# A Heparin Receptor in Vascular Cells

> **NIH NIH R15** · LEHIGH UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $477,217

## Abstract

SUMMARY Our identification of TMEM184A as a heparin receptor in vascular cells has led to
investigations of how the heparin receptor works in vivo and to further studies of signaling.
Saturating the heparin receptor decreases vascular cell proliferation in culture and knocking it
down increases endothelial cell proliferation in regenerative angiogenesis. Despite increased
cell proliferation, knockdown of the receptor decreases both developmental and regenerative
angiogenesis. Our recent studies provide evidence suggesting involvement of the heparin
receptor in VEGF signaling as well as in mechano-signaling. Both seem likely to involve direct
interactions of the heparin receptor with heparan sulfate proteoglycans. The current proposal is
designed to expand our knowledge about the heparin receptor and its function using a
combination of cell culture assays, assays of developmental and regenerative angiogenesis in
zebrafish, and employing a null mutant for the heparin receptor currently being developed.
Specifically, we will test the hypothesis that the heparin receptor interacts with heparan sulfate
proteoglycans to modulate signaling. We will also test the hypothesis that mechano-transduction
through integrins and VE-Cadherin involves TMEM184A with syndecan 4, and recycling of the
components. We will investigate TMEM184A signaling through VEGFR2 where we propose that
it modulates the signaling through altering endocytosis pathways leading to altered signaling.
Together these studies will provide data to better understand the mechanism(s) by which the
heparin receptor is functioning and should yield clues to designing treatments for various
vascular diseases that take advance of this heparin receptor modulatory system.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10513384
- **Project number:** 2R15HL054269-08A1
- **Recipient organization:** LEHIGH UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** LINDA J LOWE-KRENTZ
- **Activity code:** R15 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $477,217
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1995-06-01 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10513384

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10513384, A Heparin Receptor in Vascular Cells (2R15HL054269-08A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10513384. Licensed CC0.

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