Research  |  Core Facilities  |  Patient Studies  |  Tech Transfer  |  Seminars  |  Intranet  |  Careers  |  Search  |  Contact Us  |  Ways To Give                          HOME

 
 

 

More about
Dr. Ramirez:

Dr. Ramirez's CV in
brief

Free Radical Biology and Aging Research Program

 

  

Dario C. Ramirez, Ph.D.
Assistant Member, Free Radical Biology and Aging Research Program

Research Interests
It is fascinating and necessary to understand how our environment can affect our health. Chronic inflammatory diseases (CID) produce a high cost, not only to our national economy but also to our wellbeing and life expectancy. The hallmark of most if not all CIDs (autoimmunity, neurodegeneration, cancer and metabolic diseases) and conditions, such as aging, is oxidative stress and inflammation. Reactive oxygen species (e.g., H2O2, •OH, O2•-, HOCl, peroxynitrite, etc.) can modify biomacromolecules (proteins, nucleic acids, sugars and lipids) producing biomolecule-centered free radicals. Free radicals are important in health and disease. But their instability makes them very difficult to detect and analyze in special in tissues and in cells. In healthy circumstances, free radicals can reversibly modify macromolecules to keep the cell metabolism active (redox modulation). But in disease, free radicals can damage macromolecules with consequent changes in their structure, function and cell compartmentalization (oxidative stress). Indeed, changes in the structure and function of biomacromolecules affect the normal control of the cell physiology.

Our research focuses on the study of biomacromolecule-centered free radicals (in vitro and in vivo) by “freezing” the redox process using spin trap compounds, thus making their identification possible. We have developed immuno-spin trapping, which is based in “freezing” of the free radical process with the nitrone spin trap DMPO. DMPO traps the radical site in the biomolecule forming a covalent linkage with the molecule where the radical was located. DMPO-macromolecule-centered radical adducts are stable to extraction/separation procedures, and they can be analyzed with the anti-DMPO antibody using immunochemical techniques, high performance liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry.

Using a combination of structural, molecular, genetic, biochemical, immunochemical and physiological approaches, our team addresses three fundamental questions:

  1. How do protein radicals participate, as primary messengers, during cell signaling induced during cell activation by environmental and metabolic stressors?

  2. How does inhalation of environmental stressors induce, precipitate or worsen chronic inflammatory diseases and aging?

  3. How can spin trap-based inhalation therapy be used to treat chronic inflammatory diseases?

Our research should be useful in elucidating the molecular mechanisms of CID, in finding new biomarkers and in establishing better diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for CID.

Joined OMRF Scientific Staff in 2008.

Mailing Address
Free Radical Biology and Aging Research Program, MS 21
Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
825 N.E. 13th Street
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104

Contact Information
Phone: (405) 271-7995
Fax: (405) 271-1437
E-mail: Dario-Ramirez@omrf.org