Endothelial biology

Read about the quest for medicines to treat endothelial dysfunction.

How we’re tackling endothelial dysfunction

The endothelium is a single layer of cells lining every blood vessel, which fulfils multiple roles in vascular function. These include regulating vascular tone, organ perfusion, inflammation, vascular permeability, coagulation and fibrinolysis, and also influencing tissue immune responses and cancer cell metastasis.

Endothelial dysfunction is common with advancing age and is triggered by cardiovascular risk factors such as raised LDL-cholesterol, diabetes and smoking. Endothelial dysfunction results in reduced vasodilatation, increased inflammation, and a prothrombotic state, all of which increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and worsen outcomes for people with disease. A treatment that can restore healthy vascular function will impact the wellbeing of billions of people.

More than thirty years research, by large pharmaceutical companies and a multitude of research labs worldwide, has so far failed to identify a treatment for endothelial dysfunction. Under the direction of Professor Roger Corder, the SDDC is now rising to the challenge to define novel therapeutic targets that can lead to much needed new medicines for this common cardiovascular disorder.