Can export control stop cells releasing von Willebrand factor?

An investigation into novel regulatory mechanisms for Von Willebrand factor secretion from endothelial cells

Dr Thomas Nightingale and his team at Queen Mary, University of London, are looking for ways to control levels of a protein called von Willebrand factor, or VWF, which is linked to heart and circulatory disease. When the body is injured, it responds quickly to limit damage. Endothelial cells lining blood vessels contain packages of pre-made factors that are released into the vessel to start the blood clotting process and recruit immune cells to fight infection. VWF is one of these factors, and while it instigates blood clotting, high levels are associated with heart disease and stroke. Blocking VWF release from endothelial cells is not an option, because this blocks the release of other proteins the body needs to fight infection. Dr Nightingale has found that VWF release from the endothelium requires specific cellular machinery to squeeze it out of the cell. In this project, he will characterise this machinery, determine which signals trigger its recruitment, and identify new molecules associated with it. He believes the VWF export machinery might be a good target for drugs that could block the release of VWF without affecting the release of other factors needed for the body’s normal immune response. This study could identify new mechanisms within the cell that could be targeted using drugs to control VWF release, which could help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.