David C. Sane, M.D.

Assistant Professor, Internal Medicine (Cardiology)

Wake Forest University, B.S. (1979) Duke University Medical Center, M.D. (1983)

Molecular Cardiology Laboratory

A major goal of the Molecular Cardiology Laboratory is to understand the processes involved in the responses to vascular injury, such as those that occur in patients who develop coronary artery restenosis following angioplasty. We are especially interested in the role of extracellular matrix proteins and the plasminogen activation system in this response. Projects currently underway include: (1) The study of vitronectin and other extracellular matrix protein expression in atherosclerosis, using immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, RT-PCR and other techniques (2) The induction of expression of extracellular matrix proteins and components of the plasminogen activation system in smooth muscle cells, (3) The use of differential display RT-PCR to identify uniquely expressed genes in restenosis (4) The creation of PAI-1/PAI-2 chimeras to study the vitronectin and fibrin binding sites of PAI-1, (5) Creation of a rabbit model of arterial injury; use of antisense to vitronectin and its receptor to determine effects on neointima formation.