Regulation of cerebral blood flow at the capillary level by the TMEM16A channel
A stroke can occur when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel in your brain. Doctors can remove the clot, but sometimes, even after the clot has been removed, the blood still may not flow properly into the brain blood vessels (this is called the ‘no-reflow’ problem). When this happens, the tissue continues to suffer from a lack of oxygen and nerve cells can become further damaged, hindering recovery. Small cells called pericytes, which are found around the tiny blood vessels called capillaries, can cause this no-reflow. However, why they contract and narrow the brain blood vessels so persistently during stroke is not fully understood. Dr Tammaro and his research team have identified a new way by which pericytes contract. This project will study this mechanism in more detail with the aim of finding ways to prevent ‘no-reflow’ from happening. The team is particularly interested in a protein called TMEM16A that sits on the outside of the pericyte and allow calcium in and out of the cell. They want to understand how it regulates brain blood flow in response to brain chemicals, nerve activity and a lack of blood supply. They will also target the TMEM16A with drugs in a rat model of stroke. The results will advance our understanding of blood flow regulation in the brain and could lead to new treatments to improve recovery after a stroke.
Project details
| Grant amount | £266,293 |
|---|---|
| Grant type | Project Grants |
| Application type | Project Grant |
| Start Date | 09 September 2019 |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Reference | PG/19/8/34168 |
| Status | In Progress |
