Peter A. Vincent, PhD

Endothelial cells line the walls of all blood vessels, where they play a critical role in a number of physiological responses including regulation of vasoreactivity, hemostasis, and leukocyte recruitment. Vascular endothelial cells also act as a selective barrier that regulates the passage of fluid, macromolecules, and white cells from the vascular space to the interstitium. Our laboratory is interested in how endothelial cells perform these functions under normal conditions and during acute and chronic inflammation that contributes to the pathophysiology of diseases such as septic shock, adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and atherosclerosis.