Research Interests

Lung microvascular endothelial cells and alveolar epithelial cells form a barrier, separating liquid within microvessels from gas within alveoli. The barrier properties of this respiratory membrane are of critical importance in gas exchange. My research targets macromolecules involved in the regulation of lung microvascular permeability. I have shown that a 60 Kd albumin-binding protein (gp60), found on lung microvascular endothelial cells and alveolar epithelial cells, functions in the transport of albumin through capillary endothelial cells, permitting albumin to escape from the vascular compartment. Important questions under investigation include (1) What is the transport apparatus activated by albumin binding (e.g., endocytosis)?, (2) Is albumin transport in the intact lung a "two-way" street, i.e., can the albumin carrier also route albumin from lung interstitium back to the vascular space?, and (3) Does the transport of albumin depend on the complexation of albumin with other susbstances (e.g., fatty acids, hormones, vitamins, etc)? Various aspects of these studies are carried out using ex vivo lung preparations and cultured microvascular endothelial and alveolar epithelial cells.