Countering the early stages of atherosclerosis in diabetes

Examining the effect of NADPH oxidase inhibition on endothelial regeneration in an in vivo model of whole body insulin resistance

Patients with diabetes (high blood sugar) often develop furring of their blood vessels called atherosclerosis, which leads to problems like heart attack and stroke. The earliest stage of atherosclerosis is thought to be caused by poor function of, and damage to, the lining of blood vessels (endothelium). The body can repair damaged endothelium, which may reduce atherosclerosis, but patients with diabetes are less effective at this. The researchers have shown that mice with early diabetes mimic patients with diabetes, because their blood vessels heal less well when damaged; the blood vessels of these mice also release too many chemicals called reactive oxygen species (ROS) which can damage the endothelium. Early work has shown that giving a drug that blocks production of ROS improves the function of blood vessels. In this project the team will perform more detailed studies of how this happens and whether blocking the production of ROS can improve repair of damaged blood vessels.