What is the role of COX-1 in blood vessels?

Understanding the unexplored function of COX-1 in vessels: targets for new cardiovascular therapies?

BHF Intermediate Basic Science Research Fellow Dr Nicholas Kirkby is studying whether blocking an enzyme called COX-1 in blood vessels as well as platelets could protect against heart attacks and strokes. Blood clotting pathways stop us from bleeding, but can also result in harmful clots that block blood vessels, causing heart attacks or strokes. An enzyme called COX-1 controls important blood clotting pathways and is found in both platelets and blood vessels. Aspirin prevents blood clots by blocking COX-1 in platelets, reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Dr Kirby believes that blocking COX-1 in blood vessels may also be protective. Until recently, there have been no tools to study COX-1 in blood vessels. But now, genetically engineered mice enable scientists to study platelet and blood vessel COX-1 separately. In this project, Dr Kirkby will use these mice to understand how COX-1 works in blood vessels and if it is harmful or beneficial to the heart and circulatory system. He will study the effect of blocking COX-1 in vessels, and whether this affects clotting and blood vessel function. Understanding how COX-1 works in blood vessels will reveal if it is a suitable drug target to boost aspirin’s anticlotting activity either by blocking COX-1 function if it is harmful or boosting it if beneficial.