Papadopoulou Lefkothea
Zivar Yousefipour, PhD
Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical and Environmental Health
  • College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
    Texas Southern University
    Phone: 713-313-1890/7156
    Email: Yousefipour_zx@tsu.edu

     

Education

Ph.D. Environmental Toxicology

Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas

2003

M.S., Biochemistry

University of Houston, Houston, Texas

1994

B.S., Biology

University of Houston, Houston, Texas

1991

 

Biography

I received my Bachelor of Science in Biology and Masters of Science in Biochemistry from University of Houston and finished my PhD in Environmental Toxicology from Texas Southern University in 2003. After graduation, I worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the Center for Cardiovascular Diseases at Texas Southern University.

In 2008, I started as a tenure track assistant professor in the department of Health Sciences, Environmental Health program and was promoted to associate professor position in 2012. I am actively involved with research with a primary area of research interest on cardiovascular diseases.

Research Interest

I have extensive research experience in cardiovascular diseases that includes studies focusing on mechanism of acute renal filature, role of sodium transporters in salt-induced hypertension, effect of environmental pollutants on cardiovascular system, and the aging process. I maintain a research laboratory in COPHS studying the mechanism of acrolein-induced toxicity of vascular system. In 2005, I was the recipient of Caroline Tum Sudan Professional Opportunity Award from American Physiological Society. I have been an active participant in TSU research week and have received 5 awards as the result of this participation. I have been mentoring several undergraduate and graduate students and sponsoring them for participation in national meetings including Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) and Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) which have resulted in internship opportunities for some of the students. I am currently working on a proposal for the establishment of a MS program in Environmental Health studies. I have authored or co-authored several scientific papers in prominent journals and have been a member of several professional organizations including American Heart Association, American Physiological Society, and Society of Toxicology.

Scientific Activities:

Awards:

2001

First place, Research day presentation, Texas Southern University

2002

Second place, Research day presentation, Texas Southern University

2005

Caroline Tum Sudan Professional opportunity Award. American Physiological Society

2008

First place, Research day presentation, Texas Southern University

2009

First place, Research day presentation, Texas Southern University

2010

First place, Research day presentation, Texas Southern University

2011

First place, Research day presentation, Texas Southern University

2012

Second place, Research day presentation, Texas Southern University

2008

MARC travel award

2009

MARC travel award

2010

MARC travel award

2011

MARC travel award

2012

MARC travel award

2015

TSU-ETox Distinguished Alumnus

 

