Investigating the mechanisms behind blood vessel damage in diabetes

Inter-cellular trafficking and regulation of microRNA-503 expression in diabetes induced microvascular complications

In diabetic muscles, high blood glucose levels damage blood vessels leading to reduced blood flow (ischaemia). Clinical consequences range from non-healing skin ulcers to limb ischaemia that is so severe that amputation may be required. Dr Andrea Caporali and colleagues at the University of Bristol propose to study how a protein p75NTR and a tiny molecule microRNA-503 are involved in diabetes-induced vascular defects. They know that miR-503 circulates in the body in small packages, called microvesicles, which seem to act like small messengers transferring signals from cell to cell. p75NTR promotes the release of microvesicles carrying miR-503, and since miR-503 levels are raised in diabetic patients with severe limb ischaemia, understanding the role of these two factors is important. The researchers will also develop new therapeutic approaches blocking microRNA-503. This study could provide potential new targets to treat diabetic patients with ischaemic complications.