Which cells and molecules activate blood and lymph vessel growth during heart repair?

Determining the regulatory pathways controlling venous and lymphatic vessel growth and their role during heart development and regeneration

The circulatory system transports blood around the body, but we also have a second circulatory system called the lymphatic system. This is made up of a network of vessels carrying ‘lymph’ fluid away from tissues to the lymph nodes, which contain immune cells to trap foreign particles and return the filtered fluid to the blood. The growth of new blood and lymphatic vessels is essential for repair after a heart attack. But researchers don’t fully understand which types of cells are involved in creating new vessels in the adult heart. Dr Sarah Val is an expert in studying genetic ‘enhancers’ – a type of on-off switch for genes. Her Fellowship has two aims: to determine which genes tell cells to form blood vessels, and which tell cells to form a lymphatic vessel. In both cases, once she’s narrowed down the enhancers that control this process, she’ll work back to identify the molecules that flick the enhancer switches on. In cells found in veins, she is particularly interested in molecules called BMPs. She thinks that other molecules help BMPs switch on genes that promote vein growth, and that these might be good targets for drugs to activate this process in the damaged heart. The goal is to build a comprehensive picture of how different molecules work together in the heart to activate either blood or lymphatic vessel growth. It’s hoped that this will lead to new treatments that can switch on blood vessel growth and help the heart recover after a heart attack.