Working out how arteries sense blood flow

Regulation and cross-talk of Piezo1 channels in the endothelium

Dr Jian Shi from the University of Leeds is studying how arteries ‘sense’ blood flow. Blood flow has a major effect on artery health – arteries are more likely to become diseased in areas where the flow is disturbed, leading to heart attacks. In this project, Dr Shi will study proteins of the heart and circulatory system, called Piezo1 channels, within the endothelial cells that line blood vessels. Named after the Greek word to press or squeeze, these channels play a vital role in sensing mechanical force, which determines heart and blood vessel development in health and disease. Dr Shi believes the properties of these channels and their interactions with membrane fats and proteins determine how endothelial cells respond to physical force in health and disease. He will first identify and understand the properties and inter-relationships between them by studying individual endothelial cells from mice. He will then work out how Piezo1 channels are controlled within cells and how they help to sense blood flow within arteries. This research will improve our understanding of blood flow sensing in blood vessels and may reveal new ways to treat heart and circulatory diseases.