Exploring the role of Wnt signalling in obesity-related hypertension
Globally, hypertension continues to be the biggest single contributor to the universal burden of disease. Approximately two-thirds of all cases of hypertension are linked to excess weight and visceral obesity. This project will explore the crosstalk between the adipose tissue and the vasculature to identify novel targets for treating hypertension.
Research Opportunities
Summary
Hypertension affects approximately 10,000,000 people in the UK and is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease and premature death worldwide. Clinically, hypertension is defined as a persistent raised blood pressure of >140/90mmHg and the risk of developing this condition is higher among obese people with approximately two-thirds of all cases of hypertension linked to excess weight. Visceral obesity, in particular, has been suggested as the most important risk factor for hypertension and cardiovascular disease, which indicates that one or more obesity-related mediator(s) (i.e. pro-inflammatory cytokines and/or pro-oxidant mediators) contribute to the development and/or progression of hypertension. Wingless/int1 (Wnt) ligands are a family of 19 lipoglycoproteins which activate Frizzled receptors to induce both physiological and pathophysiological responses. Mediators of the Wnt signalling system have been shown to be 1) increased in the circulation and visceral fat of obese individuals and 2) to regulate key features of the adverse vascular remodelling (i.e. vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) hyperplasia and migration) present in hypertension, suggesting that this signalling system may be a key contributor to obesity-related hypertension. The proposed project will use a variety of cell models to examine the crosstalk between adipocytes and VSMCs and to investigate the role of Wnt signalling in obesity-related vascular dysfunction.
Prospective student should have a First Class or a 2.1 Honours Degree (or equivalent) in a relevant biomedical science discipline.
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