Faculty of Medicine

Modelling Vascular Treatments in NF1 Mice

From a cellular perspective, studies have shown that NF1 vasculopathy may be distinct from general vascular disease in people without NF1. We have discovered recently that people with NF1 have elevated amounts of several inflammatory factors in their blood. We do not yet know how these factors contribute to disease in NF1, but they have been shown to be important in the formation of other types of vascular lesions in the general population.

We theorize that blocking or neutralizing one or more of these factors may offer promising therapy to the vascular disease seen in NF1. To examine this further we will study the effect of blocking these factors using common drugs in a mouse cellular model of vascular inflammation. In order to perform this study we will isolate cells from the vessel wall and inflammatory cells in the blood of nf1 mice in order to grow them in culture. The cells will then be treated with one of two potential therapeutic options. We will analyze the effect of these treatments on cellular growth, movement, maturity, and stability.

Department of Medical Genetics

Friedman Lab
Box 153, 4500 Oak Street
Vancouver, BC, V6H 3N1

Fax:604.875.3019