Richard K. Assoian

Biography

Dr. Richard K. Assoian, is employed as Professor of Department of Pharmacology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. His research interests include: We are an interactive group of cell/molecular biologists and bioengineers interested in understanding how cells sense changes in the physical properties of their microenvironment and how they convert this information into chemical signals, behavior and function. Within this broad area, we try to understand how physiological and pathological changes in the stiffness of the extracellular matrix (ECM) affects adhesion receptor signaling, the actin cytoskeleton, and fate decisions such as proliferation, migration and differentiation. We perform mechanistic analyses in cell culture, use genome- and proteome-wide approaches, assess mechanical properties of tissues and cells, and ultimately test physiological and pathological relevance in mouse models of vascular aging, injury, and atherosclerosis.

Research Interest

identifying novel regulators of ECM remodeling and arterial stiffness in atherosclerosis. One set of studies has focused on apolipoprotein E (apoE). Although best known for its role in reverse cholesterol transport, we find that apoE suppresses the expression of several ECM genes including those for collagen-I, collagen-VIII, fibronectin and lysyl oxidase. These effects protect against arterial stiffening, reduce monocyte adhesion to subendothelial ECM, and provide cholesterol-independent protection against atherosclerosis in mice. Our current work is focused on MMP12 as a global inducer of arterial stiffening with age, vascular injury and atherosclerosis. Overall, our goal in this area is to identify mechanobiological approaches to protect against cardiovascular disease.