Using cord blood cells to define how NOX4 affects the growth of new blood vessels

Defining key mechanisms underlying NOX4 signalling in endothelial colony-forming cells towards improved vasoreparative capacity in ischaemic disease

BHF-funded scientists in Belfast are investigating how to boost blood vessel growth to combat heart disease. The growth of new blood vessels is known as angiogenesis. Angiogenesis happens extensively while our bodies develop as babies and children. It also takes place in adults, but not sufficiently to overcome diseases that damage our circulation, such as coronary heart disease and peripheral artery disease. Global research efforts aim to boost our capacity for angiogenesis to fight disease. These researchers are using cells collected from donated umbilical cord blood to study endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs), which are very good at making new blood vessels. It’s not yet known how these cells work, so the team are carrying out this project to gain more insight. They will study an enzyme active in ECFCs called NOX4, with produces a set of chemicals shown to be important for their function. They will see how NOX4 affects the way that ECFCs communicate with other cells, and whether the amount and location of NOX4 within ECFCs matters. They will also investigate if the effects of NOX4 change in environments with low oxygen, since oxygen depletion is a factor in when our circulation is damaged. This study will improve our understanding of ECFCs from cord blood, and will help to identify how we might use and boost the body’s natural regenerative potential to combat disease.