Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2003

Mentor: Dr. Fiemu Nwariaku MD, FACS
Department: Surgery
Room number: E7.126
Mail Code: 9156
Phone number: (214) 648-9986
E-mail: Fiemu.Nwariaku@UTSouthwestern.edu

Project I title: Tyrosine Phosphorylation of Vascular Endothelial Cadherin and the Regulation of Microvascular Permeability

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): N/A

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): N/A

Project Type (patient-based research, animal-based research, or basic research; this characterization is only to permit a general classification for grouping similar types of projects)

Basic research

Brief Description of Project:

Cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) and oxidants have been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory conditions such as sepsis, stroke, myocardial ischemia and infarction. TNF-a is believed to play an important role in the microvascular barrier dysfunction associated with these conditions. Current evidence suggests that during inflammation, intercellular clefts develop between adjacent vascular endothelial cells in response to TNF and the oxidant, hydrogen peroxide, thus allowing unimpeded movement of fluid, macromolecules and white blood cells into the interstitium.
Adherens junctions act as important regulators of endothelial monolayer integrity by binding adjacent endothelial cells to one another. Our laboratory is exploring the effect of cytokines and oxidants on adherens junction proteins. The overall objective is to identify potential targets to modulate endothelial function in inflammatory states.

Project II title: Angiogenesis and Thyroid Cancer

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):

Project Type (patient-based research, animal-based research, or basic research; this characterization is only to permit a general classification for grouping similar types of projects) Basic Research

Brief Description of Project:

The endothelial mechanisms which regulate transduction of angiogenic signals are still unclear. This project will focus on the role of vascular endothelial cadherin in the modulation of angiogenic signals tranduced through VEGF receptor -2.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:
Andrew Adusei
Lawrence Fan

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