Research Leader
RESEARCH LEADER 430 West Health Sciences Drive University of California, Davis Davis, CA 95616 Phone: (530) 754-4417 |
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Brian Bennett, Ph.D, an emerging scientist in nutrigenomics, joined the WHNRC in 2016 as The Research Leader for the Obesity and Metabolism Unit. Prior to joining the WHNRC, Brian was an assistant professor of Genetics at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Dr. Bennett, with his passion to help prevent heart disease, researches the role of the human diet and nutrition as it relates to heart disease. He explores genetic components of chronic metabolic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and obesity, through integrative genetic studies, also called “systems genetics.”
Dr. Bennett’s studies examine the relationship among many types of data such as genetic variants, gene expression levels and metabolite levels and how these interact to increase susceptibility to cardiovascular disease. Dr. Bennett is excited to use these methods to investigate the effects of specific dietary components on metabolic diseases. In particular he is focused on how diet affects gene expression. Dr. Bennett focuses on the role of a particular metabolite (TMAO) which appears to change with diet, and is predictive of cardiovascular disease in humans. Now continuing these studies, Dr. Bennett is working to identify the interaction of groups of genes, also called biologic networks regulating TMAO levels and affecting cardiovascular disease. Bennett completed his Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science at Ithaca College in 1995. He then earned his Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences at University of New Hampshire in 1997. With his Ph.D. earned in Nutritional Sciences at University of Washington in 2006, Dr. Bennett conducted his post doctoral work at UCLA.
Based on his academic accomplishments and experience in the professional environment with Pfizer Animal Health, he developed a laser focus in systems genetics. During this time, he explored nutrition as it relates to genetics, now known as the formal study of “nutrigenomics.” In 2010, Dr. Bennett earned a prestigious K99/R00 “Pathways to Independence Award” from the NIH. This grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute enabled him to further study how genes and diet affect atherosclerosis. Prior to that, he was awarded an American Heart Association Grants.
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- Specific circulating miRNA are associated with plasma lipids in a healthy American cohort
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Evans, L.W., Durbin-Johnson, B., Sutton, K.J., Yam, P., Bouzid, Y., Cervantes, E., Bonnel, E., Stephensen, C.B., Bennett, B.J. 2024. Specific circulating miRNA are associated with plasma lipids in a healthy American cohort. Physiological Genomics. 56(7):492-505. https://doi.org/10.1152/physiolgenomics.00087.2023. - Precision pharmacological reversal of strain-specific diet-induced metabolic syndrome in mice informed by epigenetic and transcriptional regulation
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Wulfridge, P., Davidovich, A., Salvador, A.C., Manno, G., Tryggvadottir, R., Idrizi, A., Huda, N., Bennett, B.J., Adams, L., Hansen, K.D., Threadgill, D.W., Feinberg, A.P. 2023. Precision pharmacological reversal of strain-specific diet-induced metabolic syndrome in mice informed by epigenetic and transcriptional regulation. PLoS Genetics. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1010997. - Analysis of strain, sex, and diet-dependent modulation of gut microbiota reveals candidate keystone organisms driving microbial diversity in response to American and ketogenic diets
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Salvador, A.C., Huda, N.M., Arends, D., Elsaddi, A.M., Gacasan, A.C., Brockmann, G.A., Valdar, W., Bennett, B.J., Threadgill, D.W. 2023. Analysis of strain, sex, and diet-dependent modulation of gut microbiota reveals candidate keystone organisms driving microbial diversity in response to American and ketogenic diets. Microbiome. 11(220). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40168-023-01588-w. - Integrative analysis of hepatic transcriptional profiles reveals genetic regulation of atherosclerosis in hyperlipidemic Diversity Outbred-F1 mice
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Kim, M., Huda, N., Evans, L.W., Que, E., Gertz, E.R., Maeda-Smithies, N., Bennett, B.J. 2023. Integrative analysis of hepatic transcriptional profiles reveals genetic regulation of atherosclerosis in hyperlipidemic Diversity Outbred-F1 mice. Scientific Reports. 13. Article 9475. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-35917-8. - Randomized crossover clinical trial of coenzyme Q10 and nicotinamide riboside in chronic kidney disease
