Finding out how blood flow influences plaque formation in atherosclerosis

Disturbed shear stress and strain act synergistically to promote the pro-atherogenic endothelial cell phenotype responsible for TCFA

Professor Rob Krams is finding out what causes plaques to form and block the coronary artery in atherosclerosis, the underlying cause of coronary heart disease. Coronary artery plaques can rupture causing a heart attack, which is the main reason people die from coronary heart disease. Scientists have found that disturbances to the biomechanical environment of the endothelial cells lining the blood vessels strongly influences the formation of a particular plaque that is more likely to rupture called a thin cap fibro-atheroma. If mechanical stress and strain on the cells is higher, these vulnerable plaques are more likely to form. In this study, Professor Krams and his team will develop sophisticated modelling tools to measure the stresses and strains being placed on endothelial cells lining the blood vessels. They will use these tools alongside a specialist device that enables them to isolate damaged endothelial cells from arteries with thin cap fibro-atheroma, before studying the signalling pathways that help these plaques to form. This work, in mice, will help us better understand how blood flow affects the formation of vulnerable thin capped plaques. It could lead to valuable tools that help doctors distinguish and treat different stages of plaque before they rupture to cause a heart attack.