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Wei Dong Gao, M.B., M.D., Ph.D., M.S.

Wei Dong Gao, M.B., M.D., Ph.D., M.S.

Headshot of Wei Dong Gao
  • Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine
Male

Languages: English, Chinese

Expertise

Anesthesiology

Research Interests

Oxidative Stress in Heart Failure; Cardiac Muscle Physiology; Excitation-contraction Coupling in Ischemia/reperfusion and Heart Failure ...read more

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Main Phone

410-955-7519

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410-464-6641
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+1-410-502-7683
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Locations

The Johns Hopkins Hospital (Main Entrance)

Appointment Phone: 410-955-7519
1800 Orleans St.
Sheikh Zayed Tower
Baltimore, MD 21287 map
Fax: 410-955-0994

Background

Dr. Wei Dong Gao is an associate professor of anesthesiology and critical care medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His areas of clinical expertise include anesthesiology.

Dr. Gao earned his M.D. from Harbin Medical University in China and his Ph.D. from the University of Calgary. He completed post-doctoral training at Johns Hopkins. He performed his residencies at University Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a fellowship in cardiac anesthesia at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Gao joined the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine at Johns Hopkins in 2002.

Prior to joining Johns Hopkins, Dr. Gao was a research assistant in the Department of Medicine and Medical Physiology at the University of Calgary. He was a research associate in the molecular and cellular cardiology section in the Department of Medicine at Johns Hopkins from 1995 to 1997.

His research interests include myofilament desensitization in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, oxidative stress in heart failure, excitation-contraction coupling in ischemia/reperfusion and heart failure, anethesthetics and cardiac contraction, and cardiac muscle physiology.

Dr. Gao’s work was recognized by Johns Hopkins with a Clinician Scientist Award from 2002 to 2004. He is a member of several professional organizations, including the Association of University Anesthesiologists, American Heart Association, American Physiological Society, Society of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiologists, and the American Society of Anesthesiology. He serves on the Research Committee of Society of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiologists and is an Associate Editor of Anesthesia & Analgesia.

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Titles

  • Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine

Departments / Divisions

Education

Degrees

  • MD; Harbin Medical University (1982)

Residencies

  • University of Cincinnati Medical Center (2001)

Fellowships

  • Cardiac Anesthesiology; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2002)

Board Certifications

  • American Board of Anesthesiology (Anesthesiology) (2004)

Research & Publications

Research Summary

The main goal of Dr. Gao’s research is to define the molecular and cellular mechanisms of contractile dysfunction in the failing heart. To work toward this goal, he uses a variety of state-of-the-art techniques. Using the fluorescent dye fura-2 salt, he measures the intracellular free calcium concentration in multicellular cardiac tissue preparations called trabeculae. In the same preparations, he measures sarcomere length (using a laser diffraction technique) and force development simultaneously. In addition, he uses molecular biology and proteomic techniques to investigate the changes that myofilament proteins undergo during heart failure and under drug therapy. Dr. Gao’s current focus is determining the molecular nature of nitroxyl (HNO) modification of tropomyosin. He is also planning to study the physiology and biochemistry of atrial tissue and muscle during atrial fibrillation or atrial failure and the effect of atrial dysfunction on the development and progress of heart failure. In the future, he hopes to characterize endo-myocardio-coupling in the failing heart. He would like to investigate the role of endothelial endocardium, the role of coronary endocardium and the effects of agents released from endothelial cells.