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Ahmadi, A., Begue, G., Valencia, A.P., Norman, J.E., Lidgard, B., Bennett, B.J., Van Doren, M.P., Marcinek, D.J., Fan, S., Prince, D.K., Gamboa, J., Himmelfarb, J., De Boer, I.H., Kestenbaum, B.R., Roshanravan, B. 2023. Randomized crossover clinical trial of coenzyme Q10 and nicotinamide riboside in chronic kidney disease. Journal of Clinical Investigation. 8(11). Article e167274. https://doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.167274. - Chow diet in mouse aging studies: Nothing regular about it
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Lee, J., Purello, C., Booth, S.L., Bennett, B.J., Wiley, C., Korstanje, R. 2023. Chow diet in mouse aging studies: Nothing regular about it. GeroScience. 45:2079-2084. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-023-00775-9. - Trimethylamine N-Oxide response to a mixed macronutrient tolerance test in a cohort of United States adults
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James, K.L., Gertz, E.R., Kirschke-Schneide, C.P., Allayee, H., Huang, L., Kable, M.E., Newman, J.W., Stephensen, C.B., Bennett, B.J. 2023. Trimethylamine N-Oxide response to a mixed macronutrient tolerance test in a cohort of United States adults. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 24(3). Article 2074. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24032074. - The association between plasma choline, growth and neurodevelopment among Malawian children aged 6-15 months enrolled in an egg intervention trial
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Bragg, M., Prado, E., Caswell, B.L., Arnold, C., George, M., Oakes, L., Beckner, A., DeBolt, M., Bennett, B.J., Maleta, K., Stewart, C. 2022. The association between plasma choline, growth and neurodevelopment among Malawian children aged 6-15 months enrolled in an egg intervention trial. Maternal and Child Nutrition. 19(2). Article e13471. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13471. - SNPs in apolipoproteins contribute to sex-dependent differences in blood lipids before and after a high-fat dietary challenge in healthy U.S. adults
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Wang, Y.E., Kirschke-Schneide, C.P., Woodhouse, L.R., Bonnel, E.L., Stephensen, C.B., Bennett, B.J., Newman, J.W., Keim, N.L., Huang, L. 2022. SNPs in apolipoproteins contribute to sex-dependent differences in blood lipids before and after a high-fat dietary challenge in healthy U.S. adults. Biomed Central (BMC) Nutrition. 8. Article 95. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-022-00592-x. - Gut microbiota and host genetics modulate the effect of diverse diet patterns on metabolic health
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Huda, M.N., Salvador, A.C., Barrington, W.T., Gacasan, C.A., D'Souza, E.M., Deus Ramirez, L., Threadgill, D.W., Bennett, B.J. 2022. Gut microbiota and host genetics modulate the effect of diverse diet patterns on metabolic health. Frontiers in Nutrition. 9. Article 896348. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.896348. - Altered macronutrient composition and genetics influence the complex transcriptional network associated with adiposity in the Collaborative Cross
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Yam, P., VerHague, M., Albright, J., Gertz, E.R., Manuel-de-Villena, F., Bennett, B.J. 2022. Altered macronutrient composition and genetics influence the complex transcriptional network associated with adiposity in the Collaborative Cross. Genes and Nutrition. 17. Article 13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12263-022-00714-x. - Chronic kidney disease is associated with attenuated plasma metabolome response to oral glucose tolerance testing
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Ahmadi, A., Huda, M., Bennett, B.J., Gamboa, J., Zelnick, L., Smith, L.R., Chondronikola, M., Raftery, D., de Boer, I.H., Roshanrvan, B. 2022. Chronic kidney disease is associated with attenuated plasma metabolome response to oral glucose tolerance testing. Journal of Renal Nutrition. 33(2):316-325. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jrn.2022.09.013. - Obesogenic and diabetic effects of CD44 in mice are sexually dimorphic and dependent on genetic background
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VerHague, M., Albright, J., Barron, K., Kim, M., Bennett, B.J. 2022. Obesogenic and diabetic effects of CD44 in mice are sexually dimorphic and dependent on genetic background. Biology of Sex Differences. 13. Article 14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13293-022-00426-2. - Diet, fecal microbiome, and trimethylamine N-oxide in a cohort of metabolically healthy United States adults