Publications

Book Chapter
  1. Zivar Yousefipour and Mohammad A. Newaz (2009) Fatty Acid Metabolism and Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptors (PPARs). In Fatty Acids in Health Promotion and Disease Causation. Editor Ronald R. Watson. Chapter 17. Publisher American Oil Chemists Society
Reviewed Journals
  1. Ranganna K, Mathew O, Yousefipour Z, Newaz MA. Acrolein-induced Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells (VSMC) Cytotoxicity: Differential effects of N-Acetylcysteine and Ebselen. BJPR. 8(6): 1-17, 2015.
  2. Yousefipour Z, Newaz M. PPARα ligand clofibrate ameliorates blood pressure and vascular reactivity in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2014 Apr;35(4):476-82.
  3. Newaz M, Yousefipour Z. PPAR and NAD(P)H Oxidase system interaction in Glycerol-induced Acute renal failure: Role of gp91phox subunit of NAD(P)H Oxidase. Renal Failure. 2014, 36(4):567-74.
  4. Zivar Yousefipour, Chelsea Zhang, Mahdieh Monfareed, James Walker, Mohammad Newaz Acrolein-Induced Oxidative Stress In NAD(P)H Oxidase Subunit gp91phox Knock-Out Mice and its Modulation of NFκB and CD36 Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved 2013 24(4): 118-131.
  5. Newaz M, Yousefipour Z. Acrolein-induced inflammatory signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells requires activation of serum response factor (SRF) and NFκB. J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol. 2013 Nov 1;24(4):287-97.
  6. Newaz M, Yousefipour Z, Oyekan A. Natriuretic and renoprotective effect of chronic oral neutral endo peptidase (NEP) inhibition in acute renal failure. Renal Failure. 2010 32(3):384-90.
  7. Yousefipour Z, Oyekan A, Newaz M. Interaction of oxidative stress, nitric oxide and peroixsome proliferators activated receptor gamma in acute renal failure. Pharmacol Ther. 2010 125(3):436-445.
  8. Yousefipour Z, Oyekan A, Newaz M. Role of G Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase-2 in Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gama-Mediated Modulation of Blood Pressure and Renal Vascular Reactivity in SHR. Am J Nephrol. 2009 May 5;30(3):201-208.
  9. Yousefipour, Z., Huntz, H., Oyekan, A.O., Newaz, MA.  Antioxidant U74389G improves glycerol-induced acute renal failure without affecting PPARγ expression/activity in the rat. Renal Failure. 29(7): 903-910. 2007.
  10. Yousefipour, Z., Huntz, H., Oyekan, A.O., Newaz, MA.  Ciglitazone, a PPAR inducer, ameliorate renal pre-glomerular production and activity of angiotensin II and TxA2 in glycerol-induced renal failure. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 322(2):461-8. 2007.
  11. Ranganna, K., Mathew, O.P., Yatsu, F.M., Yousefipour, Z., Hayes, B.E., and Milton, S.G. (2007). Involvement of glutathione/glutathione-S-transferase antioxidant system in butyrate-inhibited vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation.  Federation of European Biochemical Societies Journal, 274:22, 5962-5978.
  12. Newaz MA, Yousefipour, Z, Oyekan A. Oxidative stress-associated vascular aging is xanthine oxidase-dependent but not NAD(P)H oxidase-dependent. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2006 Sep;48(3):88-94.
  13. Mohammad A. Newaz, Zivar Yousefipour, and Adebayo Oyekan. Role of PPAR-γ on the pathogenesis and vascular changes in glycerol-induced acute renal failure. Pharmacol Research. 2006; 54:234-240.
  14. Z. Yousefipour, K. Ranganna, M.A. Newaz, and S.G. Milton. Mechanism of Acrolein Induced Vascular Toxicity. J Physiol Pharmacol 2005; 56(3):337-53.
  15. Newaz MA, Yousefipour Z, Nawal NN. Modulation of nitric oxide synthase acitivity in brain, liver, and blood vessels of spontaneously hypertensive rats by ascorbic acid: protection from free radical injury. Clin Exp Hypertens. 2005; 27(6):497-508.
  16. Mohammad A. Newaz, Zivar Yousefipour, and Adebayo Oyekan. Chronic Endopeptidas Inhibition in DOCA-salt Hypertension: Mechanism of Cardiovascular Ptotection. Clinical and Experimental Hypertension 2003; vol. 25.(6): 335-347.
  17. Mohammad A. Newaz, Zivar Yousefipour, N Nawal, and N, Adeeb. Nitric Oxide Synthase Activity in Blood Vessels of Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats: Antioxidant Protection by Tocotrienol. Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology 2003; 54, 3, 319-327.
  18. Kasturi Ranganna, Zivar Yousefipour, Frank M. Yatsu, Shirlette G. Milton and Barbara E. Hayes. Gene Expression Profile of Butyrate-inhibited Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry 2003; 254: 21-36.
