An important new role for actin in atherosclerosis

Nuclear action dynamics and vascular cell behaviour

Atherosclerosis is the process in arteries that causes them to become narrowed or blocked, and can cause a stroke or heart attack. During atherosclerosis, the growth and movement of cells in the walls of blood vessels becomes uncontrolled, and finding a way to stop this happening may prevent these conditions. This team has discovered that a type of protein called actin is much more important in the growth and movement of blood vessel cells than has been realised. Before, it was thought that actin was just part of cells’ structural scaffold, and resided only in the main body of the cell. However, they have found that it also appears in the nucleus of blood vessel cells. Here, it interacts with DNA to control the activity of genes that are needed for cells to grow and move. In this project, they will take this exciting discovery even further. In rats, they will examine how levels of actin in the nucleus change in response to molecular signals that are normally turned on during atherosclerosis. And they will investigate exactly how actin controls gene activity that affects how cells grow and move. By uncovering and understanding this newly discovered component of atherosclerosis, we may find new opportunities to prevent and treat artery disease – and prevent heart attacks and strokes.