Inflammation Control Could Benefit Disease Treatment

A research team at the University of Dundee are hoping to find a new treatment for cardiovascular disease by controlling enzymes that can cause inflammation in the blood vessels. The researchers have identified a group of enzymes called SIK’s that reduce the production of chemicals which protect the blood vessels from inflammation.  The team is hoping they can find a way of “switching off” these enzymes so the protective chemicals can do their job.

The two year project is being funded with a £137,206 grant from national charity Heart Research UK and is led by Dr Faisel Khan.

Chronic inflammation plays an important role in the development of cardiovascular disease, particularly atherosclerosis – the build-up of fatty material inside blood vessels.  In the presence of risk factors such as obesity, high cholesterol and high blood sugar, the lining of the blood vessels becomes damaged, which leads to the production of inflammatory chemicals. 

Some of these chemicals are harmful to the blood vessels and promote atherosclerosis, while others are protective.  Understanding the mechanisms that lead to persistent inflammation and cause damage to blood vessels may allow steps to be taken to counteract them.

Dr Khan said the Heart Research UK grant would allow his team to do further research into what could lead to a new treatment for cardiovascular disease.  “By understanding how persistent inflammation occurs and finding ways of preventing it, there are real possibilities that this research could lead to new treatments in the future,” he said. “These enzymes play an important role and the key is to isolate those that are harmful and encourage those that are protective.”

Heart Research UK National Director, Barbara Harpham, said, “We fund research that aims to benefit patients as soon as possible.  We hope that Dr Khan’s project will give interesting insights into the role of inflammation in the development of cardiovascular disease and how manipulation of these enzymes may represent a new treatment to prevent coronary heart disease and heart attacks.”