Actin Dynamics in Vascular Endothelium

Arterial endothelial cells perform a crucial role in maintaining vascular integrity. Their dynamics and biochemical activity influence arterial muscle tone and control fluid and nutrient transport between the blood and the artery wall. They also exhibit cell division and motility to repair wounds, and modulate receptors that determine cellular and molecular attachment. The behavior of endothelial cells is profoundly affected by their internal structure, which is characterized by a dynamic actin meshwork. The overall goal of this work is to understand the actin dynamics in endothelial cells and the changes that occur when the cells are subjected to fluid shear stresses. These changes are believed to be intimately related to the onset of atherosclerosis.

The research involves examining the cells using state-of-the-art microscopy, both visible light microscopy (both the inverted microscope and fluorescence methods) and electron microscopy. An example of the measurements of cell motility as a measure of actin dynamic polymerization rate can be shown. We are targeting the role of actin binding proteins and the interaction of these proteins under the influence of fluid shear stress. A future project will be to use computational biology to understand the role of transmembrane proteins in the activation of changes in actin polymerization and cell motility.