How obesity damages blood vessels

Imaging small artery endothelial calcium signals in human obesity: Does damage to TRPV4 channel function explain endothelial dysfunction?

Obesity is a growing problem in the UK. Children who are obese are at a much higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease if they remain obese. Scientists know that in obesity-related cardiovascular disease, the inner lining of the blood vessels (the endothelium) becomes damaged – this may be a cause of high blood pressure. A specific set of proteins within the endothelium appear to get damaged and then not function properly. Understanding how the endothelium becomes damaged may reveal new ways to repair the blood vessels in obesity. BHF Intermediate Clinical Research Fellow Dr Adam Greenstein from the University of Manchester has received a grant to investigate why people develop blood vessel disease when they put on weight. His team will use state-of-the-art imaging technology to study both human and mouse arteries. This technique is already revealing fascinating and unexpected insights into how the endothelium and blood vessels work. In this project, they will study how they are affected in obese patients with cardiovascular disease. There are currently no drugs that specifically treat obesity-induced heart disease. Researchers hope that by revealing the exact mechanism behind the damage, we could one day repair obesity-related damage to blood vessels.