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Laboratory of Integrative Physiology

Park Research Group

Primary research efforts of Dr. Park’s group focuses on

  1. Cardiovascular function in various pathophysiological conditions;

  2. Roles of physical activity or exercise training in a prevention and/or treatment of impaired cardiovascular function in those population; and

  3. Elucidating underlying mechanisms in which vascular function is altered by the abnormal conditions (pathology and microgravity) and physical activity/exercise training at the molecular, cellular, and intact tissue levels (isolated resistance vessels).

Current ongoing studies in Dr. Park’s laboratory are as follows:

  1. Metabolic disorder-induced vascular dysfunction in heart: Studying a role of physical activities/exercise training in endothelial function of coronary microcirculation in metabolic syndromes (obesity and type 2 diabetes)

  2. Cerebromicrovascular Dysfunction in Alzheimer Disease: Investigating a vascular dysfunction as one of possible mechanisms for the Alzheimer ’s disease and role of exercise training in the treatment/prevention of Alzheimer’s disease

  3. Ocular vascular adaptation to Spaceflight: Examining a functional, structural and molecular adaption of ocular and retinal vessels during spaceflight as a possible explanation for spaceflight-induced visual impairment

Experiment set-up to measure direct vascular function and structure with isolated intact vessel.

Inverted microscopic view of isolated/pressurized vasculature. Diameter and length of this murine resistance vessel (coronary arterioles) is approximately 40~100µm and ~ 1mm, respectively.

Recent Publications

* Indicates a corresponding/First author
** Indicates supervised graduate student/post-doc
IF = Impact Factor

Baek, KW Won JH, Xiang YY, Woo DK, Park Y, and Kim JS. Concurrent initiation of treadmill exercise protects against angiotensin II-induced renal injury by modulating oxidative stress and autophagy in mice. Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry– 2026. In Print (IF= 4.3)

Mockler S, Yun-Ju Fang YJ, Jia UTA, Kim JH, Park J, Park Y, Chicco AJ, Umeda M, Lee S, Chung E. Acupuncture Treatment Preserves Soleus Muscle Mass and Improves Mitochondrial Function in a Rat Model of Disuse Atrophy. Integr Med Res. DOI: 10.1016/j.imr.2025.101178 2025 Sep;14(3) (IF= 2.8)

Wang Z, Liu W, Gu Y, Kim JC, *Park Y, Kim SH (Co-corresponding author). Combination of intermittent fasting and endurance exercise impedes the development of the musculoskeletal system in non-obese growing rats. Nutr Res Pract. 2025 Aug;19(4):483-496. doi: 10.4162/nrp.2025.19.4.483 (IF= 2.2)

Chu H, Choi Y, Park Y, Kim Y. Long-term comparison of functional recovery based on emergency and late repair in men with Achilles tendon rupture. Isokinet Exerc Sci. 2025 May;33(2):89-96 doi/10.1177/09593020241298066 (IF= 0.8)

Liu W, Kieu TTT, Wang Z, Sim HJ, Lee S, Lee JC, Park Y, Kim SH, Kook SH. PrPC glycoprotein is indispensable for maintenance of skeletal muscle homeostasis during aging. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2025 Feb;16(1):e13706. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcsm.13706 (IF= 9.4)

**Lee J, Kang M, *Park Y. Exercise training enhances brachial artery endothelial function, possibly via improved HDL-C, not LDL-C and TG, in patients with coronary artery disease: A systemic review and meta-analysis. Am J Cardiovasc Drugs. 2025 Jan;25: 399–410. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40256-024-00716-7 (IF= 2.8)

**Lee J, **Zarezadehmehrizi A, LaVoy EC, Markofski MM, *Park Y. Exercise training improves brachial artery endothelial function, but does not alter inflammatory biomarkers in patients with peripheral artery disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Cardiovasc Transl Res. 2024 Jun;17(3):585-597. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12265-023-10451-0 (IF= 4.13)

Kim JK, Baek KW, Kim SJ, **Lee J, Johnston CA, *Park Y. Exercise-induced laminar blood flow maintains vascular function by enhanced endothelial homeostasis. Exerc Sci. 2024;33(2):234-242. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15857/ksep.2024.00220

**Hong J and *Park Y. Microvascular function and exercise training: Functional implication of nitric oxide signaling and ion channels. Pulse. 2024 Mar 12;12(1):27-33. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1159/000538271 (IF= 3.8)

Liu W, Wang Z, Yu G, So HS, Kook SH, *Park Y, Kim SH (Co-corresponding author). Effects of Short-Term Exercise and Endurance Training on Skeletal Muscle Mitochondria Damage Induced by Particular Matter, Ambient PM2.5. Frontiers in Public Health. 2024 Feb 28;12:1302175. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1302175 (IF= 5.2)

