Department of Internal Medicine
Nephrology Faculty
Medical School:
University of Southern California
Residency:
University of Colorado
Fellowship:
University of Colorado
Bradley S. Dixon, M.D.
Associate Professor
Research under Dr. Dixon's direction involves understanding the cellular mechanisms regulating vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and the application of this research to controlling the myointimal hyperplasia that leads to hemodialysis vascular access failure. His lab focuses upon understanding the signal transduction pathways controlling the cell cycle in vascular smooth muscle cells. In particular, the lab is examining the cellular mechanisms whereby bradykinin, a vasoactive and natriuretic peptide involved in vascular inflammation inhibits vascular smooth muscle proliferation. This work has important implications for understanding the mechanism of action of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors.
Our clinical research program is focused on translation of basic research on vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation into novel approaches to deal with hemodialysis vascular access failure. The lab has established a database and monitoring program to detect and manage vascular access stenosis problems and we are embarking on clinical trials of pharmacological therapy to prevent this problem. Recent research from this group has reported on the improved survival and lower rate of complications of upper arm native fistulas compared to grafts. Further work is being done to document long-term safety of this type of access.
A research fellow in Dr. Dixon's group can choose between basic and clinical research. In the laboratory a fellow would be exposed to a broad range of techniques in cellular and molecular biology. The lab work focuses primarily on cultured vascular smooth muscle cells but some work also involves animal models of vascular injury. A clinical research fellow would learn how to perform research in human subjects and to use statistical and epidemiological techniques in addressing these questions.
Honors, Awards, and Organizations
- American Association for the Advancement of Science
- American Society for Nephrology
- American Heart Association
- American Society for Cell Biology
Recent Publications
- Dixon, B.S., and Dennis, M.: Regulation of Mitogenesis by Kinins in Arterial Smooth Muscle Cells. Am. J. Physiol. 273(Cell Physiol. 42):C7-C20, 1997.
- Dixon, B.S. and Dennis, M.: Interaction of Kinins and Captopril in Regulating Arterial Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation. Kidney International 52(Suppl. 61):S14-S17, 1997.
- Kopp, U.C., Cicha, M.A., Farley, D.M., Smith, L.A., and Dixon, B.S.: Renal Substance P Containing Neurons and Substance P Receptors Impaired in Hypertension. Hypertension 31:815-822, 1998.
- Dixon, B.S., Novak, L.M., Fangman, J.M., Flanigan, M.J., Lawton, W.J., and Wu, Y.M.: Achieving DOQI Guidelines: The Upper Arm Native Arteriovenous Fistula (UAF). American Society of Nephrology, Poster Presentation, 1999.
- Dixon, B.S., Evanoff, D., Fang, W., and Dennis, M.J.: Cell Cycle Effects of the Bradykinin B1 Receptor (B1R) in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells (VSMC): Increased p27Kip1 and Decreased Cyclin D Expression. Submitted for 33rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Nephrology, 2000.
Links of Interest