Domenick J. Falcone Advanced Search Domenick J. Falcone, Ph.D. Associate Professor Department of Pathology Macrophage proteinase cascade and vascular remodeling Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by lipid accumulation, the persistent presence of macrophages and dysregulated smooth muscle proliferation. Expression of proteinases by macrophages contributes to atherosclerotic plaque rupture and its clinical sequelae - thrombosis and infarction. Our primary research aim is to elucidate the mechanisms by which macrophage orchestrate tissue remodeling at sites of injury and inflammation. Macrophages utilize serine proteinases, metalloproteinases and cysteine proteinases to degrade the extracellular matrix.
Plasmin binds to and degrades several components of the extracellular matrix.
The control of expression of macrophage proteinases and receptors, as well as, the fate of ligands bound to them are the focus of ongoing experiments. A byproduct of the activation of plasminogen. Weill Medical College of Cornell University. All rights reserved.