Endothelial Cell Biology

Endothelial cells line the interior surface of all blood vessels and perform an array of functions critical to vascular health. Research in this group aims to examine the role of alterations in endothelial function in the progression of disease. We isolate and culture a range of human endothelial cells and work closely with members of the Diabetic Complications Group to isolate bovine retinal endothelial cells.

A major research focus is the investigation of the cellular mechanisms underlying the problems that occur in very small blood vessels (capillaries) in diabetes. We have a programme of work examining endothelial responses to the altered hemodynamic forces (pressure and stretch) that are observed in diabetes and another with members of the Diabetic Complications Group investigating the role of the inflammatory enzyme [beta]1,6 N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferase in increased leukostasis (leukocytes attached to the endothelial wall) in diabetic retinopathy and diabetes-accelerated atherosclerosis and also multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. A second major area of interest are the interactions between endothelial cells and cancer cells and how these may influence the spread of solid tumours.

The research interests of the group fall into three main areas:

• Vascular Biology: Much of our work is directed at increasing understanding of the cell biology of the vascular complications of diabetes. One current project is investigating the role of the cellular enzyme phospholipase D in the abnormal responses of the vasculature observed in diabetes.
• Cancer Biology: We have several current projects in this area:

1. in collaboration with colleagues in both the Departments of Chemistry at the University of Exeter and the University of Warwick we are examining the biological activity of potential anti-angiogenesis drugs
2. a second project is investigating what happens in the brain during malignancy - in particular during angiogenesis in brain metastases arising from primary lung tumours
3. additionally, the role of phospholipase D in tumour development is being examined as a separate project.

• Neuroscience: We are currently investigating the effects of endothelial cells on astrocytes in neurological diseases.