Preventing blood vessel narrowing after vein grafting

Exploiting the inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and intimal thickening by PRH/HHEX (Miss Lien Reolizo)

The build-up of fatty deposits in arteries causes narrowing of blood vessels, restricted blood flow and deprivation of oxygen, leading to heart and circulatory diseases. Conventional treatment for the narrowing of arteries is to implant a stent in the vessel, or to conduct bypass surgery to redirect blood flow around the blockage. However, it is common following both procedures for the vessel to re-narrow – a process called restenosis. This is caused by the growth and movement of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) following damage to the blood vessel. Although stents that release certain drugs can prevent this regrowth and thickening of tissue, they also prevent normal blood vessel repair. Professor Sarah Jane George is supervising a PhD studentship that could provide a solution. The student will determine whether a protein called PRH could be used as a treatment to halt the overgrowth of VSMCs following treatment. In her previous work, Professor George has shown that PRH strongly blocks the growth of VSMCs in the lab and in a model of vein grafting. Now, the plan is to test newly designed, more stable PRH proteins in mice to see whether they can prevent restenosis while still allowing blood vessel cell repair. The results could lead to urgently-needed better treatment options for people with coronary artery disease.