Endoglin and high output heart failure

Endothelial endoglin is required to maintain normal cardiac function in adult life

Endoglin is a protein on the surface of the endothelial cells that make up the inner lining of blood vessels, and is needed for normal blood vessel development and growth. When endoglin is missing from endothelial cells, the heart enlarges rapidly and becomes more muscular. Although initially this seems to be beneficial by increasing the amount of blood that is pumped around the body, over time, the heart begins to fail. This disease is called high output cardiac failure. Professor Helen Arthur has found that endoglin is needed on endothelial cells to regulate the resistance of blood vessels to blood flow, which is required for the heart to function normally. Without endoglin, the heart over-fills with blood and has to work too hard to maintain its normal function. The BHF has awarded a grant to Professor Arthur to investigate how endoglin regulates normal blood pressure and heart filling volumes to maintain a healthy heart and avoid heart failure. The team will investigate if blocking endoglin in mice reduces blood vessel resistance, and how this relates to heart function. This research could also reveal a new approach to treat high blood pressure, particularly for people who are resistant to standard treatments.