Dietary fat affects blood vessel function in high blood pressure

S-acylation and the regulation of vascular smooth muscle BK channels

People with high blood pressure are at higher risk of heart and circulatory disease. High blood pressure can arise as a result of blood vessels losing their elasticity, meaning that blood vessels cannot expand and contract as effectively to regulate blood flow. Researchers need to know more about what controls the contractile activity in the muscle cells of blood vessels when high blood pressure develops in order to identify new treatments. This research team, led by Professor Michael Shipston at the University of Edinburgh, will investigate the factors that control the contraction and relaxation of the muscle layer surrounding blood vessels. This vascular smooth muscle plays an important part in regulating the blood flow in the vessel to nourish organs with the required amount of oxygen. The research is important because in people with high blood pressure, the blood vessels narrow putting a strain on organs. They will analyse special channels in the cells lining blood vessels through which potassium flows in and out. This flow controls the contractile activity of smooth muscle cells. They will look at how certain types of fat modify the behaviour of the channels. Understanding how fatty modification of these channels controls vascular smooth muscle cell function could help to identify new targets for treatment of disorders like high blood pressure.