Deciphering the angiogenic tug-of war between neuropilin-1 interacting integrins
Dr Stephen Robinson studies how cells that form the inner lining of blood vessels, endothelial cells, interact with their environment. This process may affect how they are involved in angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels. Angiogenesis is essential to establish a new blood supply in damaged tissue, such as heart muscle after a heart attack. Understanding this process in detail may reveal ways to artificially boost angiogenesis and speed up the repair process. A group of proteins called integrins help endothelial cells move through their environment to drive the growth of new blood vessels. Two integrins called alpha5 and beta3 seem to play a tug-of-war with one another, and this battle must be in balance to achieve angiogenesis. A third protein called neuropilin-1 appears to be the centre point of that tug-of-war. In this project, Dr Robinson is investigating how these three proteins interact with one another to coordinate angiogenesis. He is also trying to find out how altering these proteins in endothelial cells influences angiogenesis in cells, tissues and in mice. Understanding how alpha5 integrin, beta3 integrin and neuropilin-1 interact to coordinate angiogenesis may reveal ways to manipulate this process to treat heart and circulatory disease.
Project details
| Grant amount | £92,644 |
|---|---|
| Grant type | Project Grants |
| Application type | Project Grant |
| Start Date | 21 September 2015 |
| Duration | 1 year |
| Reference | PG/15/25/31369 |
| Status | Complete |
