MEDICAL AND GRADUATE EDUCATION

Dr. DeFouw recently completed thirty years of endothelial cell biology research. This activity focused on the roles of vesicles (caveoli) and junctional clefts in exchange across the microvascular endothelium and on the role of cell-cell adhesion molecules in the differentiation of endothelial barrier function during angiogenesis. Currently, Dr. DeFouw serves as Vice Chair of the department and as Director of the department's medical education programs. He also participates in the following courses offered by the department:

Cell and Tissue Biology (CBMM5060)
Medical Gross Anatomy and Developmental Anatomy (CBMM5010)
Advanced Cell Biology (CBMM5300)
Cell Biology of the Host Response to Injury (CBMM5330)
Cellular Structure and Function (Module 3, GSBS Core Curriculum)

ENDOTHELIAL CELL BIOLOGY

The extraembryonic microcirculation of the chick, an in vivo model of the microcirculation, serves as the central focus of our studies. The role of cell-cell adhesion molecules in the differentiation of barrier functions of the endothelium, during normal or tumor-induced angiogenesis, represents a principal emphasis of the these studies.

Representative Publications:

Henry, C.B.S., and DeFouw, D.O. Differential lectin binding to microvascular endothelial glycoconjugates during normal angiogenesis in the chick chorioalantoic membrane. Microvasc. Res. 49:201-211, 1995. PubMed Citation

Rizzo, V., Kim, D., Duran, W.N. and DeFouw, D.O. Ontogeny of microvascular permeability to macromolecules in the chick chorioallantoic membrane during normal angiogenesis. Microvasc. Res. 49:49-63, 1995. PubMed Citation

Cruz, A., Rizzo, V. and DeFouw, D.O. Microvessels of the chick chorioallantoic membrane uniformly restrict albumin extravasation during angiogenesis and endothelial cytodifferentiation. Tissue and Cell 29: 277-281, 1997.

DeFouw, L.M. and DeFouw, D.O. Modulation of angiogenic endothelial permselectivity by the cAMP pathway. Microvasc. Res. 57:19-29, 1999.

PubMed Citation

Cruz, A. and DeFouw, D.O. Increased expression of VE-cadherin correlates temporally with differentiation of a restrictive endothelial barrier during normal angiogenesis in vivo. Tissue and Cell 31:545-9, 1999. PubMed Citation

Cruz, A., DeFouw, L.M. and DeFouw, D.O. Restrictive endothelial barrier function during normal angiogenesis in vivo: partial dependence on tyrosine dephosphorylaiton of ?-catenin. Microvasc. Res. 59:195-203, 2000. PubMed Citation