Research Interest
The long-range goal of the Rizzo lab is to uncover the molecular signaling mechanisms that contribute to vascular dysfunction and associated large vessel disease such as atherosclerosis and aneurysm formation. Our studies center on organelles and their role as signaling microdomains in endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells. Past discoveries from the Rizzo lab have revealed that caveolae function as a hemodynamic flow-sensing and signal transducing organelles as well as redox signaling centers. This work has contributed to the current concept that caveolae serve as crucial regulatory elements that mediate vascular cell responses to pathogenic risk factors for cardiovascular disease (i.e., disturbed flow, inflammatory cytokines). More recent and ongoing projects focus on the role of mitochondrial and extracellular vesicle signaling in settings associated with both vascular heath and disease. Trainees are offered the opportunity to evaluate the physiologic and pathophysiologic processes of organelle signaling using modern techniques in microscopy, biochemistry, proteomics, cell biology and molecular genetic methodologies as well as unique in vivo and in vitro approaches.
Education, Training & Credentials
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, Mechanotransduction, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, Caveolae, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA
- PhD, Cell Biology, Angiogenesis, New Jersey Medical School
- BS, Biology, Farleigh Dickinson University
Publications
DeFouw DO, Rizzo VJ, Steinfeld R and Feinberg RN: Mapping of the microcirculation in the chick chorioallantoic membrane during normal angiogenesis. Microvasc. Res. 38:136-147, 1989
Rizzo V, Steinfeld R, Kyriakides C and DeFouw DO: The microvascular unit of the 6-day chick choriallantoic membrane: A fluorescent confocal microscopic and ultrastructural morphometric analysis of endothelial permselectivity. Microvasc. Res. 46:320-332, 1993.
Rizzo V and DeFouw DO: Macromolecular selectivity of chick chorioallantoic membrane microvessels during normal angiogenesis and endothelial differentiation. Tissue and Cell 25:847-856, 1993.
Rizzo V, Kim D, Duran WN and DeFouw DO: Ontogeny of microvascular permeability to macromolecules in the chick chorioallantoic membrane during normal angiogenesis. Microvasc. Res. 49:49-63, 1995.
Rizzo V, Kim D, Duran WN and DeFouw DO: Differentiation of the microvascular endothelium during normal angiogenesis and respiratory onset in the chick chorioallantoic membrane. Tissue and Cell 27:159-166, 1995.
Rizzo V and DeFouw DO: Capillary sprouts restrict macromolecular extravasation during normal angiogenesis in the chick chorioallantoic membrane. Microvasc. Res. 52:47-51, 1996.
Rizzo V, Shumko JZ and DeFouw DO: Degranulation of mast cells in the chick chorioallantoic membrane does not increase endothelial permselectivity during normal angiogenesis. Microcirculation 3:387-393, 1996.
Rizzo V and DeFouw DO: Mast cell activation accelerates the normal rate of angiogenesis in the chorioallantoic membrane. Microvasc. Res. 52:245-257, 1996.
Rizzo V and DeFouw DO: Microvascular permselectivity in the chick chorioallantoic membrane during endothelial cell senescence. Int.J. Microcirc. 17:75-79, 1997.
Rizzo V, Cruz A and DeFouw DO: Microvessels of the chorioallantoic membrane uniformly restrict albumin extravasation during angiogenesis and endothelial differentiation. Tissue and Cell 29:277-281, 1997.
Rizzo V, Sung A, Oh P, and Schnitzer JE. Rapid mechanotransduction in situ at the luminal cell surface of the microvascular endothelium and its caveolae. J. Biol. Chem. 273:26323-26329, 1998.
Rizzo V, McIntosh DP, Oh P, and Schnitzer JE. Flow activates eNOS in caveolae at the luminal cell surface of endothelium in situ with rapid caveolin dissociation and calmodulin association. J. Biol. Chem. 273:34724-34729. 1998.
Rizzo V and Schnitzer JE: In: Vascular endothelium: Mechanisms of Cell signaling. Ed. Catravas, J.D., Callow, A.D. and Ryan, U.S.; Role of Caveolae in mechanotransduction, IOS Press, NATO Science Series A, vol 308, pp.97-116, 1999.