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James, K.L., Gertz, E.R., Cervantes, E., Bonnel, E., Stephensen, C.B., Kable, M.E., Bennett, B.J. 2022. Diet, fecal microbiome, and trimethylamine N-oxide in a cohort of metabolically healthy United States adults. Nutrients. 14(7). Article 1376. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14071376. - Plasma choline concentration was not increased after a 6-month egg intervention in 6–9-Month-old Malawian children: results from a randomized controlled trial
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Bragg, M.G., Prado, E.L., Arnold, C.D., Zyba, S.J., Maleta, K.M., Caswell, B.L., Bennett, B.J., Iannotti, L.L., Lutter, C.K., Stewart, C.P. 2022. Plasma choline concentration was not increased after a 6-month egg intervention among 6-9-month old Malawian children: Results from a randomized controlled trial. Current Developments in Nutrition. 6(2). Article nzab150. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzab150. - Adopting a Mediterranean-style eating pattern with low, but not moderate, unprocessed, lean red meat intake reduces fasting serum trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) in adults who are overweight or obese
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Krishnan, S., O'Connor, L., Wang, Y., Gertz, E.R., Campbell, W.W., Bennett, B.J. 2021. Adopting a Mediterranean-style eating pattern with low, but not moderate, unprocessed, lean red meat intake reduces fasting serum trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) in adults who are overweight or obese. British Journal of Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114521004694. - Effects of a diet based on the Dietary Guidelines on vascular health and TMAO in women with cardiometabolic risk factors
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Krishnan, S., Gertz, E.R., Adams, S.H., Newman, J.W., Pedersen, T.L., Keim, N.L., Bennett, B.J. 2021. Effects of a diet based on the Dietary Guidelines on vascular health and TMAO in women with cardiometabolic risk factors. Nutrition Metabolism and Cardiovascular Disease. 32(1):210-219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.numecd.2021.09.013. - Hepatic transcriptional profile reveals the role of diet and genetic backgrounds on metabolic traits in female progenitor strains of the Collaborative Cross
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Kim, M., Huda, N., O'Connor, A., Albright, J., Durbin-Johnson, B., Bennett, B.J. 2021. Hepatic transcriptional profile reveals the role of diet and genetic backgrounds on metabolic traits in female progenitor strains of the Collaborative Cross. Physiological Genomics. 53(5):173-192. https://doi.org/10.1152/physiolgenomics.00140.2020. - Modulating the microbiota as a therapeutic intervention for Type 2 Diabetes
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Huda, N., Kim, M., Bennett, B.J. 2021. Modulating the microbiota as a therapeutic intervention for Type 2 Diabetes. Frontiers in Endocrinology. 12. Article 632335. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2021.632335. - Sequence meets function—Microbiota and cardiovascular disease
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Kim, M., Huda, N., Bennett, B.J. 2021. Sequence meets function—Microbiota and cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular Research. https://doi.org/10.1093/cvr/cvab030. - Genetic background shapes phenotypic response to diet for adiposity in the Collaborative Cross
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Yam, P., Albright, J., Verhague, M., Gertz, E.R., Pardo-Manuel De Vill, V., Bennett, B.J. 2021. Genetic background shapes phenotypic response to diet for adiposity in the Collaborative Cross. Frontiers in Genetics. 11. Article 615012. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2020.615012. - Genetic architecture modulates diet-induced hepatic mRNA and miRNA expression profiles in Diversity Outbred mice
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Que, E.S., James, K.L., Coffey, A., Smallwood, T.L., Albright, J., Pomp, D., Sethupathy, P., Bennett, B.J. 2020. Genetic architecture modulates diet-induced hepatic mRNA and miRNA expression profiles in Diversity Outbred mice. Genetics. 216(1):241-259. https://doi.org/10.1534/genetics.120.303481. - Determining the genetic regulation of trimethylamine N-oxide in female diversity outbred mice-(Abstract Only)
- High-fat diet–induced colonocyte dysfunction escalates microbiota-derived trimethylamine N-oxide
