Role of endothelial STAT5A in focal vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis, the build-up of fatty deposits in arteries, is started by inflammation of the cells that line blood vessels. This occurs mostly in the bends and branches of arteries, where blood flow is disrupted. By contrast, straighter parts of the arteries appear to be more protected. Professor Evans and his team have shown that a molecule called STAT5A is present in higher amounts at the more susceptible regions of arteries. It is also known that this molecule can cause inflammation. In this project, they aim to determine how STAT5A causes inflammation, and whether it is involved in the first stages of atherosclerosis. The team will study if STAT5A causes inflammation by controlling other inflammatory molecules and will try to identify which ones. Then, they will also try to work out whether STAT5A plays a role in atherosclerosis, by studying mice with and without STAT5A and seeing if this alters whether they develop these conditions or not. By understanding the role of STAT5A in blood vessel inflammation and atherosclerosis, the team will know if STAT5A itself, or related molecules, could be potential new targets for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.
Project details
| Grant amount | £244,387 |
|---|---|
| Grant type | Project Grants |
| Application type | Project Grant |
| Start Date | 19 February 2018 |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Reference | PG/17/56/33115 |
| Status | In Progress |
