Art Yurdagul, Jr., Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
LSUHSC-Shreveport

Research Interests:   My research centers on the mechanisms underlying cardiovascular disease, with a primary focus on atherosclerosis progression and regression. A key area of interest is the dynamic behavior of vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs) and their role in plaque stability. During atherosclerosis, vSMCs undergo phenotypic changes that significantly impact the structural integrity of the fibrous cap. I investigate the molecular factors that govern these transitions, particularly those that promote vSMC-mediated repair during regression. One such factor identified in my work is the polyamine putrescine, which plays a critical role in regulating vSMC phenotype. This discovery offers a promising direction for developing targeted strategies to stabilize plaques and prevent adverse cardiovascular events.

Another major focus of my research is efferocytosis-the clearance of apoptotic cells by macrophages. While this process functions efficiently in early atherosclerosis, it becomes impaired as the disease advances. The resulting accumulation of dead cells contributes to necrotic core formation, a hallmark of unstable plaques prone to rupture. We aim to determine the mechanisms behind this failure and identify approaches to restore efferocytosis during regression, with the goal of reducing plaque vulnerability.

My approach integrates basic and translational science through the use of cell culture, mouse models of atherosclerosis, and biochemical techniques, along with access to a rich repository of human atherosclerotic plaques samples. This methodological framework enables the dissection of molecular and cellular pathways that contribute to disease progression and regression. By combining mechanistic studies with therapeutic exploration, our research seeks to generate insights that are both scientifically robust and clinically relevant.

NAVBO Activities:
Member (Membership Council) 2016–2018
Member (Online Programming Committee) 2021–2023
Organizer (Preconference Seminar, Vascular Biology 2019)
Poster Judging (Vascular Biology 2024); Speaker (Vascular Biology 2015)
Speaker (Vascular Biology 2018)
Speaker (Vascular Biology 2024)

Related Experience:

Chair-Elect (ATVB Communications Committee) 2024; Member (ATVB Communications Committee) 2022–Present; Editorial Board Member (ATVB) 2024–Present; Editorial Board Member (Vascular Pharmacology) 2024–Present; Early Career Editorial Board (ATVB) 2021–2023; Associate Editor (Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine – Atherosclerosis and Cardiovascular Medicine) 2021–Present; Ad hoc Member (NIH Study Sections: NHLBI and Small Business Cardiovascular/Hematological Sciences) 2022–2024; Board Member (Postdoctoral Fellow Advisory Committee, LSUHS) 2024–Present; Member (Basic Science Task Force, LSUHS) 2024–Present; Member (Institutional IPE Steering Committee, LSUHS) 2023–Present; Graduate Student Representative (SCC-SOT) 2012–2013