Michael Y. Tsai, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor

Dr. Tsai is a Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Director of the Biochemical Genetics Laboratory, and the Director of the Lipid and Cardiovascular Risk Assessment Laboratory.  Dr. Tsai teaches residents on the testing and diagnosis of inborn errors of metabolism, fetal lung maturity testing, and the laboratory assessment of cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Research Interests

Dr Tsai has studied lipoprotein metabolism such as the influence of triglyceride on LDL subspecies. He is currently working on the genetic and environmental influences on serum HDL, HDL subspecies, as well as nutritional genomic implications of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation on cardiovascular diseases.

Educational Background

• University of Wisconsin, Madison (1969), B.S. (Biochemistry)
• Marquette University (1971), M.S. (Biochemistry)
• Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI (1973), Ph.D. (Biochemistry)
• Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI (1975), Fellowship (Pediatrics)

Professional Background

• Scientist, University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, 1975-1977
• Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, 1978-1984
• Director, Biochemical Genetics Laboratory, University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, 1978-present
• Associate Professor, University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, 1984-1998
• Director, Lipid and Cardiovascular Risk Assessment Laboratory, University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, 1986-present
• Professor, University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, 1998-present

Professional Honors

• Janet Mackelvey Fellowship, 1974 - 1975

Publications

In the area of inborn errors of metabolism, Dr Tsai has published on such diseases as 3-methylcrotonyl-coA carboxylase deficiency, urea cycle defects, and homocystinuria. In the area of cardiovascular diseases, he has published on the genetic causes of mild hyperhomocysteinemia in patients with premature occlusive coronary artery diseases, plasma homocysteine levels and its association with cartoid intimal-medial wall thickness, prevalence of coronary heart disease and venous thrombosis.

