Date of Award
12-2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Biomedical Engineering and Sciences
First Advisor
Kenia Pedrosa Nunes
Second Advisor
Toby S. Daly-Engel
Third Advisor
Charles Polson
Fourth Advisor
Jianhui Li
Abstract
Vascular dysfunction is a key feature of hypertension and is associated with altered calcium (Ca2+) handling. Since cytosolic Ca2+ levels regulate vascular tone, maintaining their homeostasis is essential for vascular function. Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70) is a molecular chaperone that has emerged as an important regulator in vascular biology, supporting smooth muscle contraction by modulating Ca2+ dynamics. Interestingly, its biological effects differ depending on its cellular localization. HSP70 levels and function within the vasculature may also be altered by physiological factors, including sex and age, and have also been linked to pathological conditions such as diabetes. However, its role in hypertension-associated vascular dysfunction is unclear. Still, whether HSP70-mediated mechanisms are affected by sex as a biological variable remains unknown. Using complementary approaches, our findings demonstrate thatHSP70 contributes to abnormal vascular contractility by regulating Ca2+ dependent signaling in a sex dependent manner during hypertension. Collectively, these results provide a mechanistic understanding of HSP70's role in mediating vascular responses and identify it as a potential target for mitigating damage in blood vessels induced by hypertension.
Recommended Citation
Rastogi, Swasti, "HSP70 Mediates Vascular Dysfunction in Hypertension: Mechanistic Studies and Sex as Biological Variable" (2026). Theses and Dissertations. 1677.
https://repository.fit.edu/etd/1677