About

Dennis M Abraham is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine at Duke University. His professional contact email is dennis.abraham@duke.edu. The department is part of Duke University and Duke University Health System, located in Durham, North Carolina. Specific details about his research focus, background, or key contributions are not provided on the page.

Research topics

• Cell biology
• Biology
• Biochemistry
• Internal medicine
• Medicine
• Pharmacology
• Endocrinology
• Pathology
• Neuroscience

Selected publications

• Fibroblast growth factor 23 and fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 promote cardiac metabolic remodeling in chronic kidney disease

  Kidney International · 2025-02-07 · 29 citations

  articleOpen access

  Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health epidemic that greatly increases mortality due to cardiovascular disease. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an important mechanism of cardiac injury in CKD. High serum levels of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 23 in patients with CKD may contribute mechanistically to the pathogenesis of LVH by activating FGF receptor (FGFR) 4 signaling in cardiac myocytes. Mitochondrial dysfunction and cardiac metabolic remodeling are early features of cardiac injury that predate development of hypertrophy, but these mechanisms have been insufficiently studied in models of CKD. We found in wild-type mice with CKD induced by adenine diet, that morphological changes occurred in mitochondrial structure and cardiac mitochondrial and that metabolic dysfunction preceded the development of LVH. In bioengineered cardio-bundles and neonatal rat ventricular myocytes grown in vitro, FGF23-mediated activation of FGFR4 caused mitochondrial pathology, characterized by increased bioenergetic stress and increased glycolysis that preceded the development of cellular hypertrophy. The cardiac metabolic changes and associated mitochondrial alterations in mice with CKD were prevented by global and cardiac-specific deletion of FGFR4. Our findings indicate that metabolic remodeling and mitochondrial dysfunction are early cardiac complications of CKD that precede structural remodeling of the heart. Mechanistically, FGF23-mediated activation of FGFR4 causes mitochondrial dysfunction, suggesting that early pharmacologic inhibition of FGFR4 might serve as novel therapeutic intervention to prevent development of LVH and heart failure in patients with CKD.

  PublisherDOI

• USP20 deletion promotes eccentric cardiac remodeling in response to pressure overload and increases mortality

  American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology · 2024-10-04 · 4 citations

  articleOpen access

  We identify ubiquitin-specific peptidase 20 (USP20) as an important enzyme that is required for cardiac homeostasis and function, particularly during myocardial pressure overload. USP20 regulates protein stability of cardiac MYH7, an essential molecular motor protein expressed in sarcomeres; loss-of-function mutations of MYH7 are associated with human hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, cardiac failure, and sudden death. Enhancing USP20 activity could be a potential therapeutic approach to prevent the development of maladaptive state of eccentric hypertrophy and heart failure.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) 23 and FGF Receptor 4 promote cardiac metabolic remodeling in chronic kidney disease

  Research Square · 2023-12-23 · 3 citations

  preprintOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• A Comparative Evaluation of Efficacy of Biomin F and Propolis Containing Toothpastes on Dentinal Tubule Occlusion with and Without Use of an Adjunct 810 nm Diode Laser

  Journal of Microscopy and Ultrastructure · 2022-01-17 · 4 citations

  articleOpen access

  Introduction: Dentinal hypersensitivity (DH) is a common chronic condition that affects a high proportion of the adult population and is one of the main reasons why patients seek dental opinion and treatment. Despite considerable success in reducing DH, unfortunately, most of the present methods can provide only temporary and unpredictable desensitization. Therefore, new treatment methods that are effective for long periods and at the same time do not have the complications are needed. Recently, two new desensitizing agents BioMin F and Propolis have been introduced for the treatment of DH. Aim: The aim of the study was to compare and evaluate the efficacy of BioMin F and Propolis containing toothpastes on dentinal tubule occlusion with and without the use of an adjunct 810 nm Diode Laser. Materials and Methods: Forty-five freshly extracted teeth were taken out of which thirty were sectioned into halves and divided into four test groups BioMin F, Propolis, BioMin F + Laser, and Propolis + Laser and control group. All the specimens were treated twice a day for 7 days and then evaluated under scanning electron microscope for partial and complete dentinal tubule occlusion. Results: A significantly higher number of completely occluded tubules were seen in BioMin F + laser group followed by Propolis + laser, Biomin F, and Propolis. Conclusion: Combination approach of desensitizing agent and laser provided a better result than the desensitizing agent alone and when compared individually Biomin F was more effective desensitizer as compared to Propolis.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Late onset cardiovascular dysfunction in adult mice resulting from galactic cosmic ray exposure

  iScience · 2022-03-16 · 20 citations

  articleOpen access

  is associated with deterioration in cardiac structure and function that becomes apparent long after exposure, likely associated with increased morbidity and mortality. These findings represent important health considerations when preparing for successful space exploration.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• An Evaluation of the Measles Rubella Mass Vaccination Program in Schools of Meerut Cantonment 2018 and Assessment of Parents KAP towards Program

  Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development · 2021-03-01

  articleOpen access

  Background: Measles Rubella campaign is global effort to eliminate measles and control of rubella byvaccinating to children of 9 months to below 15 years of age group. The purpose of this study is to estimatethe post campaign level of MR vaccination coverage carried out in Meerut cantonment (2018-19) and tostudy how the patterns of personal attitudes of mothers are linked to the decision making process for MRvaccination.Methodology: Cross sectional study carried out in 27 schools with target population of 30950, initiallyconsent for vaccination with few demographic details has been distributed to parents through schooladministration, based on responses classified three groups, group 1 positive attitude, group 2 fearful attitudeand group 3 critical attitude further we used Latent class analysis and for the subgroups 5% of group 2and group 3 participant groups multinomial logistic regression analysis used for finding the strength ofassociation and descriptive statistics, mean, median and percentages are applied in the analysis.Results: Target reached 89.9% and missed opportunity 10.10%, LCA Biggest group are with fearful attitudefollowed with positive and critical. Odds ratio of all variables calculated.Conclusion: Media communication has to reach in population to all religion groups of people explainingto social media rumors and monitoring by doctors directly increase the acceptance and vaccination rates.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Early Identification of Patients at Risk for Incident Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: Novel Approach to Echocardiographic Trends

  Journal of Cardiac Failure · 2021-05-06 · 1 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Exercise protects against cardiac and skeletal muscle dysfunction in a mouse model of inflammatory arthritis

  Journal of Applied Physiology · 2021-01-07 · 14 citations

  articleOpen access

  RA, even when controlled, is associated with skeletal muscle weakness and greater risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Using exercise as a therapeutic against, the progression of RA is often avoided due to fear of worsening RA pathology. We introduce the K/BxN mouse as an RA model to study both myocardial and skeletal muscle dysfunction. We show that endurance exercise can improve joint, cardiac, and skeletal muscle function in K/BxN mice, suggesting exercise may be beneficial for patients with RA.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Characterization of cardiovascular injury in mice following partial-heart irradiation with clinically relevant dose and fractionation

  Radiotherapy and Oncology · 2021-02-04 · 16 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Direct Actions of AT ₁ (Type 1 Angiotensin) Receptors in Cardiomyocytes Do Not Contribute to Cardiac Hypertrophy

  Hypertension · 2021-01-04 · 22 citations

  articleOpen access

  Activation of AT 1 (type 1 Ang) receptors stimulates cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in vitro. Accordingly, it has been suggested that regression of cardiac hypertrophy associated with renin-Ang system blockade is due to inhibition of cellular actions of Ang II in the heart, above and beyond their effects to reduce pressure overload. We generated 2 distinct mouse lines with cell-specific deletion of AT 1A receptors, from cardiomyocytes. In the first line (C-SMKO), elimination of AT 1A receptors was achieved using a heterologous Cre recombinase transgene under control of the Sm22 promoter, which expresses in cells of smooth muscle lineage including cardiomyocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells of conduit but not resistance vessels. The second line (R-SMKO) utilized a Cre transgene knocked-in to the Sm22 locus, which drives expression in cardiac myocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells in both conduit and resistance arteries. Thus, although both groups lack AT 1 receptors in the cardiomyocytes, they are distinguished by presence (C-SMKO) or absence (R-SMKO) of peripheral vascular responses to Ang II. Similar to wild-types, chronic Ang II infusion caused hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy in C-SMKO mice, whereas both hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy were reduced in R-SMKOs. Thus, despite the absence of AT 1A receptors in cardiomyocytes, C-SMKOs develop robust cardiac hypertrophy. By contrast, R-SMKOs developed identical levels of hypertrophy in response to pressure overload–induced by transverse aortic banding. Our findings suggest that direct activation of AT 1 receptors in cardiac myocytes has minimal influence on cardiac hypertrophy induced by renin-Ang system activation or pressure overload.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• TREK-1 in fibroblast differentiation and cardiac fibrosis development

  NIH · $128k · 2015–2020

• TREK-1 in fibroblast differentiation and cardiac fibrosis development

  NIH · $618k · 2015–2020

Frequent coauthors

• Daichi Shimbo

  Columbia University Irving Medical Center

  53 shared

• Howard A. Rockman

  Duke Medical Center

  53 shared

• Matthew M. Burg

  VA Connecticut Healthcare System

  52 shared

• William F. Chaplin

  St. John's University

  41 shared

• Lauren Taggart Wasson

  36 shared

• Sujith Kuruvilla

  University of Virginia

  36 shared

• Lan Mao

  Duke University

  35 shared

• William Gerin

  Pennsylvania State University

  21 shared