The heart helps to restore blood vessels

The ability to transition between states of rest and proliferation is necessary for the normal development of blood vessels, regulation of blood pressure and restoration of blood vessels after injuries that occur during injuries, various diseases, for example, atherosclerosis, or as a result of surgical intervention. The data obtained by Dr. Akiko Hata from Tufts University is part of a project to study the mechanism of regulation of vascular cell activity, the purpose of which is to develop drugs that regulate the proliferation of smooth muscle cells of blood vessels.

It has previously been shown that bone morphogenesis proteins (BCM) play a role in inducing and maintaining the resting phase of the smooth muscles of the pulmonary artery in humans. In this study, it was demonstrated that another of the transcription factors – the FLH2 protein (Four-and-a-Half LIM Domain Protein 2) – suppresses the activity of genes specific to smooth muscle cells and regulated by BCM. In addition, the researchers were able to show in mice knocked out by the FLH2 gene that this protein plays an important role in maintaining vascular tone. Thus, FLH2 represents a new target for therapeutic agents in the treatment of atherosclerosis and postoperative rehabilitation therapy.

Article by Neuman et al. The Four-and-a-half LIM Domain Protein 2 Regulates Vascular Smooth Muscle Phenotype and Vascular Tone is published in the latest issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Portal "Eternal youth" www.vechnayamolodost.ru according to ScienceDaily: Heart Protein Regulates Blood Vessel Maintenance14.05.2009