The effect of mutations of the ciliary proteins ift88 and ift54 on angiogenesis and mechanotransduction in zebrafish
Dr Timothy Chico and his team are studying the way that our heart and blood vessels develop. Understanding this better may reveal new ways to treat heart disease. In this project, Dr Chico is studying minute hair-like structures, called primary cilia, which are found on the surface of cells lining blood vessels. He believes that these cilia may be important in blood vessel growth and keeping vessels healthy. Cilia sense force by bending as blood flows past them, triggering signals within the cell. People who have faulty genes that affect cilia also have an increased risk of heart and circulatory disease. Dr Chico and his team will investigate the role of cilia in blood vessel growth by observing how zebrafish develop without them. They will use zebrafish that do not produce cilia because they have mutations in genes involved in cilia development. The researchers will also look at the signals triggered in cells caused by blood flow bending the cilia. In the final part of the project, the team will look at the role of cilia in adult zebrafish blood vessels, comparing cells in blood vessels that have a mixture of cells with and without cilia and also removing cilia from adult zebrafish blood vessels. This project will help us understand the role of cilia in blood vessels and may reveal ways to boost blood vessel growth. The research could explain how abnormal cilia are linked to heart and circulatory diseases.
Project details
| Grant amount | £261,563 |
|---|---|
| Grant type | Project Grants |
| Application type | Project Grant |
| Start Date | 01 May 2015 |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Reference | PG/15/17/31332 |
| Status | Complete |
