High blood pressure in older adults traced to gene's effects in blo...(n but under these conditions the vessel ...)

Date:1/10/2008

n, but under these conditions, the vessel lining releases a substance, nitric oxide, that won't allow the cells to divide. The smooth muscle cells' resulting growth pushes inward, putting pressure on the lumen and restricting blood flow, resulting in high blood pressure.

Profilin 1 is a tool that triggers events that make the vessel more constricted and leads to the signal that results in vascular remodeling. Because we have understood the pathway of the disease process, we might be able to control vascular remodeling, Hassanain said.

Once a vessel is remodeled, more trouble is typically ahead. Diseased vessels are often characterized by injuries to the endothelium, where the lining of the vessel loses its protective layer. Once the lining is injured and vulnerable, smooth muscle cells will start to migrate inward, creating sticking points for fats, debris and other blood remnants.

That's the first hint of plaque. The smooth muscle cell migration is the tip of the iceberg of the plaque, Hassanain said. We're talking about all vessels, but when we're talking about this narrowing effect in the brain, this could lead to stroke, and in the coronary artery, it could lead to heart attack. It's all the same phenomenon.

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Contact: Hamdy Hassanain hamdy.hassanain@osumc.edu 614-292-1062 Ohio State University Source:Eurekalert

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