Scientists discover 'blood vessel' gene

A group of scientists from the University of Leeds has discovered a gene that plays a vital role in the formation of blood vessels - adding to our knowledge of how early life develops.

The study has been published in the journal Nature.

Researchers say the discovery could lead to a better understanding of how to treat cardiovascular diseases and cancer, assuming the blood vessel networks can be manipulated.

“We need to do further research into how this gene can be manipulated to treat these diseases

Lead researcher David Beech

Lead researcher David Beech said: “Blood vessel networks are not already pre-constructed but emerge rather like a river system. Vessels do not develop until the blood is already flowing and they are created in response to the amount of flow. This gene, Piezo1, provides the instructions for sensors that tell the body that blood is flowing correctly and gives the signal to form new vessel structures.

“The gene gives instructions to a protein which forms channels that open in response to mechanical strain from blood flow, allowing tiny electrical charges to enter cells and trigger the changes needed for new vessels to be built.”

To advance its research, the team is planning to study the effects of manipulating Piezo1 on cancers, which require a blood supply to grow, as well as in heart diseases such as atherosclerosis, where plaques form in parts of blood vessels with disturbed blood flow.

“This work provides fundamental understanding of how complex life begins and opens new possibilities for treatment of health problems such as cardiovascular disease and cancer, where changes in blood flow are common and often unwanted,” Beech said.

“We need to do further research into how this gene can be manipulated to treat these diseases. We are in the early stages of this research, but these findings are promising.”

To conduct the blood vessel research, scientists used mice and cells taken from humans.