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Yoo, W., Zieba, J.K., Foegeding, N.J., Torres, T.P., Shelton, C.D., Shealy, N.G., Byndloss, A.J., Cevallos, S.A., Gertz, E.R., Tiffany, C.R., Thomas, J., Litvak, Y., Nguyen, H., Olsan, E.E., Bennett, B.J., Rathmell, J.C., Major, A.S., Baumler, A.J., Byndloss, M.X. 2021. High-fat diet–induced colonocyte dysfunction escalates microbiota-derived trimethylamine N-oxide. Science. 373(6556):813-818. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aba3683. - Dissecting the genetic architecture of cystatin C in diversity outbred mice
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Huda, N.M., Verhague, M., Albright, J., Smallwood, T., Bell, T., Que, E., Miller, D., Roshanravan, B., Allayee, H., Manuel De Villena, F., Bennett, B.J. 2020. Dissecting the genetic architecture of cystatin C in diversity outbred mice. Genes, Genomes, and Genomics. 10(7):2529-2541. https://doi.org/10.1534/g3.120.401275. - Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) is not associated with average daily inatke of red meat or TMAO precursor foods in a generally healthy population
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Kristen, J., Gertz, E.R., Stephensen, C.B., Bennett, B.J. 2020. Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) is not associated with average daily inatke of red meat or TMAO precursor foods in a generally healthy population. Current Developments in Nutrition. 4(2):37. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzaa040_037. - Genetic background heavily impacts effects of diet on obesity in a collaborative cross population
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Verhague, M., Albright, J., Yam, P., Bennett, B.J. 2020. Genetic background heavily impacts effects of diet on obesity in a collaborative cross population. Current Developments in Nutrition. (4)2:1282. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzaa058_040. - Sexual dimorphism of atherosclerosis by gut microbiome in a hyperlipidemic diversity outbred F1 mouse population
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Kim, M., Huda, N., Que, E.S., Gertz, E.R., Bennett, B.J. 2020. Sexual dimorphism of atherosclerosis by gut microbiome in a hyperlipidemic diversity outbred F1 mouse population. Current Developments in Nutrition. 4(2):1569. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzaa062_026. - Microbial modulation of host body composition and plasma metabolic profile
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Huda, N.M., Winnike, J., Crowell, J., O'Connor, A., Bennett, B.J. 2020. Microbial modulation of host body composition and plasma metabolic profile. Scientific Reports. 10. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-63214-1. - Ectopic expression of the Stabilin2 gene triggered by an intracisternal A particle (IAP) element in DBA/2J strain of mice
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Maeda-Smithies, N., Hiller, S., Dong, S., Suk Kim, H., Bennett, B.J., Kayashima, Y. 2020. Ectopic expression of the Stabilin2 gene triggered by an intracisternal A particle (IAP) element in DBA/2J strain of mice. Mammalian Genome. 31:2-16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00335-019-09824-1. - Diesel exhaust particles dysregulate multiple immunological pathways in murine macrophages: Lessons from microarray and scRNA-seq technologies
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Bhetraratana, M., Orozco, L.D., Hong, J., Diamante, G., Majid, S., Bennett, B.J., Ahn, I., Yang, X., Lusis, A.J., Araujo, J.A. 2019. Diesel exhaust particles dysregulate multiple immunological pathways in murine macrophages: Lessons from microarray and scRNA-seq technologies . Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abb.2019.108116. - A Mediterranean-style eating pattern lower in lean red meat reduced plasma trimethylamine N-oxide in adults classified as overweight or obese
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Gertz, E.R., Wang, Y., O'Connor, L., Campbell, W.W., Bennett, B.J. 2019. A Mediterranean-style eating pattern lower in lean red meat reduced plasma trimethylamine N-oxide in adults classified as overweight or obese. Meeting Abstract. 3(1). https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzz044.P08-030-19. - A randomized controlled-feeding trial based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans does not affect plasma trimethylamine N-oxide levels in women
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Gertz, E.R., Krishnan, S., Peerson, J.M., Adams, S.H., Laugero, K.D., Newman, J.W., Keim, N.L., Bennett, B.J. 2019. A randomized controlled-feeding trial based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans does not affect plasma trimethylamine N-oxide levels in women. Meeting Abstract. (3)1. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzz044.P08-031-19. - Sexual dimorphism of atherosclerosis and plasma lipids: Analysis of complex traits in a diversity outbred F1 mouse population