Selected Publications

A. Selected Peer-reviewed articles

  1. Backx, P.H., Gao, W.D., Azan-Backx, M.D., Marban, E. Mechanism of force inhibition by 2,3-butanedione monoxiime in rat cardiac muscle: role of intracellular calcium and cross-bridge Kinetics. J Physiol. 476:487-500, 1994).
  2. Gao, W.D., Backx, P.H., Azan-Backx, M.D., Marban, E. Myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity in intact versus skinned rat ventricular muscle. Circ Res. 74;408-415, 1994.
  3. Backx, P.H., Gao, W.D., Azan-Backx, M.D., Marban, E. The relationship between contractile force and intracellular [Ca2+]i in intact rat cardiac trabeculae. J Gen Physiol. 105:1-19, 1995.
  4. Gao, W.D., Atar, A., Backx, P.H., Marban, E. Relationship between intracellular calcium and contractile force in stunned myocardium: Direct evidence for decreases myofilament Ca2+ responsiveness and altered diastolic function in intact ventricular muscle. Circ Res. 76:1036-1048, 1995
  5. Gao, W.D., Liu, Y., Mellgren, R., Marban, E. Intrinsic myofilaments alterations underlying the decreased contractility of stunned myocardium: A consequence of calcium-dependent proteolysis? Circ Res. 78:455-465, 1996.
  6. Liu, Y., Gao, W.D., O''Rourke, B., Marban, E. Synergistic potentiation of ATP-sensitive potassium currents by protein kinase C and adenosine: Implications for ischemic preconditioning. Circ Res. 78:443-454, 1996.
  7. Gao, W.D., Liu, Y., Marban, E. Selective effects of oxygen free radicals on excitation-contraction coupling in ventricular muscle: Implications for the mechanism of stunned myocardium. Circulation 94:2597-2604, 1996.
  8. Gao, W.D., Atar, D., Liu, Y., Perez, N.G., Murphy, A.M., Marban, E. Role of troponin I proteolysis in the pathogenesis of myocardial stunning. Circ Res. 80:393-399, 1997.
  9. Gao, W.D., Perez, N.G., Marban,E. Calcium cycling and contractile activation in intact mouse cardiac muscle. J Physiol. 507:175-184, 1998.
  10. Perez, N.G., Gao, W.D., Marban, E. Novel myofilament calcium-sensitizing property of xanthine oxidase inhibitors. Circ Res. 83:423-430, 1998.
  11. Gao, W.D., Perez, N.P., Seidman, C., Seidman, J., Marban, E. Altered cardiac excitation-contraction coupling in cardiac muscle from mutant mice with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. J Clin Invest. 103:661-666, 1999.
  12. Stull, L.B., Leppo, M.K., Szweda, L., Gao, W.D., Marban, E. Chronic treatment with allopurinol boosts survival and cardiac contractility in murine postischemic cardiomyopathy. Circ Res. 95:1005-1011, 2004.
  13. Gao, W.D., Dai, T., Nyhan, D. Increased cross-bridge cycling rate in stunned myocardium. Am J Physiol. 290:H886-H893, 2006. 
  14. Dai, T., Ramirez-Correa, G., Gao, W.D. Apelin increases contractility in failing cardiac muscle. Eur J Pharma. 553:222-228, 2006)
  15. Bilchick, K., Duncan, J.G., Ravi, R., Takimoto, E., Champion, H.C., Gao, W.D., Stull, L.S., Kass, D.A., Murphy, A.M. Heart failure-associated alterations in troponin I phosphorylation impair left ventricular relaxation response to afterload, force-frequency response and systolic function. Am J Physiol. 292:H318-325, 2007.
  16. Tocchetti, C.G., Wang, W., Froehlich, J.P., Valdivia, H.H., Pavlos, C.M., Aon, M., Wilson, G.M., di Benedetto, G., O Rourke, B., Miranda, K.M., Mancardi, D., Wink, D.A., Zaccolo, M., Toscano, J.P., Cheng, H., Gao, W.D., Kass, D.A., Paolocci, N. Nitroxyl (HNO) enhances sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ cycling to increase cardiac contractility and relaxation Circ Res 100:96-104, 2007.
  17. Dai, T., Tian, Y., Tocchetti, C.G., Katori, T.A., Kass, D.A., Paolocci, N., Gao, W.D. Nitroxyl anion (HNO/NO-) increases myofilament Ca2+ responsiveness in rat cardiac muscle. J Physiol. 580:951-960, 2007. (accompanying perspective by RJ Solaro: 580:697)
  18. Gao WD, Muphy AM. “Local control in thin filament activation of cardiac muscle.” J Physiol 580(Pt. 2):358, 2007.
  19. Jin, W., Z. Zhao, G.A. Ramirez-Correa, X. Zhong, W.D.Gao, G.W. Hart, A.M. Murphy. O-linked GlcNac Modification of Cardiac Myocardial Contractile Function. Circ Res. 103(12):1354-8, 2008
  20. Tan Z, Dai T, Zhong X, Tian Y, Leppo MK, Gao WD. “Preservation of cardiac contractility after long-term therapy with oxypurinol in post-ischemic heart failure in mice.” Eur J Pharmacol 621:71–7, 2009.
  21. Kohr MJ, Kaludercic N, Tocchetti CG, Gao WD, Kass DA, Janssen PML, Paolocci N, Ziolo MT. “Nitroxyl enhances myocyte Ca2+ transients by exclusively targeting Ca2+-cycling.” Front Biosci (Elite Ed) 2:614–26, 2010.
  22. Ramirez-Correa GA, Cortassa S, Stanley B, Gao WD, Murphy AM. “Calcium sensitivity, force frequency relationship and cardiac troponin I: Critical role of PKA and PKC phosphorylation sites.” J Mol Cell Cardiol 48:943–53, 2010.
  23. Tocchetti CG, Stanley BA, Murray CI, Sivakumaran V, Donzelli S, Mancardi D, Pagliaro P, Gao WD, van Eyk J, Kass DA, Wink DA, Paolocci N. “Playing with cardiac ‘redox switches’: the ‘HNO way’ to modulate cardiac function.” Antioxid Redox Signal. 2011 May 1;14(9):1687-98. doi: 10.1089/ars.2010.3859. Epub 2011 Mar 3. Review.
  24. Ding W, Li Z, Shen X, Martin J, King SB, Sivakumaran V, Paolocci N, Gao WD. “Reversal of isoflurane-induced depression of myocardial contraction by nitroxyl via myofilament sensitization to Ca2+.” J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2011 Dec;339(3):825-31. doi: 10.1124/jpet.111.185272. Epub 2011 Aug 24.
  25. Sheinberg R, Gao WD, Wand G, Abraham S, Schulick R, Roy R, Mitter N. “Case 1-2012 a perfect storm: fatality resulting from metoclopramide unmasking a pheochromocytoma and its management.” J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 26(1):161–5, 2012.
  26. Gao WD, Murray CI, Tian Y, Zhong X, DuMond JF, Shen X, Stanley BA, Foster DB, Wink DA, King SB, Van Eyk JE, Paolocci N. “Nitroxyl-mediated disulfide bond formation between cardiac myofilament cysteines enhances contractile function.” Circ Res 111(8):1002–11, 2012.
  27. Shen X, Tan Z, Zhong X, Tian Y, Wang X, Yu B, Ramirez-Correa G, Murphy A, Gabrielson K, Paolocci N, Gao WD. “Endocardial endothelium is a key determinant of force-frequency relationship in rat ventricular myocardium.” J Appl Physiol (1985). 2013 Aug 1;115(3):383-93. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.01415.2012. Epub 2013 May 23.


