Buttrick & Walker Lab
The goal of research in our group is to elucidate the cellular mechanisms underlying heart disease. We have two major projects in the lab. The first, a collaborative project with Dr. Peter Buttrick, is focused on cardiomyocyte plasticity and the second focuses on the cardiovascular risks and benefits of cannabinoids.
Associate Professor
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
12700 E. 19th Ave B-139
Aurora, CO 80045
Phone: (303) 724-5420
Fax: (303) 724-5450
lori.walker@cuanschutz.edu
Chief, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine
S. Gilbert Blount Endowed Professor
Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
12700 E. 19th Ave B-139
Aurora, CO 80045
Phone: (303) 724-2089
peter.buttrick@cuanschutz.edu
Cardiomyocyte plasticity:
Cardiomyocytes are thought to be terminally differentiated and cardiac disease or injury, such as myocardial infarction, results in loss of cardiomyocytes and scar formation. However, we have recently demonstrated dedifferentiation of adult cardiomyocytes to a more neo-natal, proliferative phenotype and are focused on elucidating pathways involved in this cellular plasticity.
Cardiovascular effects of cannabis:
The goal of this project is to determine the cardiovascular effects of cannabis use. The beneficial effects of cannabis to treat numerous medical conditions are well documented. However, whether cannabis use is detrimental, benign or beneficial to the cardiovascular system is still relatively unknown, and a growing number of observational case reports have linked cannabis use to adverse cardiac outcomes including myocardial infarction and rhythm disturbances. However, there have been almost no well-controlled human or animal studies examining cannabis effects on the cardiovascular system and there is little known about how cannabis affects cardiac or vascular muscle. Accordingly, we have undertaken a translational study that examines the effects of cannabis at the level of isolated muscle, in the individual person and in the population. This project represents first translational study designed to comprehensively address the effects of cannabis on the cardiovascular system.
| Position | Name | Education | Interest |
| Faculty | Peter Buttrick | MD | |
| Faculty | Lori Walker | PhD | |
| Post Doctoral Fellow | Hadi Ali, PhD | B.A., English, B.A., Philosophy, Tufts University Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine Master of Acupuncture, Institute of Taoist Education and Acupuncture PhD, Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado | Proteomic regulation of cardiomyocyte fate |
| Research Assistant | Yanmei Du | Bachelor of Science |
Bruns DR, Tatman PD, Kalkur RS, Brown RD, Stenmark KR, Buttrick PM, Walker LA. The right ventricular fibroblast secretome drives cardiomyocyte dedifferentiation. PLoS One. 2019;14(8):e0220573. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220573. eCollection 2019. PMID: 31374110
Johnson-Sasso CP, Tompkins C, Kao DP, Walker LA. Marijuana use and short-term outcomes in patients hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction. PLoS One. 2018;13(7):e0199705. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199705. eCollection 2018. PMID: 29995914
Chi C, Leonard A, Knight WE, Beussman KM, Zhao Y, Cao Y, Londono P, Aune E, Trembley MA, Small EM, Jeong MY, Walker LA, Xu H, Sniadecki NJ, Taylor MR, Buttrick PM, Song K. LAMP-2B regulates human cardiomyocyte function by mediating autophagosome-lysosome fusion. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019;116(2):556-565. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1808618116. Epub 2018. PMID: 30584088
Bruns DR, Walker LA. Exercise and Pharmacology as Medicine for Cardiovascular Diseases: From Bench to Bedside and Back. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2018;46(1):2-3. doi: 10.1249/JES.0000000000000133. PubMed PMID: 28902725.
Scalzo RL, Knaub LA, Hull SE, Keller AC, Hunter K, Walker LA, Reusch JEB. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor antagonism impairs basal exercise capacity and vascular adaptation to aerobic exercise training in rats. Physiol Rep. 2018 Jul;6(13):e13754. doi: 10.14814/phy2.13754. PMID: 29984491
Bruns DR, Buttrick PM, Walker LA. Genetic ablation of interleukin-18 does not attenuate hypobaric hypoxia-induced right ventricular hypertrophy. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2016 Mar 15;310(6):L542-50. doi: 10.1152/ajplung.00166.2015. Epub 2016. PMID: 26747780
Zhao Y, Londono P, Cao Y, Sharpe EJ, Proenza C, O'Rourke R, Jones KL, Jeong MY, Walker LA, Buttrick PM, McKinsey TA, Song K. High-efficiency reprogramming of fibroblasts into cardiomyocytes requires suppression of pro-fibrotic signalling. Nat Commun. 2015. 10;6:8243. doi: 10.1038/ncomms9243. PMID: 26354680
Bruns DR, Brown RD, Stenmark KR, Buttrick PM, Walker LA. Mitochondrial integrity in a neonatal bovine model of right ventricular dysfunction. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2015;308(2):L158-67. doi: 10.1152/ajplung.00270.2014. Epub 2014. PMID: 25416385