Scholars

Meininger, Cynthia

Professor

Positions:

Professor, Medical Physiology, College of Medicine

UN Sustainable Development Goals:

Single Page Bio

Profile Summary

cjm@tamu.edu

1 254 742 7037

Co-author Network

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Co-investigator Network

UN Sustainable Development Goals:

overview

My research focuses primarily on the vascular complications of diabetes. Using animal models of human diabetes, we have demonstrated that an inability of endothelial cells to produce nitric oxide may be partly responsible for these vascular complications. We are developing a gene/drug therapy approach for treating cardiovascular disease associated with diabetes. Targeted nanoparticles will deliver either the gene for GTPCH or BH4 itself into endothelial cells oxidatively damaged by diabetes to correct endothelial GTPCH deficiency, increase tetrahydrobiopterin levels, restore nitric oxide production and reverse the vascular dysfunction seen in diabetes. Our endothelium-targeting nanoparticle approach will not only reverse the damage caused by disease but will increase antioxidant levels to protect the endothelial cells from future damage and/or dysfunction.

education and training

Texas A&M University - (College Station, Texas, United States), Postdoctoral Training 1989
Ph.D. in Cell Biology, Texas A&M University - (College Station, Texas, United States) 1987
B.A. in Cell Biology, University of South Florida - (Tampa, Florida, United States) 1980

selected publications

Academic Articles118

Elmetwally, M. A., Li, X., Johnson, G. A., Burghardt, R. C., Herring, C. M., Kramer, A. C., ... Wu, G. (2022). Dietary supplementation with l-arginine between days 14 and 25 of gestation enhances NO and polyamine syntheses and the expression of angiogenic proteins in porcine placentae. Amino Acids. 54(2), 193-204.
Wu, G., Meininger, C. J., McNeal, C. J., Bazer, F. W., & Rhoads, J. M. (2021). Role of L-Arginine in Nitric Oxide Synthesis and Health in Humans. Adv Exp Med Biol. 1332, 167-187.

SDG 3 SDG 12
Pal, S., Nath, S., Meininger, C. J., & Gashev, A. A. (2020). Emerging Roles of Mast Cells in the Regulation of Lymphatic Immuno-Physiology.. Front Immunol. 11, 1234.
Si, H., Wang, J., Meininger, C. J., Peng, X. u., Zawieja, D. C., & Zhang, S. L. (2020). Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ channels are responsible for histamine-induced Ca2+ entry, permeability increase, and interleukin synthesis in lymphatic endothelial cells.. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 318(5), H1283-H1295.
Pal, S., Gasheva, O. Y., Zawieja, D. C., Meininger, C. J., & Gashev, A. A. (2020). Histamine-mediated autocrine signaling in mesenteric perilymphatic mast cells.. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 318(3), R590-R604.

Books1

Wu, G., & Meininger, C. J. (2008). Analysis of citrulline, arginine, and methylarginines using high-performance liquid chromatography.. Elsevier.

Chapters3

Sarkar, T. R., McNeal, C. J., Meininger, C. J., Niu, Y., Mallick, B. K., Carroll, R. J., & Wu, G. (2021). Dietary Intakes of Amino Acids and Other Nutrients by Adult Humans. MATHEMATICAL MODELLING IN EXPERIMENTAL NUTRITION. Wu, G.. (Eds.), Amino Acids in Nutrition and Health. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. 211-227. Springer International Publishing.
Shi, W., Wu, G., Meininger, C., Flynn, N., & Haynes, T. (2005). Mechanisms for Dietary Regulation of Nitric Oxide Synthesis in Mammals. Oxidative Stress and Disease. 225-252. CRC Press.
Meininger, C. J., & Wu, G. (2002). Regulation of endothelial cell proliferation by nitric oxide.. MACROMOLECULAR CRYSTALLOGRAPHY, PT D. Methods in Enzymology. 280-295. Elsevier.