Shapiro Lab

Research Projects

Current projects and potential rotation projects:
CD13- 

1. Investigation of signal transduction pathways induced by CD13 ligation in endothelial cells that lead to increased cell adhesion and their roles in inflammatory leukocyte trafficking.
2. Structure/function analysis of CD13’s signaling and adhesion functions using chimeric mouse/human molecules.
3. Characterization of the role of CD13 in inflammation in response to bacterial infection.
4. Characterization of CD13’s participation in various animal models of disease.
5. Investigation of CD13’s contribution to leukocyte trafficking in inflammatory disease.
6. Molecular dissection of the reorganization of the monocyte cytoskeleton following CD13 ligation.
7. Assess the role of CD13 as an adhesion molecule of endothelial junctions.  CD13 relocates to the cell-cell junctions as cells become confluent, suggesting it participates in junction formation and endothelial permeability. 
8. Characterization of the role of upregulated CD13 expression following myocardial ischemia in mouse models of myocardial infarction (in collaboration with Bruce Liang, Calhoun Center for Cardiology).
9. Investigation into serum CD13 as a biomarker for inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases.

PSMA-

• Structure/function analysis of PSMA’s regulation of beta 1 integrin signaling.
• Assessing PSMA as an endothelial adhesion molecule.
• Assessing endothelial PSMA in the angiogenesis during wound healing.
• Investigating the role of PSMA in prostate cancer metastasis. PSMA regulates prostate cancer cell invasion suggesting it may regulate escape from the primary tumor and access to metastatic sites.
• Investigation into how PSMA expression on tumor blood vessels affects endothelial/basal lamina interactions and vessel permeability.