Controlling blood vessel cell overgrowth using carbon monoxide

The role of Kv1.3 in the regulation of smooth muscle proliferation by carbon monoxide

Diseases of the blood vessels often involve vessel thickening which restricts blood flow and can be life-threatening. Vessels thicken because the muscle cells in their wall begin to increase in number (proliferate). These changes are seen in the blood vessel in people with atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, and after coronary artery bypass grafting or stent implantation. The research team at Leeds has discovered a way in which this process can be regulated: proliferating muscle cells in diseased vessels switch on an enzyme known as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) which produces the gas carbon monoxide (CO) - a natural signalling gas, as well as an infamous toxin. They have discovered a new way in which this gas can control proliferation: it appears to do so by controlling the activity of specific proteins (potassium channels) in the cell membrane which permit movement of potassium in and out of the cell. This project will use cutting-edge techniques to determine whether manipulation of this signalling pathway can be used in the control of vascular diseases.