Baek KW, Won JH, Xiang YY, Woo DK, Park Y, Kim JS. Exercise intensity impacts the improvement of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease via variations of monoacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 1 expression. Clinics and Research in Hepatology and Gastroenterology. 2024 Jan;48(1):102263. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinre.2023.102263 (IF= 2.7)

Xiang YY, Baek KW, Won JH, Park Y, Kim JS. Effects of lifelong aerobic exercise on ferroptosis-related gene expressions in kidney of aged mice. Exercise Science. 2023;32(4):410-418. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15857/ksep.2023.00549

Symons TB, Park J, Kim JH, Kwon EH, Delacruz J, **Lee J, Park Y, Chung E, Lee S. Attenuation of skeletal muscle atrophy via acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, and electrical stimulation. Integr Med Res. 2023 Jun;12(2):100949. doi:10.1016/j.imr.2023.100949 \. Epub 2023 (IF= 4.47)

Aminizadeh S, **Lee J, **Zarezadehmehrizi A, Najafipourd H, Ahmadi MA, Moflehi D, Rashidzadeh H, *Park Y. MitoQ Supplementation During Vigorous Training Improves Reactive Oxygen Species, Glutathione Peroxidase, and miRNAs Regulating Vascular Inflammation in Cyclists. Braz. arch. biol. technol. 66. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-4324-2023220914 (IF=1.18)

Kim H, Lee K, Lee YH, Park Y, Park Y, Yu Y, Park J, Noh S. The Effectiveness of a Mobile Phone-Based Physical Activity Program for Treating Depression, Stress, Psychological Well-Being, and Quality of Life Among Adults: Quantitative Study. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2023 Jun 26;11:e46286. doi: 10.2196/46286. (IF= 4.78)

Graff RM, Jennings K, LaVoy EC, Warren VE, Macdonald BW, Park Y, Markofski MM. T-cell counts in response to acute cardiorespiratory or resistance exercise in physically active or physically inactive older adults: A randomized crossover. Journal of Applied Physiology. 2022 Jul 1;133(1):119-129. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00301.2021. Epub 2022 May 26 (IF= 3.06)

**Zarezadehmehrizi A, **Hong J, **Lee J, Rajabi H, Gharakhanlu R, Naghdi N, Azimi M, *Park Y. Exercise training ameliorates cognitive dysfunction in amyloid beta-injected rat model: possible mechanisms of Angiostatin/VEGF signaling. Metab Brain Dis. 2021 May 18. doi: 10.1007/s11011-021-00751-2 (IF= 3.584)

Liang R, Shen X, Wang F, Wang X, DesJarlais A, Syed A, Saba R, Tan Z, Yu F, Ji X, Shrestha S, Ren Y, Yang J, Park Y, Schwartz RJ, Soibam B, Stewart MD, Kumar A, Liu Y. H19X-encoded miR-322(424)/-503 regulates muscle mass by targeting translation initiation factors. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2021. Oct 26. doi: 10.1002/jcsm.12827 (IF= 12.51)

**Hong J, **Park E, **Lee J, Lee Y, Rooney BR, *Park Y. Exercise training mitigates coronary vascular dysfunction in atherosclerosis: ER stress and UCP2-associated mechanisms. Sci Rep. 2021 Jul 29;11(1):15449. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-94944-5. (IF=4.379)

**Lee J, **Hong J, Umetani M, LaVoy E, Kim J, *Park Y. Vascular protection by exercise in obesity: inflammasome-associated mechanisms. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2020. Dec;52(12):2538-2545. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002419 (IF= 5.411)

**Hong J, Hong SK, **Lee J, Park JY, Eriksen JL, Rooney BV, and *Park Y. Exercise training ameliorates cerebrovascular dysfunction in a murine model of Alzheimer’s disease: role of the P2Y2 receptor and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2020. Jun 1;318(6):H1559-H1569. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00129.2020. (IF= 4.733)

** Lee J, Lee Y, LaVoy E, Umetani M, **Hong J, *Park Y. Physical Activity Protects NLRP3 inflammasome-induced Vascular Dysfunction in Obesity. Physiol. Rep. 2018. Jun;6(12):e13738. doi: 10.14814/phy2.13738.

**Hong J, **Kim K, **Park E, **Lee J, Markofski MR, Marrelli SP, and *Park Y. Exercise ameliorates endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated vascular dysfunction in atherosclerotic mesenteric arteries. Sci Rep. 2018 8:7938 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-018-26188-9. 2018 (IF=4.379)

**Lee J, Lee R, Hwang MH, Hamilton MT, *Park Y. The effects of exercise on vascular endothelial function in type 2 diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Diabetol Metab Syndr. 2018 Mar 6;10:15. doi: 10.1186/s13098-018-0316-7. 2018 (IF= 2.6)