• Shen J, Arnett DK, Parnell LD, Peacock JM, Lai CQ, Hixson JE, Tsai MY, Provinc MA, Straka RJ, Ordovas JM. Association of common C-reactive protein (CRP) gene polymorphisms with baseline Plasma CRP response: The GOLDN study. Diabetes Care. 2008 Feb.
• de Boer IH, Astor BC, Kramer H, Palmas W, Seliger SL, Shlipak MG, Siscovick DS, Tsai MY, Kestenbaum B. Lipoprotein abnormalities associated with mild impairment of kidney function in the multi-ethnic study of atheroclerosis. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2008 Jan;391):125-32.
• Kabagambe EK, Tsai MY, Hopkins PN, Ordovas JM, Peacock JM, Hixson JE, Borecki I, Arnett DK. Erythrocyte Fatty Acid Composition and the Metabolic Syndrome: NHLBI GOLDN study. Clin Chem. 2008 Jan;54(1): 154-62.
• Folsom AR, Cushman M, Rasmussen-Torvik LJ, Heckbert SR, Tsai MY, Prospective study of Polymorphisms of the protein Z-dependent protease inhibitor and risk of venous thromboembolism. Thromb Haemost. 2007 Mar;97(3):493-4.
• Ohira T, Cushman M, Tsai MY, Zhang Y, Heckbert SR, Zakai NA, Rosamond WD, Folsom AR.ABO blood group, other risk factors and incidence of venous thromboembolism: the Longitudinal Thromboembolism Etiology (LITE). J Thromb Haemost. 2007 Jul;5(7):1455-61.
• Mora S, Szklo M, Otvos JD, Greenland P, Psaty BM, Goff DC, O’Leary DH, Saad MF, Tsai MY, Sharrett AR. LDL particle subclasses, LDL particle size, and carotid atherosclerosis in Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Atherosclerosis 2007 May;192:211-7. Corella D, Arnett DK, Tsai MY, Kabagambe EK, Peacock JM, Hixson JE, Straka RJ, Province M, Lai CQ, Parnell LD, Borecki I, Ordovas JM. The -256T>C polymorphism In the apolipoprotein A-II gene promoter is associated with body mass index and food intake in the genetics of lipid lowering drugs and diet network study. Clin Chem. 2007 Jun;53:1144-52.
• Lai CQ, Arnett DK, Corella D, Straka Rj, Tsai MY, Peacock JM, Adiconis X, Parnell LD, Hixson JE, Province MA, Ordovas JM. Fenofibrate effect on triglyceride and post prandial response of apolipoprotein A5 variants: the GOLDN study. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2007 June;27(6):1417-25.
• Benton JL, Ding J, Tsai MY, Shea S, Rotter JI, Burke GL, Post W. Associations between two common polymorphisms in the ABCA1 gene and subclinical atherosclerosis: Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Atherosclerosis. 2007 Aug;193:352-60.
• Shen J, Arnett DK, Peacock JM, Parnell LD, Kria A, Hixson JE, Tsai MY, Lai CQ, Kabagambe EK, Straka RJ, Ordovas JM. Interleukin1beta genetic polymorphisms interact with polyunsaturated fatty acids to modulate risk of the metabolic syndrome. J Nutr. 2007 Aug;137:1846-51.
• Folsom AR, Cushman M, Heckbert SR, Ohira T, Rasmussen-Torvik L, Tsai MY. Factor VII coagulant activity, factor VII -670A/C and -402G/A polymorphisms, and risk of venous thromboembolism. J Thromb Haemost. 2007 Aug;5:1674-8.
• Nasir K, Tsai MY, Rosen BD, Fernandes V, Bluemke DA, Folsom AR, Lima JA. Elevated Homocysteine Is Associated With Reduced Regional Left Ventricular Function. The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Circulation. 2007Jan;115:180-7.
• Rasmussen-Torvik LJ, Cushman M, Tsai MY, Zhang Y, Heckbert SR, Rosamond WD, Folsom AR. The association of alpha-fibrinogen Thr312Ala polymorphism and venous thrombeombolism in the LITE study. Thromb Res. 2007;121(1):1-7.
• Cushman M, Cornell A, Folsom AR, Wang L, Tsai MY, Polak J, Tang Z. Associations of the beta-fibrinogen Hae III and factor XIII Val34Leu gene variants with venous thrombosis. Thromb Res. 2007; 121(3):339-45.
• Sharrett AR, Ding J, Criqui MH, Saad MF, Liu K, Polak JF, Folsom AR, Tsai MY, Burke GL, Szko M. Smoking, diabetes, and blood cholesterol differ in their associations with subclinical atherosclerosis: the multiethnic study of atherosclerosis (MESA). Atherosclerosis 2006;186:441-7.
• Klein BEK, Klein R, Lee KE, Knudtson MD, Tsai MY. Markers of inflammation, vascular endothelial dysfunction, and age-related cataract. Am J Ophthalmol 2006;141:116-22.
• Klein BE, Klein R, Lee KE, Knudtson MD, Tsai MY. Markers of inflammation, vascular endothelial dysfunction and age-related cataract. Am J Ophthalmol. 2006;141:116-22.
• Klein R, Klein BE, Knudtson MD, Wong TY, Tsai MY. Are inflammatory factors related to retinal vessel caliber? The Beaver Dam Eye Study. Arch Ophthalmol. 2006;124:87-94.
• Cao J, Schwichtenberg KA, Hanson NQ, Tsai MY. Incorporation and clearance of omega-3 fatty acids in erythrocyte membranes and plasma phospholipids. Clin Chem. 2006 Dec;52(12):2265-72.
• Straka RH, Burkhardt RT, Lang NP, Hadsall KZ, Tsai MY. Discordance between N-acetyltransferase 2 phenotype and genotype in a population of Hmong subjects. J Clin Pharmacol 2006;46:802-11.
• Straka RJ, Burkhardt RT, Lang NP, Vang T, Hadsall KZ, Tsai MY. Verified predominance of slow acetylator phenotype N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) in Hmong population residing in Minnesota. Biopharm Drug Dispos 2006;27:299-304.
• Goff DC, Bertoni AG, Kramer H, Bonds D, Blumenthal RS, Tsai MY, Psaty BM. Dislipidemia prevalence, treatment, and control in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA): gender, ethnicity, and coronary artery calcium. Circulation 2006;113:647-656.
• Tsai MY, Hanson NQ, Straka RJ, Hoke TR, Ordovas JM, Peacock JM, Arends VL, Arnett DK. Effect of influenza vaccine on markers of inflammation and lipid profile: NHLBI GOLDN study.J. Lab and Clin Med 2005;51:901-909.
• Woll PS, Hanson NQ, Tsai MY. Effect of two common polymorphisms in the ATP binding cassette transporter A1 gene on HDL-C concentration and HDL subfraction distribution. Clinical Chemistry 2005;51:907-909.
• Guettier JM, Georgopoulos A, Tsai MY, Radha V, Shanthirani S, Deepa R, Gross M, Rao G, Mohan V. Polymorphisms in the FABP2 and APOC3 genes are associated with the metabolic syndrome in a south Indian population. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2005;90:1705-1711.
• Tsai MY, Georgopoulos A, Otvos JD, Ordovas JM, Hanson NQ, Peacock JM, Arnett DK. Comparison of ultracentrifugation and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the quantification oftriglyceride-rich lipoproteins after an oral fat load. Clinical Chemistry 2004;50:1201-1204.
• Tsai MY, Aras O, Sozen H, Hanson, NQ, Woll P, Matas A. Homocysteine in kidney donors before and after uninephrectomy. J Clin Lab Med 2004; 43:340-343.
• Billups KL, Kaiser DR, Kelly AS, Wetterling RA, Tsai MY, Hanson N, Bank AJ. Relation of C-reactive protein and other cardiovascular risk factors to penile vascular disease in men with erectile dysfunction. International Journal of Impotence Research 2003;15:231-236.
• Tsai AW, Cushman M. Tsai MY. Heckbert SR. Rosamond WD. Aleksic N. Yanez ND. Psaty BM. Folsom AR. Serum homocysteine, thermolabile variant of methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), and venous thromboembolism: Longitudinal Investigation of Thromboembolism Etiology (LITE). American Journal of Hematology 2003;72:192-200.
• Woll PS, Hanson NQ, Tsai MY. Absence of ABCA1 mutations in individuals with low serum HDL-cholesterol. Clinical Chemistry 2003;49:521-522.
• Gulec S, Aras O, Atmaca Y, Akyurek O, Hanson NQ, Sayin T, Tsai MY, Akar N, Oral D. Deletion polymorphism of the angiotensin I converting enzyme gene is a potent risk factor for coronary artery ectasia. Heart (British Cardiac Society) 2003;89:213-214.
• Aleksic N, Folsom AR, Cushman M, Heckbert SR, Tsai MY, Wu KK. Prospective study of the A455V polymorphism in the thrombomodulin gene, plasma thrombomodulin, and incidence of venous thromboembolism: The LITE Study. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis 2003;1:88-94.

