# HUMAN DERMAL ENDOTHELIAL CELLS IN SKIN DISEASE

> **NIH NIH R01** · EMORY UNIVERSITY · 1989 · $193,058

## Abstract

Human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMEC) are strategically
located to play an important role in the cutaneous inflammatory response.
Because of the difficult in growing these cells in pure culture, little is
known about their functions in inflammatory skin diseases.  This laboratory
has recently succeeded in isolating and culturing pure HDMEC from neonatal
foreskins.  These HDMEC can be expanded to large cell numbers and used in
functional studies.  In addition, this laboratory recently succeeded in
inducing both human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVE) and HDMEC to
undergo extremely rapid differentiation in vitro.  The differentiated
endothelial cells become elongated and form tubes with lumina that resemble
microvessels in vivo.  We will systematically study the role of
microvascular endothelial cells in cutaneous inflammation and define the
signals that induce endothelial cell differentiation.  Studies in this
proposal will characterize the immunologically relevant cell surface
receptors and antigens, as well as cell adhesion molecules present on
differentiated and undifferentiated HDMEC, in order to gain insights into
the potential immunologic functions of these cells.  The ability of
biologic response modifiers to induce or modulate the expression of these
molecules will be precisely defined.  This proposal will assess the ability
of purified human T-lymphocytes and monocytes to bind to undifferentiated
and differentiated HDMEC and HUVE to delineate the mechanisms of leukocyte-
endothelial cell interaction.  The subpopulations of T-cells that bind will
also be defined.  In addition, the cell adhesion molecules responsible for
T-cell and monocyte adherence to HDMEC will be defined using specific
monoclonal antibodies directed against T-cell, monocyte, and endothelial
cell adherence molecules.  The ability of commonly used therapeutic
modalities such as corticosteroids, and ultraviolet light to affect
expression of cell adhesion molecules and cell-cell adherence will be
systematically assessed.  Related studies in this proposal will utilize
cytotoxicity assays to assess the presence of antiendothelial cell
antibodies in sera of patients with cutaneous and/or systemic vasculitis.
The cell surface molecules bound by the antiendothelial cell antibodies
will be immunoprecipitated and analyzed immunochemically.  Thus, the
studies in this proposal will provide new and important insights into the
initiation and evolution of cutaneous inflammation and have direct bearing
on the pathophysiology of inflammatory skin diseases.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3159820
- **Project number:** 1R01AR039632-01
- **Recipient organization:** EMORY UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** S352L5PJLMP8
- **Principal Investigator:** Thomas Joseph Lawley
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1989
- **Award amount:** $193,058
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 1989-01-01 → 1993-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3159820

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3159820, HUMAN DERMAL ENDOTHELIAL CELLS IN SKIN DISEASE (1R01AR039632-01). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3159820. Licensed CC0.

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