  19. Mohammad A. Newaz, Zivar Yousefipour, and Adebayo Oyekan. Effect of Pergolide on Blood Pressure and Tissue Injury in DOCA-salt Hypertension. Blood pressure 2002; 11; 110-115.
  20. Kasturi Ranganna, Zivar Yousefipour, Rami Nsaif, Frank M. Yatsu, Shirlette G. Milton and Barbara E. Hayes. Acrolein activates Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) Signal Transduction Pathways in Rat Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry 2002; 240; 83-98.
Abstracts:
  1. Modification of Histone Induced by Acrolein in Rat Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells. Zivar Yousefipour, Mahsa Esmaeili, Omana Philips, Kasturi Ranganna, Mohammad Newaz. ESH 2016, June 10-13, Paris, France.
  2. In vivo evaluation of butyrate, a histone Deacetylase Inhibitor effect on lipid profile of Apo E-/- Mice fed on atherogenic diet. Mariam Gray, Abdullah Alatawi, Reem Alshaman, Zivar Yousefipour, Omana Matthew, Shirlet Milton, Selvam Chelliah and Kasturi Ranganna. FASEB 2016, April 2 – 6, San Diego, CA.
  3. Mechanism of acrolein-induced vascular toxicity: involvment of serum response factor, early growth factor-1 and heme oxygenase-1. Zivar Yousefipour and Mohammad Newaz. ESH 2015, June 11-16, Milan, Italy.
  4. SRF Involvement in Egr-1-dependent Signaling in Acrolein-mediated Inflammatory Responses. Zivar Yousefipour and Mohammad Newaz. FASEB 2015, April, Boston, Massachusetts
  5. Role of NAD(P)H oxidase in Acrolein-induced Stress, International Conference on Environemntal Science and Technology 2014 June 9-13, Houston TX
  6. Clofibrate-Mediated Increase in Nitric Oxide (NO) Involves PPARα-Dependent and -Independent Signaling Process. Mohammad Newaz, Zivar Yousefipour and Adebayo A. Oyekan. June 11-16, Athens, Greece, Joint Meeting of the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) and International Society of Hypertension (ISH), 2014.
  7. Contribution of gp91phox subunit of NAD(P)H oxidase in Acrolein-induced oxidative stress in Knock-out mice and its effect on other oxidant systems. Zivar Yousefipour and Mohammad Newaz. May 1-3, Toronto, Canada. ATVB 2014
  8. Involvement of NAD(P)H Oxidase in Acrolein-Induced Oxidative Stress. Zivar Yousefipour and Mohammad Newaz. April FASEB 2014, San Diego, CA.
  9. PPAR gamma Modulates Acrolein-Induced Inflammatory Signaling in gp91phox Knock-Out Mice. Katarzyna Marek, Neha Chug, Zivar Yousefipour1, Mohammad Newaz. In FASEB 2013 Boston, MA. April 20-24.
  10. Acrolein-induced Oxidative Stress in NAD(P)H Oxidase Subunit gp91phox Knock-out Mice: Effects on Other Oxidant Systems and Total Antioxidant Status. M Monfareed; C Zhang; J Walker; Z Yousefipour; M Newaz. In 13th RCMI International Symposium on Health Disparities, Dec 10-13, 2013. San Juan, Puerto Rico
  11. G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR): modulation by PPAR gamma ligand GW 1929. Zivar Yousefipour and Mohammad Newaz. In 2012 ISH. Sep 30- Oct 4. Sydney, Australia.
  12. Role of serum Response Factor (SRF) and NFkB in Acrolein-induced Modulation of Inflammatory Gene Expression Profiling. Zivar Yousefipour and Mohammad Newaz. In FASEB 2012. San Diego, CA.  April 21–25.
  13. Functioning glomerular slit diaphragm (SD) is essential in maintaining normal kidney function. Mohammad A. Newaz, Adebayo Oyekan, Zivar Yousefipour. In 2011 High Blood Pressure Research Scientific Sessions. Sep 20-25. Orlando, FL.
  14. Involvement of Serum Response Factor (SRF) in Acrolein-mediated Activation of NFB in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells (VSMC). Zivar Yousefipour, Mohammad A. Newaz. In FASEB 2011, Washington, DC.
  15. Role of PKC/PKA signaling in PPARa-ligand-Mediated Increase in NO Production. Zivar Yousefipour, Mohammad A. Newaz. In 12th RCMI International Symosium on Health Disparities, Dec 6-9, Nashbille, Tennessee.
  16. PPARγ-mediated modulation of GRK-2 signaling is involved in the regulation of blood pressure in SHR. Zivar Yousefipour, Mohammad A. Newaz. In 2010 International Society of Hypertension, Sep 26-30, Vancouver, Canada.
  17. Raf kinase Inhibition and Blood Pressure Regulation. Zivar Yousefipour, Adebayo Oyekan and Mohammad Newaz. In 2009 63rd High Blood Pressure Research Conference, Sep 22-27, Chicago, IL.
  18. PPARg-Dependent Modulation of Gene Expression in SHR: Role of GRK-2 Signaling.
  19. Zivar Yousefipour, U. Ndidi, Adebayo Oyekan, and Mohammad Newaz. In 2009 FASEB Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana.
