Khan Lab, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Western University

Created February 2008; Last updated September 17, 2014 [Z.Khan]

   Vascular stem cells (that give rise to endothelial cells and mesenchymal cells) represent an attractive target for cell therapy.  We are studying the mechanisms which drive the differentiation of these stem cells towards endothelial and perivascular (mesenchymal) lineages.

Projects:

1. Identify the origin of endothelial and mesenchymal cells.

2. Elucidate the signals regulating the differentiation of vascular stem cells.

   Infantile hemangioma (IH) is the most common tumour of infancy and occurs in 1 out of 100 newborns. These tumours grow rapidly during the first year of postnatal life and then spontaneously regress.  We are investigating the cellular and molecular mechanisms that lead to hemangioma formation, unregulated growth, and spontaneous regression.  More specifically, we are studying the mechanisms which lead to aberrant expansion of stem cells, and differentiation of these stem cells into an atypical endothelial cells during the proliferative phase and adipocytes during the later involutive phase.

Projects:

1. Understanding the cellular origin of IH.

2. Studying the mechanism of hemangioma endothelial differentiation.

3. Elucidating the mechanisms of IH regression.

Collaborator(s):

Nancy G. Chan, MD, FRCPC

Department of Pathology, Western University

Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, London Health Sciences Centre

   Long standing diabetes leads to structural and functional alterations in both micro- and macro-vasculature.  Endothelial cells represent the primary target of hyperglycemia-induced adverse effects.  A major focus of our lab is to understand the cellular dysfunction and inadequate vascular repair mechanisms in diabetes.  

  Our working hypothesis is that diabetes leads to cytotoxic changes and reduced number of vascular stem cells and the complications of diabetes represent an impaired repair mechanism.

Projects:

1. Understand the alteration of vascular stem cells in diabetes.

2. Investigate the vasculogenic potential of stem cells isolated from diabetic patients.

3. Identify vasculogenic stem cells for therapeutic use in diabetic patients.

Collaborator(s):

Subrata Chakrabarti, MD, PhD, FRCPC

Department of Pathology, Western University

Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, London Health Sciences Centre

Christopher Howlett, MD, PhD, FRCPC

Department of Pathology, Western University

Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, London Health Sciences Centre