Regulation of the Vascular System: Role of the Endothelium

Summary

The function of endothelial cells of the vascular system.

Supervisor(s)

Professor Jennifer Gamble

Research Location

Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology

Program Type

Masters/PHD

Synopsis

The endothelium, consisting of a monolayer of cells lining blood vessels, is the gate way between the blood and the tissues. The endothelial cells, therefore, are one of the major regulators of blood homeostasis. They control the passage of nutrients from blood to tissue, they are key regulators of the development of inflammation and their growth is essential in the expansion of solid tumours. The research in the Vascular Biology Laboratory is directed towards an understanding of how blood vessels form and what are the signals that regulate their function.

Additional Information

The Program of Vascular Biology has recently been established within the Centenary Institute. Prof Gamble has been recruited from Adelaide to Head this exciting new venture. The areas currently under investigation in the Program, and where PhD projects are available, include:

• The genetic control of angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels and is essential during embryogenesis and in the adult during the female reproductive cycle. Pathologically, angiogenesis is involved in solid tumour growth, is an early event in rheumatoid arthritis, is the basis for sight complications in diabetes to name just a few diseases. The research of the laboratory focuses on gaining an understanding of the molecular events in angiogenesis, identifying what genes and microRNAs control the process and their mechanism of action.
• The differentiation of mature endothelial cells from their progenitor cells. Endothelial progenitor cells contribute to the daily repair of the vasculature but are now believed to be essential for promoting vascular repair in diseases. Adversely they may also contribute to the angiogenesis seen in cancer. We are investigating the factors and signaling pathways which regulate progenitor cell release from the bone marrow and what controls their differentiation into mature endothelial cells.
• The control of vascular permeability Endothelial cells maintain the essential selectively impermeable nature of the vascular system. Permeability changes are seen in diseases such as atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and blood vessels in tumours are leaky. We are investigating the factors and signaling pathways involved in perturbation of the impermeable nature of endothelial cells and have initiated a project to develop drugs which inhibit endothelial permeability.
• The Role of Novel Gene Products in the Vascular System in Cancer. From our previous work we have identified two novel genes which regulate endothelial cell survival. Preliminary data suggests that these genes will be important in changes which take place in endothelial cells during in solid tumour growth (tumour angiogenesis). We are investigating their expression patterns in tumours (animal and human) to determine whether they hold prognostic value or indeed whether they hold promise as potential drug targets for cancer therapy. In addition we are investigating their mode of function.

Keywords

Cancer, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, Endothelial cells, angiogenesis, endothelial progenitor cells, permeability, Cardiovascular & respiratory diseases, Cell biology, Heart & circulation, Human body

Opportunity ID

The opportunity ID for this research opportunity is: 70

Other opportunities with Professor Jennifer Gamble

• The Role of microRNAs in Vascular Function and Disease
• The Role of Senescence in Vascular Function and Disease
• Control of tumour growth by oncogene-induced senescence