Weibiao Cao, M.D., MSc.

Assistant Professor of Medicine

Address:

Rhode Island Hospital
GI Motility Research Lab
593 Eddy Street, SWP-510
Providence, RI 02903
phone: 401-444-8308
fax: 401-444-5890
E-mail:Weibiao_Cao@Brown.edu

Research Interests:

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the large bowel. Inflammation in ulcerative colitis is histologically limited to the mucosa, and its effects have been better characterized in the superficial than in the deeper layers such as muscularis propria. Inflammation, however, may affect the muscle layer, leading to motor dysfunction, which contributes to key clinical symptoms, including diarrhea, constipation, and crampy abdominal pain.

We have found that neurokinin-A (NKA) is an important excitatory neurotransmitter in normal colonic motor function and that NKA-induced contraction of sigmoid smooth muscle is mediated by release of intracellular calcium. In ulcerative colitis, contraction in response to NKA and to electrical field stimulation is reduced, and release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores is decreased. H2O2 may contribute to the motor dysfunction and the decreased intracellular Ca2+ stores.

Our research is focused on identifying the mechanisms mediating contraction of the smooth muscle in human sigmoid colon, defining inflammation-induced changes in contractile signal transduction pathways, and testing the effect of selected inflammatory mediators, known to be present in ulcerative colitis mucosa, to determine their individual contribution to the observed changes in colonic motor function.

Selected Publications:

Cao W., Harnett K.M., Chen Q., Jain M.K., Behar J., and P. Biancani. Group I secreted PLA2 (sPLA2) and arachidonic acid metabolites in the maintenance of cat LES tone. Am J Physiology 1999; 277(3):G585-98

Cao W., Pricolo V., Zhang L.P., Behar, J. Biancani P., and M.T. Kirber. Gq-linked NK2 receptors mediate neurally induced contraction of human sigmoid circular smooth muscle. Gastroenterology 2000;119:51-61.

Cao W., Harnett K.M., Behar, J. and P. Biancani. Group I Secreted PLA2 in the Maintenance of Human Lower Esophageal Sphincter Tone. Gastroenterology 2000;119: 1243-1252.

Cao W., Chen Q., Sohn U.D., Kim N., Kirber M.T., Harnett K.M., Behar J., Biancani P. Calcium induced contraction of cat Esophageal circular smooth muscle Cells (ESO). Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2001; 280: C980-C992.

Sohn U.D., Cao W., Da-chun Tang, Stull J. T., Haeberle J. R., Wang C-L. A., Harnett K.M., Behar J. and P. Biancani. Myosin light chain kinase- and PKC-dependent contraction of LES and esophageal smooth muscle. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2001 Aug;281(2):G467-78.

Vrees M. D., Pricolo V. E., Potenti, F. M., and W. Cao. Abnormal Motility in Ulcerative Colitis: Role of Inflammatory Cytokines. Archives of Surgery. 2002;137(4):439-446.

Cao W., Harnett K.M., Behar, J. and P. Biancani. PGF2a- induced contraction of cat esophageal and lower esophageal sphincter circular smooth muscle. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2002; 283:G282-G291.

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