Aggregating Proteoglycans in the Vascular Wall

SUNEEL APTE -

Suneel Apte studied medicine at the University of Bombay, India, and trained in orthopaedic surgery before embarking on a career in biomedical research. He completed a D. Phil. in Clinical Medicine as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, UK, in 1990, working with John Kenwright at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre. After postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School with Bjorn R. Olsen, he established an independent research group at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute. Suneel’s group investigates extracellular matrix and matrix-degrading proteases in cell regulation, morphogenesis and human diseases, including cardiovascular disorders. The laboratory uses mouse genetic models, gene editing, protein chemistry, and proteomics. He has served the American Society for Matrix Biology in many roles, including organizing its 2014 biennial conference and chaired the 2013 Gordon Research Conference on Matrix Metalloproteinases. The laboratory is currently supported by the Allen Distinguished Investigator Program, through support made by The Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group and the American Heart Association and by the National Institutes of Health.

PRESENTATION -

Vascular wall composition and structure has an important role in vessel biomechanics at the tissue level and also in cell regulation. Proteoglycans, which are protein core + glycosaminoglycan composites, contribute vital structural properties to vessel extracellular matrix and have important regulatory roles vis-à-vis vascular cells. Proteoglycans that form aggregates with hyaluronan constitute a special class with unique attributes. The presentation will review their roles in vascular function and pathology illustrated by recent work for our laboratory.

Links to related manuscripts:

http://www.navbo.info/Nandadasa-UCeLife.pdf

http://www.navbo.info/Cikach-KochJCII2018.pdf

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32870742/