Smooth muscle cells groups
Recruitment of leukocytes to the endothelial layer of the blood vessel is the earliest event in the formation of an atherosclerotic lesion, leading to endothelial damage. This is followed by increased expression of numerous growth promoting factors from invading macrophages such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and insulin like growth factor-1(IGF-1), all of which have pro-mitogenic and pro- motogenic effects on vascular smooth muscle cells. However, under normal settings simultaneous expression of growth inhibitory stimuli, such as interferon gamma, transforming growth factor beta and nitric oxide tightly control smooth muscle cell accumulation. These anti-migratory and anti-proliferative effects are lost in pre-diabetic and diabetic settings due switch of smooth muscle cells from a contractile to a synthetic phenotype.
Thus, one of the objectives of this project is to determine how pre-diabetes and diabetes alters the phenotype and molecular composition of smooth muscle cells. We use appropriate rodent models and excised atheroma samples from patients for performing these studies. The second objective of the project is to identify food constituents having beneficial cardiovascular effects. Functional food constituents such as Resevetrol and gingerone have anti-atherosclerotic effects. Due to their anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, they delay the onset of atherosclerosis. We plan to screen these compounds based on their ability to inhibit migration and proliferation of primary cultures of smooth muscle cells in response to atherogenic agents such as FGF and PDGF. The team members involved in this project are:
P. Umarani
K. Rushendhiran
Uma Rani did her Masters in M.Sc. (Medical) Biochemistry and graduation in B.Sc. (MLT) from JIPMER.She joined Department of Biotechnology as a research scholar in December 2008 after clearing CSIR-NET examination in the same year. She is pursuing her PhD in the field of vascular biology. Her work in brief as below.
Proliferation and migration of VASCULAR SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS (VSMC) from intimal and medial layer of vessel wall in response to various signalling initiated by the earlier events such as endothelial dysfunction is the key event in atherogenesis. Although there is extensive study on DIABETES linking to ATHEROSCLEROSIS there are few reports on mechanism linking PRE-DIABETIC state to ATHERSCLEROSIS.My research project aims at studying the role of vascular smooth muscle cells in the process of atherogenesis in a pre diabetic set up. For this purpose we use culture of VSMC as in vitro model of insulin resistance mimicking the in vivo pre diabetic state.
Mr.K.Rushendhiran received his M.Sc in Biochemistry from University of Madras in 2009.Since June 2010 he is working as a Project Associate in an Indo-EU sponsored project.
Some natural food components and synthetic anti-oxidants have anti-proliferative activity like curcumin, and polyphenol antioxidant compounds of blueberry, grapes, green tea, onion , red wine and etc,. These food components don’t have side-effects and exhibit minimal cytotoxicity. As they are present in regular food their use a daily diet is routinely becoming polpular. My research work is to look for beneficial cardiovascular effects of Gentiana extracts. Gentian family has about 400 species. The root has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic. It occurs Asia, Europe and the Americas. Some species also occur in northwest Africa eastern Australia and New Zealand .Extracts of gentian root can be found in the American soft drink Moxie. Constituents of yellow gentian plants is bitter glycosides (amarogentin, gentiopicrin, sweitiamarin), alkaloids (including gentianine and gentialutine), xanthones (including gentisein and gentisin), triterpenes, sugars, volatile oil.
