Understanding how calcium-sensing receptors influence blood pressure

Investigations into calcium-sensing receptor mechanisms in the vasculature (Ms Simonette Carlton-Carew)

Abnormal contraction of blood vessels leads to high blood pressure, which in turn is a significant risk factor for heart and circulatory diseases. Recently, a group of molecules called calcium-sensing receptors (CaSRs) have been shown to regulate blood vessel constriction. As the name suggests, CaSRs measure the concentration of calcium in the blood. In blood vessels, switching on CaSRs causes vessels to relax and dilate. But little is known about how CaSR has this effect. This PhD studentship, supervised by Dr Anthony Albert, aims to address this knowledge gap by studying exactly how CaSR-controlled events within cells lead to blood vessel dilation. The student will study the effect of switching on CaSRs in different types of blood vessels in rats and mice – comparing vessels from heart, lung, intestine and kidney. They will look particularly at the blood vessel dilator, nitric oxide, and at two important groups of ‘ion channels’ – tiny sensors on the surfaces of cells that they propose are involved in blood vessel dilation. Identifying molecules that are known to switch on blood vessel relaxation would be of great therapeutic value, potentially leading to new treatments for high blood pressure.