Keshari Thakali

High Impact

Assistant Professor

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

faculty

Peds Pediatrics, College of Medicine

26 h-index 82 pubs 2,446 cited

Research Areas

Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions Cardiovascular Function and Risk Factors Immune Response and Inflammation Diet and metabolism studies Child and Adolescent Health Adipose Tissue and Metabolism Platelet Disorders and Treatments

Links

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OverviewAI-generated summary

Keshari Thakali's research investigates the programming of offspring vascular function and reactivity by maternal nutrition and physical activity during pregnancy. This work addresses the established association between maternal obesity during gestation and increased risks of offspring obesity and cardiovascular disease. Thakali's group specifically examines perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT), a depot surrounding blood vessels that plays a role in regulating vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cell function. Obesity is known to alter PVAT's anti-contractile properties, contributing to vascular dysfunction and hypertension. However, the specific influences of maternal diet and exercise on offspring PVAT function remain understudied.

Thakali's publications explore topics such as the role of PVAT and associated immune cells in maternal obesity, the impact of western diets on platelet activation in mice, and the modulation of PVAT leukocyte populations by platelets. Further research investigates the contribution of platelets to diet-induced PVAT leukocyte infiltration. Thakali's work also touches upon the association between prenatal and postnatal factors and child adiposity, as well as broader cardiometabolic risk factors within the maternal-paternal-child triad. With an h-index of 26 and over 2,446 citations, Thakali is recognized as a highly cited researcher.

Research Overview

Currently, many women entering pregnancy are either overweight or obese and it is well-established that exposure to maternal obesity during gestation is associated with increased risk of offspring obesity. In addition, in both humans and animal models, in utero exposure to maternal obesity is associated with increased offspring risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) is an adipose depot surrounding blood vessels and is an important paracrine regulator of underlying smooth muscle and endothelial cell function. Obesity is associated with the loss of PVAT-mediated anti-contractile properties, thus contributing to obesity-associated vascular dysfunction and hypertension. While studies suggest that PVAT is a key link between obesity and cardiovascular disease, there is a lack of information regarding how maternal nutritional status, dietary factors, and physical activity affect offspring PVAT function and overall vascular reactivity. Our studies will examine how maternal nutrition and physical activity during pregnancy program offspring vascular function and are part of an ACNC systems-based approach to carefully characterize how maternal nutrition and physical activity impact offspring health and well-being.

Metrics

  • h-index: 26
  • Publications: 82
  • Citations: 2,446

Selected Publications

  • Platelets Modulate Leukocyte Population Composition Within Perivascular Adipose Tissue (2025) DOI
  • Childhood cardiometabolic risk factors associated with the perinatal environment of the maternal–paternal–child triad (2024) DOI
  • Western Diet Modifies Platelet Activation Profiles in Male Mice (2024) DOI
  • Glutaraldehyde fixation of venous valve tissue: A benchmark for alternative fixation methods (2022) DOI
  • Maternal Obesity Programming of Perivascular Adipose Tissue and Associated Immune Cells: An Understudied Area With Few Answers and Many Questions (2022) DOI
  • Comparison of Growth Performance and Meat Quality Traits of Commercial Cross-Bred Pigs versus the Large Black Pig Breed (2021) DOI

Grants & Funding

  • No FP attached UAMS ACHRI Flow Through Principal Investigator
  • No FP attached UAMS ACHRI Flow Through Principal Investigator
  • No FP attached UAMS ACHRI Flow Through Principal Investigator
  • L-type calcium channels are silent during depolarization of venous smooth muscle NIH Principal Investigator
  • No FP attached UAMS ACHRI Flow Through Principal Investigator

Collaborators

Researchers in the database who share publications

Adam Corken University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 6 shared publications Elisabet Børsheim University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 2 shared publications Sarah Sobik University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 2 shared publications Clark Sims University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 2 shared publications Eva C. Diaz University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 2 shared publications Diamond L. McGehee University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 2 shared publications Aline Andres University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 1 shared publication Yan Huang University of Arkansas at Fayetteville 1 shared publication

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Joy Childress University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
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