Fitz-Roy Curry, Ph.D.

Professor Emeritus
e-mail

Research Interests

To investigate the modulation of the permeability of small blood vessels we measure the permeability properties of the intact endothelial barrier in individual microvessels (15-40microns in diameter) in living tissue, using microperfusion techniques. Current projects involve investigation of the role of sphingosine -1-phosphate in the regulation of endothelial cell adhesion and contractile mechanisms, the transition from a normal anti-inflammatory to a more pro-inflammatory endothelial cell phenotype in microvessels after exposure to inflammatory conditions, and the role of atrial natriuretic peptide in anti-inflammatory mechanisms (Supported by N.I.H. HL-28607 1982-2015). We have also developed a combined biophysical, bio-engineering, ultrastructural and microperfusion approach to investigate the role of the endothelial glycocalyx as a barrier to water and macromolecule transport, and as a mechanotransducer in the maintenance of normal permeability and increases in small solute (nutrient) permeability. These studies link investigations of mechanisms which regulate vascular permeability at the cellular and molecular level with investigations of the functional properties of water and solute exchange in intact tissue and whole organs. We have active collaborations with investigators at the University of Bergen, Norway to develop new MR Imaging methods to measure vascular permeability in the tissue of transgenic mouse models of modified vascular permeability (e.g. in Epac KO mouse); with investigators at City College, New York to investigate the stability of the endothelial and with colleagues at UC Davis Biomedical Engineering to investigate macromolecule delivery in tumors, and wound healing using advanced multimodal imaging techniques (Micro PET and long wavelength fluorescence scanning).

Graduate Group Affiliations

Adamson R H1, Clark J F1, Radeva M1, Kheirolomoom A2, Ferrara K W2, Curry F E1,2Albumin modulates S1P delivery from red blood cells in perfused microvessels: mechanism of the protein effect” . Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2014 Apr 1;306(7):H1011-17.

John M Tarbell, Scott I Simon, Fitz-Roy E Curry+. “Mechanosensing at the vascular interfaceAnnu Rev Biomed Eng. 2014 Jul 11;16:505-32.

Ye Zeng1, Roger H. Adamson2, Fitz-Roy E. Curry2, and John M. Tarbell1. “Sphingosine-1- phosphate protects endothelial glycocalyx by inhibiting syndecan-1 shedding”. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2014 Feb;306(3):H363-72.

Rygh CB, Løkka G, Heljasvaara R, Taxt T, Pavlin T, Sormunen R, Pihlajaniemi T, Curry FR, Tenstad O, Reed RK. “Image based assessment of microvascular function and structure in Collagen XV and XVIII deficient mice”. J Physiol. 2014 Jan 15;592(Pt 2):325-36.

Adamson RH, Sarai RK, Altangerel A, Clark JF, Weinbaum S, Curry FE. “Microvascular permeability to water is independent of shear stress, but dependent on flow direction”. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2013 Apr 15;304(8):H1077-84 PMID: 23417864

Curry FE and Adamson RH. “Tonic Regulation of vascular permeability”. Acta Physiol (Oxf). 2013 Apr;207(4):628-49. Review.PMID: 23374222

Curry FE, Clark JF, Adamson RH “Erythrocyte-derived sphingosine-1-phosphate stabilizes basal hydraulic conductivity and solute permeability in rat microvessels”. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2012 Oct;303(7):H825-34..PMID: 22865384

Katherine D. Watson1,2, Chun-Yen Laia, Shengping Qin1, Dustin Kruse1, Yueh-Chen Lin4, Jai Woong Seo1, Robert D. Cardiff3, Lisa M. Mahakian1, Julie Beegle4, Elizabeth S. Ingham1, Fitz-Roy Curry5, and Rolf K. Reed6, Katherine W. Ferrara1*. ”Ultrasound increases nanoparticle delivery by reducing intratumoral pressure and increasing transport in epithelial and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) tumorsCancer Res. 2012 Mar 15;72(6):1485-93..PMID: 22282664

Yueh-Chen Lin, Roger H. Adamson, Joyce F. Clark, Rolf K. Reed, Fitz-Roy E. Curry. ”Phosphodiesterase 4 inhibition attenuates plasma volume loss and transvascular exchange in volume expanded miceJ Physiol. 2012 Jan 15;590(Pt 2):309-22

Taxt T, Jirík R, Rygh CB, Grüner R, Bartos M, Andersen E, Curry FR, Reed RK. “Single-channel blind estimation of arterial input function and tissue impulse response in DCE-MRI”. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 2012 Apr;59(4):1012-21.