  20. Role of G-protein coupled receptor kinase-2 (GRK2) in the modulation of renal vascular response in SHR by PPAR. Zivar Yousefipour, Adebayo Oyekan, and Mohammad Newaz. In 2008 FASEB Meeting, San Francisco, California. 
  21. Lack of Contribution of Renal Epithelial Na+ Channel (ENaC) in Clofibrate-mediated Reduction in Blood Pressure in Female SHR. Zivar Yousefipour, Robyn Butler,  Mohammad Newaz and Adebayo Oyekan, In 2007 FASEB Meeting, Washington DC.
  22. Effect of siRNA to PPARα in the rat kidney. M.A. Newaz, Z. Yousefipour, Adebayo Oyekan. In 2006 FASEB Meeting, San Francisco, California
  23. Role of gp91phox in glycerol-induced acute renal failure. Z. Yousefipour, Adebayo Oyekan and M.A. Newaz. In 2006 FASEB Meeting, San Francisco, California.
  24. Oxidative Stress-Associated Vascular Aging is Xanthine Oxidase but not NAD(P)H Oxidase Dependent. Newaz MA, Yousefipour Z, Johnson R, Oyekan AO. 59th Annual Conference and Scientific Sessions of the Council for High Blood Pressure Research, Washington DC, September 21-24, 2005, Abstract #P79. Hypertension, 46 (4): P79, 2005.
  25. Antioxidant U74389G Reduce Free Radical Generation via Increased PPAR Gene Expression in Glycerol-Indued Acute Renal Failure Without Affecting NAD(P)H Oxidase. Z. Yousefipour, Hantz Hercule, Adebayo Oyekan and M.A. Newaz. In 2005 FASEB Meeting, San Diego, California.
  26. Reduced PPAR Gene Expression in Glycerol-Induced Acute Renal Failure. Mohammad Newaz, Zivar Yousefipour, Hantz Hercule, Adebayo Oyekan. In 2005 FASEB Meeting, San Diego, California.
  27. Butyrate-Induced Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell (VSMC) Growth Arrest Promotes Upregulation of Glutathione/Glutathione-S-Transferase Antioxidant System. K. Ranganna, Omana P. Mathew, Z. Yousefipour, Frank M. Yatsu, Shirlette G. Milton and B.E. Hayes. In 20th NIH-NCRR RCMI Program, April, 2005, Houston, TX.
  28. Antioxidant U74389G Improves Glycerol-Induced Renal Failure Without Affecting PPARExpression/Activity in the Rat. Zivar Yousefipour, Adebayo Oyekan, Mohammad A. Newaz. In 2004 FASEB Meeting, Washington, DC.
  29. PPAR Induction Improves Vascular Reactivity and Renal Function in Acute Renal Failure in the Rats. Mohammad A. Newaz, Zivar Yousefipour, Adebayo Oyekan. . In 2004 FASEB Meeting, Washington, DC.
  30. Activation of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (MAPHs) by Acrolein is Mediated by Redox-Sensitive Mechanism. K. Ranganna, Omana P. Mathew, Z. Yousefipour, M.A. Newaz, Frank M. Yatsu, Shirlette G. Milton, and B.E. Hayes. In 19th NIH-NCRR RCMI Program, Dec. 2004, Baltimore, MD.
  31. Role of Nitric Oxide in Acrolein-induced Vascular Responses. Z. Yousefipour, K. Ranganna, M.A. Newaz, B.E. Hayes, and S.G. Milton. In 2003 FASEB Meeting, April 2003, San Diego, California.
  32. Butyrate-Inhibited Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation Involves Differential Expression of Cell Proliferation- and Differentiation-Related Genes. K. Ranganna, Z. Yousefipour, Shirlette G. Milton, M.A. Newaz and B.E. Hayes. In 2002 Eight RCMI International Symposium on Health Disparities, December 2002, Hawaii.
  33. Vascular Effects of Acrolein in Rats. Z. Yousefipour, K. Ranganna, B.E. Hayes, A. Oyekan, and S.G. Milton. In 2002 FASEB Meeting, April 2002, New Orleans, Louisiana.
  34. Involvement of Glutathione-S-Transferase and Glutathione Peroxidase in Butyrate-Inhibited Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation (VSMC). Kasturi Ranganna, Z. Yousefipour, F.M. Yatsu, B.E. Hayes and S.G. Milton. In 2002 FASEB Meeting, April 2002, New Orleans, Louisiana.
  35. Acroelin Effects on Vascular Responsiveness. Shirlette G. Milton, Z. Yousefipour, K. Ranganna, M.A. Newaz and B.E. Hayes. In 2002 Eight RCMI International Symposium on Health Disparities, December 2002, Hawaii.
  36. Mechanism of Acrolein-induced Activation of Mitogen-Activated Protein kinases in Rat Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell s. Kasturi Ranganna, Z. Yousefipour, A. Newaz, F.M. Yatsu, S.G. Milton, B.E. Hayes. The 2002 RCMI symposium and workshop, April 2002, Jackson, Mississipi.
  37. Effect of Pergolide on Blood Pressure and Tissue Injury in DOCA-salt Hypertension. M.A Newaz, Z. Yousefipour, A. Oyaken. In 2002 FASEB Meeting, April 2002, New Orleans, Louisiana.
  38. Allylamine Effects Glucose Uptake in Rat Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells. S. G. Milton and Z. Yousefipour. In 1999 Meeting of the Society of Toxicology, March 1999, New Orleans, Louisiana.

 

Environmental and Toxicological Studies-flyer