Vasodilatation by positive allosteric modulation of the endothelial P2X4 receptor for ATP
Dr Samuel Fountain at the University of East Anglia is searching for new molecules that boost nitric oxide and could ultimately treat blood vessel diseases. Nitric oxide is a gas made by the endothelial cells lining our blood vessels, which helps blood to flow and prevents blood clots. In blood vessel diseases, such as atherosclerosis and high blood pressure, nitric oxide production falls or is lost, so drugs that boost its production could help to treat these conditions. Dr Fountain wants to identify new drug-like molecules that widen human blood vessels by stimulating endothelial cells to make nitric oxide. He has found that a protein called the P2X4 receptor, which is found on the surface of endothelial cells, is essential to produce nitric oxide in human coronary artery endothelial cells grown in the lab. In this project, he will search for more drug-like molecules that stimulate the P2X4 receptor and will investigate how they work. These drug-like molecules could be the first steps to developing new treatments for high blood pressure and atherosclerosis.
Project details
| Grant amount | £250,260 |
|---|---|
| Grant type | Project Grants |
| Application type | Project Grant |
| Start Date | 01 March 2017 |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Reference | PG/16/69/32194 |
| Status | In Progress |