For a complete listing of Dr. Tsai's publications, please see the National Library of Medicine's PubMed Search.

Invited Lectures

• Invited speaker - 4th International Meeting on Homocysteine Metabolism Basel July 2003
• Plasma Homocysteine Levels in Living Kidney Donors
• Chair - New Risk Factors of CVD session- 46th annual meeting of AHA Council of Epidemiology, Nutrition, Physical Acitivity and Metabolism- March 5, 2006
• Chair – Lipidomics and Metabolomics, Santorini Conference, Santorini, Greece. October 2006
• Invited speaker -AACC Hawaiian Section May 4, 2006
• Laboratory determination of omega-3 fatty acids--an emerging laboratory risk factor for CAD and CAD death prevention? Nutritional genomic implications
• Invited Speaker AACC Annual Meeting Jul 24, 2006
• Genetic Determinants of CAD, Nutritional Genetics, Nutritional Genomics and Proteomics
• Invited Speaker- Berkeley Heart Laboratory, Sep 5, 2006
• Laboratory determination of omega-3 fatty acids--an emerging laboratory risk factor for CAD and CAD death prevention? Nutritional genomic implications
• Invited speaker – MESA Family Steering committee scientific presentation, Sep 18, 2006
• MESA family candidate gene study: LOX/FLAP genes and their association with markers of inflammation and subclinical CVD
• Invited Speaker-Medical College of Wisconsin, Grand Round- Department of Pathology, Sep15 2006
• Genetic Determinants of CAD, Nutritional Genetics, Nutritional Genomics and Proteomics
• Invited Speaker – Santorini Conference, Santorini, Greece, September 29th 2006
• Influence of Genetic Variants on HDL-C Levels, Subclinical Atherosclerosis and Coronary Heart Diseases
• Invited Speaker- Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Institute of Health, February 25 2008
• Influence of genetic variants and mechanism of fenofibrate action on serum HDL levels
• Invited Speaker – Santorini Conference, Santorini, Greece, September 23 2008
• Fenofibrate treatment resulted up-regulation of the BCL6 and SHARP genes –a new mechanism by which fibric acid cause increased cholesterol efflux?

