Michael Simons

An endothelial-specific TIE2-L914F mouse model reveals cellular mechanisms of venous malformation progression and recapitulates the patient's response to targeted therapy

This study creates a TIE2-L914F mouse model to study venous malformation progression and shows it responds to rapamycin treatment.

Metabolic control of smooth muscle cell phenotype switching in atherosclerosis

This study identifies PDK4 as a regulator of TGF{beta}-mediated SMC contractility, showing that reducing PDK4 limits atherosclerosis by preserving SMC phenotype.

Vascular endothelial growth factor-D improves lung vascular integrity during acute lung injury

This study identifies VEGF-D as a key factor in maintaining lung vascular integrity during acute lung injury using single-cell RNA sequencing and functional assays.

TWIST1 drives endothelial-to-mesenchymal-transition to stabilize atherosclerotic plaques

Endothelial Twist1 drives partial and advanced endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition via PELP1 and AEBP1-COL4A1 signaling, increasing collagen and ACTA2+ cells to stabilize atherosclerotic plaques in male mice and human carotid arteries.

Angiogenic Signaling Counteracts Shear Stress-driven Arterial Patterning.

This study shows VEGF inhibits arterial specification in capillaries by suppressing Sox17, preventing premature arterialization driven by shear stress.