Trichoplein: Role for a novel regulator in the endothelial cell function in diabetes
The blood vessels in the human body are lined with a thin layer of endothelial cells. In healthy people, endothelial cells help to form new vessels by migrating and dividing. In diabetic patients, these endothelial cells are faulty and weak, which can lead to vessel-related problems like ischaemia (lack of blood flow to parts of the body), atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and delayed healing of wounds. Dr Caporali and his team have discovered that a protein called trichoplein (TCHP) helps endothelial cells to migrate and to survive - cells without TCHP are more easily damaged or killed. The researchers believe that diabetes may cause vessel-related problems by controlling the levels of TCHP in endothelial cells. We want to discover how endothelial cells use TCHP, how diabetes controls and affects the protein, and if any other proteins are involved in how TCHP works. This is the first time that anyone has studied the relationship between TCHP and diabetes, and if TCHP is responsible for making endothelial cells stronger and healthier, it may help diabetic patients with vessel-related complications.
Project details
| Grant amount | £113,939 |
|---|---|
| Grant type | Fellowships |
| Application type | PhD Studentship |
| Start Date | 01 September 2014 |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Reference | FS/14/7/30574 |
| Status | Complete |
