Charles E. Norton III, PhD

Profile

The research work of Charles E. Norton III, PhD, investigates the mechanisms by which smooth muscle and endothelial cells can be protected from conditions of acute oxidative stress such as stroke. Remarkably, advanced age and Western-style diet (conditions of chronic oxidative stress) increase the resilience of cells exposed to acute oxidative stress. Furthermore, arteries from females are less susceptible to acute oxidative stress than males. By understanding how to target these protective mechanisms, new strategies can be developed for maintaining blood flow control following ischemic injury.

Dr. Norton’s secondary research interest centers on understanding mechanisms of pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary fibrosis has a strong correlation between the development of pulmonary hypertension and patient mortality. Therefore, this research seeks to identify signaling mechanisms unique to pulmonary fibrosis-induced pulmonary hypertension.

Academic Information

Assistant Professor

Office

7 Hospital Dr
M451 Medical Sciences Building
Columbia, MO 65212
United States

P. (573) 884-7085

Research Interests

  • Pulmonary hypertension
  • Vascular apoptosis
  • Interactions between endothelial and smooth muscle cells
  • Vascular mitochondrial signaling
  • Lymphatic biology

Areas of Expertise

  • Cardiovascular physiology
  • Pulmonary circulation
  • Microcirculation
  • Vascular calcium imaging
  • Reactive oxygen species

Education & Training

PhD

2015 University of New Mexico; PhD in Biomedical Sciences, Cell Biology and Physiology

Fellowship

2015 - 2020 University of Missouri

Awards & Honors

  • Cardiovascular Section Research Recognition Award, American Physiological Society, 2018.
  • Pappenheimer Postdoctoral Travel Award, Microcirculatory Society, 2017.
  • Pappenheimer Postdoctoral Travel Award, Microcirculatory Society, 2016.
  • Caroline tum Suden/ Frances Hellebrandt Professional Opportunity Award, American Physiological Society, 2014.
  • Respiration Section Young Investigator Research Recognition Award, American Physiological Society Respiration Section, 2014 (Declined).
  • UNM Graduate and Professional Student Association Student Research Grant, 2014.
  • Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Signature Program Research Day: Poster Presentation 2nd Place, 2014.
  • University of New Mexico Graduate Student Research Day: Poster Presentation 1st Place, 2012.
  • David S. Bruce Award Finalist for Excellence in Undergraduate Research, 2007.
  • University of New Mexico Regent's Scholar, 2006-2011.

In the News

Publications

Find Dr. Norton's publications

  • Norton CE, Shaw RL, Safa, Dockery B, Domeier TL, Segal SS. Advanced age and female sex protect cerebral arteries from mitochondrial depolarization and apoptosis during acute oxidative stress. Aging Cell. e14110. 2024.
  • Norton CE, Shaw RL, Segal SS. Differential effects of high fat diets on resilience to H2O2-induced cell death in mouse cerebral arteries: role for processed carbohydrates. Antioxidants. 12:1433. 2023.
    Norton CE, Shaw RL, Mittler R, Segal SS. Endothelial cells promote smooth muscle cell resilience to H2O2-induced cell death in mouse cerebral arteries. Acta Phyiologica. E13819. 2022.
  • Norton CE, Grunz-Borgmann EA, Hart ML, Jones BW, Franklin CL, Boerman, EM.
    Role of perivascular nerve and sensory neurotransmitter dysfunction in inflammatory bowel disease.
    Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 320:H1887-H1902. 2021.
  • Shaw RL*, Norton CE*, Segal SS.
    Apoptosis in resistance arteries induced by hydrogen peroxide: greater resilience of endothelium versus smooth muscle.
    Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 320:H1625-H1633. 2021.
  • Norton CE, Jernigan NL, Walker BR, Resta TC.
    Membrane depolarization is required for pressure-dependent pulmonary arterial tone but not enhanced vasoconstriction to endothelin-1 following chronic hypoxia.
    Pulm Circ. 10(4): 204589402973559. doi: 10.1177/2045894020973559. 2020.
  • Snow JB, Norton CE, Sands MA, Weise-Cross L, Yan S, Herbert LM, Sheak JR, Gonzalez Bosc LV, Walker BR, Kanagy NL, Jernigan, NL, Resta TC.
    Intermittent hypoxia augments pulmonary vasoconstrictor reactivity through PKCβ/mitochondrial oxidant signaling.
    Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 62:732-746. 2020.
  • Norton CE, Weise-Cross L, Ahmadian R, Yan S, Jernigan NL, Paffet ML, Naik JS, Walker BR, Resta TC.
    Altered lipid domains facilitate enhanced pulmonary vasoconstriction following chronic hypoxia.
    Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 62:709-718. 2020.
  • Norton CE, Jacobsen NL, Sinkler SY, Manrique-Acevedo C, Segal SS.
    Female sex and western-style diet protect mouse resistance arteries during acute oxidative stress.
    Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 318:C627-C639. 2020.
  • Norton CE, Sheak JR, Yan S, Weise-Cross L, Jernigan NL, Walker BR, Resta TC.
    Augmented pulmonary vasoconstrictor reactivity after chronic hypoxia requires Src kinase and epidermal growth factor receptor signaling.
    Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol.62:61-73. 2020.
  • Morton AB*, Norton CE*, Jacobsen NL, Fernando CA, Cornelison DDW, Segal SS.
    Barium chloride injure myofibers through calcium-induced proteolysis with fragmentation of motor nerves and microvessels.
    Skelet Muscle. 9:27. doi: 10.1186/s13395-019-0213-2. 2019.
  • Norton CE, Sinkler SY, Jacobsen NL, Segal SS.
    Advanced age protects resistance arteries of mouse skeletal muscle from oxidative stress through attenuating apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide.
    J Physiol. 597:3801-3816, 2019.
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