Understanding why arteries re-narrow after treatment with a stent

Functional roles of hnRNPA1 in vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype modulation and neointima hyperplasia

Dr Qingzhong Xiao is studying cells and proteins involved in restenosis – when arteries re-narrow after patients receive a procedure called a coronary angioplasty. Coronary angioplasty, when a balloon is used to open a narrowed or blocked artery and a stent is inserted, is the most effective treatment to improve the blood supply to heart muscle. But restenosis can occur in patients after they have had this procedure. We need to work out why this happens, and if we can prevent this happening. Researchers have found that vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), which make up the blood vessel wall, can change and become abnormal in response to damage, so they are responsible for triggering restenosis. Dr Xiao has found that a protein called hnRNPA1 may be the ‘switch’ that makes VSMCs turn from normal to abnormal cells. In this project, Dr Xiao is investigating hnRNPA1’s role in VSMC switching further, and exploring whether hnRNPA1 could be a target for new drugs to prevent restenosis. Coronary angioplasty and stenting are procedures that save many lives. Understanding the biological mechanisms underlying restenosis could improve the success rate of these important treatments.