George W. Booz , Ph.D., F.A.H.A.
Associate Professor
GBooz@pharmacology.umsmed.edu
N435
(601) 984-4401
Research Interests
Cardiac Hypertrophy and Remodeling, Heart Failure,
Stem Cell-Based Cardiac Repair
Current Research
One area of research is focused on understanding the regulation of cytokine inflammatory signaling in the heart and the role of that signaling in cardiac remodeling, specifically left ventricular hypertrophy and heart failure. Two specific questions that the laboratory is currently addressing are whether the intensity and duration of IL-6-type cytokine signaling in cardiac muscle determines the character of the genetic response, and whether there is a difference in its regulation between cardiac muscle and cardiac blood vessels (endothelial cells).
My laboratory is also investigating ways to improve the therapeutic utility of hematopoietic stem cells for repairing the injured heart. Stem cell therapy represents an important advance in the prevention and treatment of heart failure due to ischemic heart disease or myocardial infarction. However, hematopoietic stem cell therapy is severely hampered by the poor survivability of these cells in the injured heart, which represents a hostile environment. We are interested in re-engineering hematopoietic stem cells to improve their survivability when placed in the damaged heart.
Selected Publications
Research Articles:
Kurdi M, Booz GW. JAK Redux - A Second Look at the Regulation and Role of JAKs in the Heart. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2009 Aug 28. [Epub ahead of print]
Kurdi M, Booz GW, "Evidence that IL-6-Type Cytokine Signaling in Cardiomyocytes is Inhibited by Oxidative Stress: Parthenolide Targets JAK1 Activation by Generating ROS". J. Cell. Physiol. 212: 424-431, 2007. 
Kurdi M, Booz GW, "Jak1 inhibition, but not STAT1 knockdown, blocks the synergistic IFNγ- and Fas-Induced apoptosis of human non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells". J. Interferon Cytokine Res. 27: 16-24, 2007.
Kurdi M, Bowers MC, Dado J, Booz GW. Parthenolide induces a distinct pattern of oxidative stress in cardiac myocytes. Free Radic Biol Med. 42: 474-481, 2007.
Review Articles:
Kurdi M, Booz GW, "Can the protective actions of JAK-STAT in the heart be exploited therapeutically? Parsing the regulation of IL-6-type cytokine signaling" J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol. 50: 126-141, 2007.
Booz GW, "PARP Inhibitors and Heart Failure: Translational medicine caught in the act" Congest. Heart Fail. 13:105-12, 2007. 
Kurdi M, Booz GW, "G-CSF-Based Stem Cell Therapy for the Heart – Unresolved Issues". Part A: Paracrine Actions, Mobilization, Delivery. Congest. Heart Fail. 13: 221-227, 2007.
Kurdi M, Booz GW, G-CSF-Based Stem Cell Therapy – Unresolved Issues. Part B. Congest. Heart Fail. 13: 347-51, 2007.