SFB / Transregio 23
"Vascular Differentiation and Remodeling"

Mannheim - Heidelberg - Frankfurt

Prof. Dr. Markus Hecker University of Heidelberg Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology Division of Cardiovascular Physiology Im Neuenheimer Feld 326 D-69120 Heidelberg Phone: 0049 (0)6221 54 4035 Lab Homepage
	hecker(at)physiologie.uni-hd.de
C6: Endothelial cell-platelet-leukocyte interactions during vascular remodeling
By combining different mouse models with state of the art imaging and protein detection methods, we will verify the in vivo relevance of the CD154-induced ultra-large von Willebrand factor (ULVWF) multimer- mediated endothelial cell-platelet-monocyte/macrophage crosstalk in adaptive and maladaptive vascular remodeling processes. We will further detail the conditions favoring deposition of these ULVWF strings on the endothelial cell surface, and explore the impact of a genetic defect in endothelial cell nitric oxide formation on this multicellular crosstalk orchestrated through repeated CD40-CD154 costimulation.