Why and how do vascular ‘risk genes’ actually increase heart disease risk?

Genetic discovery-based targeting of the vascular interface in atherosclerosis (joint funding with DZHK)

Genetic studies of large groups of people have identified changes in certain parts of their DNA that are more frequently found in people with coronary heart disease. Many of these changes are in regions of DNA that influence the walls of our blood vessels. For many of these genes, little else is known about their function and why they are linked to heart and circulatory disease. This Anglo-German team will try to resolve these unanswered questions and find new ways to prevent or treat heart disease. The health of the walls of our blood vessels is important, and damage to the walls of arteries in the heart can lead to the development of heart disease. Professor Hugh Watkins and his colleagues in Germany will further investigate the blood vessel genes that have been identified in previous heart disease studies. By combining laboratory and computer research methods, they hope to discover what these genes do, and how they affect the health of our blood vessels. Whilst many of these genes have been known about for several years, the race is now on to turn this knowledge into tangible benefits for people with, or at risk of, heart and circulatory disease. Through this work they hope to pin down vital new targets in the blood vessel wall, which could be hit with new medicines to try to prevent or treat heart and circulatory disease.