The role of RNA molecules in blood vessel remodelling

Analysis of a novel long non-coding RNA (SMILR) that controls vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation 

BHF Professor Andrew Baker and his team at the University of Edinburgh want to develop innovative treatments that target abnormal blood vessel growth during heart and circulatory disease. Blood vessel remodelling is a common feature of cardiovascular diseases, causing vein grafts to fail after cardiac bypass surgery, re-narrowing of coronary arteries after a stent has been inserted, and in atherosclerosis and abdominal aortic aneurysm. There are few treatments to prevent un-necessary remodelling in these conditions. Recently, scientists have found that a type of RNA molecule, called a long non-coding RNA, can help to regulate how cells function in health and disease. Professor Baker has found that a long non-coding RNA molecule called SMILR regulates how blood vessel smooth muscle cells grow. He has discovered that SMILR isn’t controlled properly in atherosclerosis (where arteries become furred up with fatty plaques) and in people with inflammation. In this project, he wants to work out how SMILR controls blood vessel health, how it contributes to blood vessel diseases, and how we can manipulate it to treat disease. This research will improve our understanding of how long non coding RNAs affect blood vessels in health and disease, which will hopefully reveal new avenues for treatment of patients.