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Radu V. Stan, MD, PhD

Contact Information

Professional Interests

Our laboratory studies the biology of endothelial cells related to cardiovascular function in normal undisturbed tissues as well as in adaptive and pathologic processes underlying inflammatory diseases and cancer.

Our efforts are currently focused on several distinct but interactive project areas, relying on a wide array of experimental approaches including electron microscopy, fluorescence live cell imaging, biochemical, cell biological, genetic and whole animal physiology approaches. These current focus areas are:

1) Cell biology of the endothelium: The laboratory studies how, on one hand, fundamental mechanisms of signaling and membrane traffic control endothelial cell differentiation and organization in different vascular beds. Specific endothelial structures (fenestrae, transendothelial channels, vesiculo-vacuolar organelles, caveolae and other vesicular carriers) have been shown to mediate the exchanges between blood and tissues. Our laboratory has cloned and characterized Plasmalemma Vesicle Associated Protein (PLVAP) gene, whose gene product, the PLVAP/PV1 protein, is the first known component of the endothelial stomatal and fenestral diaphragms, present on the endothelial structures involved in permeability. Taking advantage of PV1 we are currently trying to understand the biogenesis, cellular function and regulation of the endothelial structures involved in transendothelial exchange.

2) Pathways of exchange between blood and the interstitial space: We are particularly interested in elucidating the molecular mechanisms involved in the transendothelial exchanges between the blood plasma and the interstitial fluid in health and disease. We are using genetically engineered mice generated in the lab to understand the precise role of vesicular trafficking as well as the role of endothelial microdomains such as transendothelial channels, fenestrae and vesiculo-vacuolar organelles in microvascular permeability.

3) Role of PV1 in inflammation: PV1 is unregulated on the activated endothelium in inflammatory lesions. Downregulation of PV1 results in blunted diapedesis of leukocytes, which prompted studies as to the precise mechanism by which PV1 participates in this process.

4) Role of PV1 in cancer: Previous work has shown that PV1 is expressed in most, if not all, solid tumor vessels. We have shown that intratumoral deletion of PV1 results in impaired tumor growth, which prompted studies as to the precise mechanism by which PV1 promotes tumor formation and growth.



Keywords: Inflammation, cancer, angiogenesis, microvascular permeability endothelial differentiation, endothelial cell biology, endocytosis, transcytosis, fenestrae, caveolae, transendothelial channels.

Rotations and Thesis Projects

1. Cell biology of endothelial diaphragm. Characterize the role of PLVAP and its interacting partners in the biogenesis and function of the diaphragms of caveolae and fenestrae. Determine the roles of these endothelial structures in vivo.
2. Determine the role of PLVAP in cancer. We are employing multiple cancer models to study the role of PLVAP in tumor growth.
3. Development of anticancer diagnostics and therapeutics.

Grant Information

1R01GM120592
16GRNT27260362

Courses Taught

PEMM 101
PEMM 102
PEMM 275
PEMM 126

Biography

Dr. Stan did his postdoctoral training 1994-1999 at University of California San Diego Medical in the laboratory of George Palade, where he worked on the role of caveolae/lipid rafts and fenestrae in the cell biology of vascular permeability. He joined the faculty at UCSD as a Project Scientist (1999 ) and Research Assistant Professor (2000) in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine continuing his studies of the molecular mechanisms of vascular permeability and the structures involved. In 2004, Dr. Stan joined the faculty of the departments of Pathology, and of Microbiology and Immunology at Dartmouth Medical School as an Assistant Professor. Currently Dr Stan is Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, a member of the Norris Cotton Cancer Center and affiliated with the BioMT COBRE. Since 2013 Dr Stan serves as the Director of the Optical Cell Imaging Facility and Co-Director, Irradiation, Pre-clinical Imaging and Microscopy Shared Resource, Norris Cotton Cancer Center.