Presentations

• Woll PS, Hanson NQ, Tsai MY. Effect of two common polymorphisms in the ATP binding cassette A1 gene on plasma HDL-C levels. Clinical Chemistry 2002;48:A178.
• Wagenmaker E, Hanson NQ, Tsai MY. The role of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) R451Q polymorphism in HDL-C regulation.Clinical Chemistry 2002;48:A178.
• Hanson NO, Eckfeldt JH, Schwichtenberg K, Aras O, Tsai MY. Interlaboratory variation of plasma total homocysteine measurements: Results of three surveys. Clinical Chemistry 2002;48:A82.
• Gulec S, Aras O, Atmaca Y, Akyurek O, Altyn T, Hanson NQ Tsai MY, Oral, D. Deletion polymorphism of the angiotensin I-converting enzyme gene is a potent risk factor for coronary artery ectasia. European Heart Journal 2002;23:540.
• Cornell A, Folsom A, Wang L, Tsai M, Polak J, Tang Z, Cushman M. Investigation of the protective effects of fibrinogen Hae III and factor XIII Val34Leu polymorphisms in venous thrombosis. Blood 2003;102:313a.
• Hanson NQ, Aras O, Sozen H, Woll PS, Tsai MY. Renal function as a determinant of fasting plasma total homocysteine levels in living kidney donors. Clinical Chemistry 2003;49:A42.
• Arends VL, Hanson NQ, Tsai MY. Prevalence and association with HDL-C levels of the -2505C/A polymorphism in the cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene in a Caucasian population. AACC Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, CA, July 25-29, 2004.
• Arends VL, Hanson NQ, Tsai MY. Prevalence and association with HDL-C levels of the 2505C/A polymorphism in the cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene in a Caucasian population. Clinical Chemistry 2004;50:A121.
• Tsai MY, Georgopoulos A, Otvos J, Ordovas JM, Hanson NQ, Peacock JM, Arnett DK. Comparison of ultracentrifugation, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and isolation of remnant-like particles in analysis of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins. Circulation 2004;109:29.
• Arends VL, Hanson NQ, Tsai MY. Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity and concentration, but not HDL-cholesterol, are associated with R451Q and A373P CETP polymorphisms in a group of healthy Caucasians. Clinical Chemistry 2005;51:A184.
• Nasir K, Tsai M, Boaz R, Fernandes V, Bleumke D, Folson A, Lima J. Elevated homocysteine is associated with lower regional left ventricular function-The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Circulation 2005;112:II-562.
• Mora S, Szklo M, Otvos JD, Psaty BM, Goff DC, O’Leary DH, Saad MF, Tsai MY, Sharrett AR. Both large and small LDL particle concentrations are independently associated with carotid atherosclerosis in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Circulation 2005;112:II-802.
• Peacock JM, Pankow JS, Straka RJ, Tsai MY, Ordovas JM, Province MA, Arnett DK. Fenofibrate exposure and inflammatory response in the NHLBI Genetics of Lipid-Lowering Drugs and Diet Network Study. Circulation 2006;113:e340.
• Daniel KR, Parks J, Schreiner PJ, Tsai M, Post W, Palmas J, Liu Y, Herrington D. ABCA1 Polymorphisms are associated with serum levels of IL-6 and CRP. Circulation 2006;113:e323.
• AK Tsai, Arends VL, Hanson NQ, Tsai MY. Association of 10 polymorphisms in 6 genes with angiographically-proven cardiovascular diseases in a European-American population. Clinical Chemistry 2006;52:A56.
• Cao J, Schwichtenberg K, Hanson N, Tsai MY. The kinetics of n-3 fatty acids in erythrocytes membrane after fish oil or flaxseed oil supplementation. Clinical Chemistry 2006;52:A112.
• Cao J, Li N, Hanson NQ, Ordovas JM, Arnett DK, Tsai MY. Lowering of oxidized LDL with Fenofibrate treatment. Clinical Chemistry 2007;53:A43.
• Straka RJ, Li N, Guillemette C, Tsai MY, Hanson NQ, Ordovas JM, Arnett DK. In vivo role of the pharmacogenetics of glucuronidation in the disposition and triglyceride response to Fenofibrate. Circulation 2007;116: II_178.
• Garcia S, Akbar S, Ali S, Kamdar F, Tsai M, Duprez D. N-Terminal Pro B-type Natriuretic Peptide Predicts Mortality in Patients With Left Ventricular Hypertrophy.JACC 2008;51;A349