The Use of Organ Cultures to Study Vessel Wall Pathobiology

Organ culture of the vessel wall is an useful in vitro method to study vascular cell biology. The intact vessel allows for the study of cell-cell and cell-substratum interactions including the structure and function of the vessel wall matrix. Long term organ cultures of porcine aorta show that neointimal formation is due primarily to cell proliferation of pre-existing intimal smooth muscle cells. Neointimal formation in these cultures is more pronounced in the presence of an endothelium that is turning over. In endothelial wound repair studies, the endothelium of the organ culture shows some important differences when compared to tissue culture studies in monolayer culture. Thus, vascular organ cultures can be successfully used to study vessel wall biology in health and disease

The Role of the Cytoskeleton in Endothelial Repair

The injured endothelium undergoes rapid repair of areas of cell desquamation in order to maintain the structural integrity of the endothelial surface. Endothelial repair involves a series of processes which include endothelial cell spreading, translocation, and proliferation. These processes are well defined events which occur sequentially in time. Spreading and translocation are mediated by the cell cytoskeleton - F-actin microfilaments and microtubules and associated centrosomes. The regulation of these processes is complex and is likely due to soluble factors present at the site of injury which are released from activated endothelial cells, platelets, the subendothelial substratum, activated serum factors, and hemodynamic shear stress. Cell replication occurs in order to replace lost cells and maintain the appropriate cell density of the endothelial surface. The factors which regulate endothelial cell proliferation are currently under study

Academic Mentorship Builds a Pathology Community

Since academic mentorship focuses on developing and supporting the next generation of pathologists as well as the existing faculty, it plays a vital role in creating a successful academic pathology department whose faculty deliver quality teaching, research, and clinical care. The central feature is the mentor–mentee relationship which is built on mutual respect, transparency, and a genuine interest from the mentor in the success of the mentee. This relationship is a platform for career development, academic guidance, informed professional choices, and problem solving. Departments of pathology must embrace a culture of effective mentorship so that trainees and faculty members are well mentored. Mentorship should become an academic activity that is valued and rewarded. Departments should create and support formal educational programs that train mentors in mentorship. Effective models of formal mentorship need to be created and evaluated in order to strengthen academic pathology. A successful mentorship culture will provide for a sustainable community of academic pathologists that transmits their best practices to the next generation