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 our 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.
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