Curry FE, Adamson RH. “Endothelial glycocalyx: permeability barrier and mechanosensor”. Ann Biomed Eng. 2012 Apr;40(4):828-39PMID: 22009311

Rygh CB, Qin S, Seo JW, Mahakian LM, Zhang H, Adamson RH, Chen JQ, Borowsky AD, Cardiff RD, Reed RK, Curry FR, Ferrara KW. “Longitudinal investigation of permeability and distribution of macromolecules in mouse malignant transformation using PET”. Clin Cancer Res 2011 Feb 1;17:550-559 .PMID: 21106723

Lin YC, Samardzic H, Adamson RH, Renkin EM, Clark JF, Reed RK, Curry FR. “Phosphodiesterase 4 inhibition attenuates atrial natriuretic peptide induced vascular hyperpermeability and loss of plasma volume”. J Physiol. 2011 Jan 15;589:341-353.

Kim MH, Curry FR, Simon SI. “Dynamics of neutrophil extravasation and vascular permeability are uncoupled during aseptic cutaneous wounding”. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2009 Apr;296:C848-856.

Michel CC and Curry FE. “Glycocalyx volume measurements: a critical review of tracer dilution methods for its measurement”. Micocirculation. 2009 Apr;16:213-219.

Curry,FR. “Permeability measurements in an individually perfused capillary: the 'squid axon' of the microcirculation (1974)”. Exp Physiol. 2008 Apr;93:444-6.

Adamson RH, Ly JC, Sarai RK, Lenz JF, Altangerel A, Drenckhahn D, Curry FR. “Epac/Rap1 pathway regulates microvascular hyperpermeability induced by PAF in rat mesentery”. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2008 Mar;294:H1188-96.

Zhang X, Adamson RH, Curry FE, Weinbaum S. “Transient regulation of transport by pericytes in venular microvessels via trapped microdomains”. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Jan 29;105:1374-9.

Stieger S.M., Caskey, C.F., Adamson, R.H., Qin, S., Curry, F.E., Wisner, E. and Ferrara, K.W. “Enhancement of Vascular permeability with low frequency ultrasound”. Radiology, 2007 243(1):112-21.

Adamson, R.H., Lenz, J.F., Zhang, X., Adamson, G.N., Weinbaum, S. and Curry, F.E.Oncotic pressures opposing filtration across non-fenestrated rat microvessels”. J Physiol. 2004 Jun 15;557(3): 889-907.

Waschke, J., Baumgartner, W., Adamson, R.H., Zeng, M., Aktories, K., Barth, H., Wilde, C., Curry, F.E., and Drenckhahn, D. “Requirement of Rac Activity for Maintenance of Capillary Endothelial Barrier Properties”. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, 2004 Jan;286: H394-H401.

Adamson RH, Zeng M, Adamson GN, Lenz JF, Curry FE. “PAF- and bradykinin-induced hyperpermeability of rat venules is independent of actin-myosin contraction”. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2003 Jul;285:H406-417.

Adamson, R.H., F.E. Curry, G. Adamson, B. Liu, Y. Jiang, K. Aktories, H. Barth, A. Daigeler, N. Golenhofen, W. Ness and D. Drenckhahn. “Rho and Rho kinase modulation of barrier properties: cultured endothelial cells and intact microvessels of rats and mice”. J. Physiol. 2002 Feb 15;537:295-308.

Michel, C.C. and F.E. Curry. “Microvascular Permeability”. Physiol. Rev. 1999 Jul;79:703-761.

  • MCP210, Advanced Physiology
  • HPH299, Research-Physiology
  • HPH400, Human Physiology
  • Distinguished Professor University of California, Davis
  • Hibbard E Williams MD Lifetime Achievement Award, School of Medicine, UC Davis
  • Established Investigator, American Heart Association
  • National Institute of Health, Merit Award
  • Landis Award of the Microcirculatory Society
  • University of California Davis, School of Medicine Faculty Research Award
  • National Heart Lung and Blood, Cardiovascular Renal Study Section
  • Editorial Board Member, Cardiovascular Research
  • Past Editorial Board Member, Circulation Research
  • Past Editorial Board Member, Microvascular Research
  • Past Editorial Board Member, American Journal of Physiology Heart and Circulation
  • Past President, Microcirculation Society
  • Past Chair-Cardiovascular Section, American Physiological Society