B. Selected book chapters and reviews

  1. Marban, E., Gao, W.D. Stunned myocardium: a disease of the myofilaments? Basic Res Cardiol. 90:269-272, 1995.
  2. Liu, Y., Gao, W.D., ORourke, B., Marban, E. Protein kinase C and adenosine synergistically activate ATP-sensitive potassium currents: Implications for ischemic preconditioning. In Adenosine, cardioprotection and clinical application. Eds: R.M. Mentzer, Jr, M. Kitakaze, J.M. Downey, M. Hori. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston, pp153-166,1997.
  3. Gao, W.D., Marban, E. Myocardial stunning and preconditioning: clinical implications. In Perioperative Care of Cardiopulmonary Comprised Patients. Eds L Flesher and DS Prough, 13(2):pp172-180, 2001.
  4. Gao, W.D., Murphy, A. Local Control in Thin Filament Activation of Cardiac Muscle. (Perspective) J Physiol. 580:358, 2007.

Activities & Honors

Honors

  • Clinician-Scientist Award, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 2002 - 2004
  • International Research Fellowship, American Heart Association, 1992 - 1994
  • William H. Davis Scholarship for Medical Research, University of Calgary, 1987 - 1989
  • Triple-Excellency Student Award, Harbin Medical University, 1982

Memberships

  • American Society of Anesthesiology, 1997
  • Association of University Anesthesiologists (AUA), 2010
  • Maryland Society of Anesthesiologists, 1997

Professional Activities

  • Peer reviewer, Cardiovascular Research, 1993
  • Peer reviewer, Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, 1994
  • Peer reviewer, Circulation, 1994
  • Peer reviewer, Circulation Research, 1994
  • Peer reviewer, American Journal of Physiology (Heart & Circulation), 2003
  • Peer reviewer, Anesthesia & Analgesia, 2006
  • Peer reviewer, Journal of Applied Physiology, 2006
  • Peer reviewer, Journal of European Pharmacology, 2006
  • Peer reviewer, The Journal of Physiology, 2006
  • Peer reviewer, Regulatory Peptides, 2006
  • Peer reviewer, Anesthesiology, 1995 - 2002

Videos & Media

Lectures and Presentations

  • Heart Failure: Mechanisms, Augmenting Contractility and Anesthesia Considerations
    http://webcast.jhu.edu/Mediasite/Play/0cc104bff44d413783c45fd36b9041521d (09/08/2011)
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