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Sexual dimorphism of atherosclerosis and plasma lipids: Analysis of complex traits in a diversity outbred F1 mouse population. Meeting Abstract. (39)1. https://doi.org/10.1161/atvb.39.suppl_1.154. - Atherosclerosis susceptibility in the collaborative cross
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Rindy, A., Yam, P., Albright, J., Verhauge, M., Bennett, B.J. 2019. Atherosclerosis susceptibility in the collaborative cross. Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. 38(1). https://doi.org/10.1161/atvb.38.suppl_1.643. - microRNA-146a-5p association with the cardiometabolic disease risk factor TMAO
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Coffey, A.R., Smallwood, T.L., Albright, J., Hua, K., Kanke, M., Pomp, D., Bennett, B.J., Sethupathy, P. 2019. microRNA-146a-5p association with the cardiometabolic disease risk factor TMAO. Physiological Genomics. 51(2):59-71. https://doi.org/10.1152/physiolgenomics.00079.2018. - Myeloid Slc2a1-deficient murine model revealed macrophage activation and metabolic phenotype are fueled by GLUT1
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Freemerman, A.J., Zhao, L., Pingili, A.K., Teng, B., Cozzo, A.J., Fuller, A.M., Johnson, A.R., Milner, J.J., Lim, M.F., Galanko, J.A., Beck, M.A., Bear, J.E., Rotty, J.D., Bezavada, L., Smallwood, H.S., Puchowicz, M.A., Liu, J., Locasale, J.W., Lee, D., Bennett, B.J., Abel, D.E., Rathmell, J.C., Makowski, L. 2019. Myeloid Slc2a1-deficient murine model revealed macrophage activation and metabolic phenotype are fueled by GLUT1. Journal of Immunology. 202(4):1265-1286. https://doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.1800002. - Does exercise alter gut microbial composition? A systematic review
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Mitchell, C.M., Davy, B.M., Hulver, M.W., Neilson, A.P., Bennett, B.J., Davy, K.P. 2019. Does exercise alter gut microbial composition? A systematic review. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 51(1):160-167. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000001760. - Adropin: an endocrine link between the biological clock and cholesterol homeostasis.
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Ghoshal, S., Stevens, J.R., Billon, C., Giradet, C., Situala, S., Leon, A.S., Rao, D., Skinner, J.S., Rankinen, T., Bouchard, C., Nunez, M.V., Stanhope, K.L., Howatt, D.A., Daugherty, A., Zhang, J., Schuelke, M., Weiss, E.P., Burris, T.P., Havel, P.J., Butler, A.A., Bennett, B.J., Sethupathy, P. 2017. Adropin: an endocrine link between the biological clock and cholesterol homeostasis. Molecular Metabolism. 8:51-64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molmet.2017.12.002. - Improving metabolic health through precision dietetics in mice
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Barrington, W.T., Wulfridge, P., Gunaratna, R.T., Rojas, C.M., Howe, S.Y., Perry, A., Hua, K., Hansen, K.D., Fuchs-Young, R., Bennett, B.J., Pomp, D., Feinberg, A.P., Threadgill, D.W. 2018. Improving metabolic health through precision dietetics in mice. Genetics. 208:399-417. https://doi.org/10.1534/genetics.117.300536. - Lack of myeloid Fatp1 increases atherosclerotic lesion size in Ldlr-/- mice
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Liyang, Z., Cozzo, A.J., Johnson, A.R., Christensen, T., Freemerman, A.J., Bear, J.E., Rotty, J.D., Bennett, B.J., Makowski, L. 2017. Lack of myeloid Fatp1 increases atherosclerotic lesion size in Ldlr-/- mice. Atherosclerosis. 266:182-189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2017.10.009. - Systems genetics identifies a co-regulated module of liver microRNAs associated with plasma LDL cholesterol in murine diet-induced dyslipidemia
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Coffey, A.R., Smallwood, T.L., Albright, J., Hua, K., Kanke, M., Pomp, D., Bennett, B.J., Sethupathy, P. 2017. Systems genetics identifies a co-regulated module of liver microRNAs associated with plasma LDL cholesterol in murine diet-induced dyslipidemia. PLoS Genetics. 49(11):618-629. https://doi.org/10.1152/physiolgenomics.00050.2017. - The genetic architecture of coronary artery disease: current knowledge and future opportunities-(Review Article)
Hartiala, J., Schwartzman, W.S., Gabbay, J., Ghazalpour, A., Bennett, B.J., Allayee, H. 2017. The genetic architecture of coronary artery disease: current knowledge and future opportunities. Current Atherosclerosis Reports. 19(2):6. doi: 10.1007/s11883-017-0641-6.
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