensive Strategy”
  • NIH R01 NS058503    (Co-I)    (07/01/09 – 06/30/11)
    “Canonical Transient Receptor Potential Channels and Excitotoxicity”

Publications

  • Moore CL, Henry DS, McClenahan SJ, Ball KK, Rusch NJ, Rhee SW. Metoprolol impairs β1 adrenoreceptor-mediated vasodilation in rat cerebral arteries: implications for beta-blocker therapy. JPET, 376(1):127-135, 2021. PMID: 33100271
  • Henry DS, Wessinger WD, Meena NK, Payakachat N, Gardner JM, Rhee SW. Using a Facebook group to facilitate faculty-student interactions during preclinical medical education: a retrospective survey analysis. BMC Med Ed. 20(1):87, 2020. PMID: 32209076
  • Stolarz AJ, Sarimollaoglu M, Marecki JC, Fletcher TW, Galanzha EI, Rhee SW, Zharov VP, Klimberg VS, Rusch NJ. Doxorubicin activates ryanodine receptors in rat lymphatic muscle cells to attenuate rhythmic contractions and lymph flow. JPET. 371(2):278-289, 2019. PMID: 31439806
  • Liu Y, Rafferty TM, Rhee SW, Webber JS, Song L, Ko B, Hoover RS, He B, Mu S. CD8+ T cells stimulate Na-Cl co-transporter NCC in distal convoluted tubules leading to salt-sensitive hypertension. Nat Commun. 9;8:14037, 2017. PMID: 28067240
  • Detweiler ND, Song L, McClenahan SJ, Versluis RJ, Kharade SV, Kurten RC, Rhee SW, Rusch NJ. BK channels in rat and human pulmonary smooth muscle cells are BKα-β1 functional complexes lacking the oxygen-sensitive stress axis regulated exon insert. Pulm Circ. (4):563-575, 2016. PMID: 28090300
  • Stimers JR, Song L, Rusch NJ, Rhee SW. Overexpression of the Large-Conductance, Ca2+-Activated K+ (BK) Channel Shortens Action Potential Duration in HL-1 Cardiomyocytes. Plus One. 10(6):e0130588, 2015. PMID: 26091273
  • Moore CL, McClenahan SJ, Hanvey HM, Jang DS, Nelson PL, Joseph BK, Rhee SW. Beta1-adrenergic receptor-mediated dilation of rat cerebral artery requires Shaker-type KV1 channels on PSD95 scaffold. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 35:1537-46, 2015. PMID:25966954
  • Moore CL, Nelson PL, Parelkar NK, Rusch NJ, Rhee SW. PKA-phosphorlyated KV1 channels in PSD95 signaling complex contribute to the resting membrane potential and diameter of cerebral arteries. Circ Res. 114: 1258-67, 2014. PMID: 24585759

View Dr. Rhee’s Publication List