Ageing of the vascular endothelium
Description: The inner layer of cells that are in contact with the blood are called the endothelial cell and constitute the endothelium. The function of the endothelium is important because it dilate the arteries to allows more blood to feed the organs, prevents blood clotting, is the first barrier against foreign organisms such as bacterias and viruses and regulates the diffusion of nutrients from the blood to the organs. With ageing, this function declines and favours plaque formation that close arteries inducing a heart attack if this artery feed the heart. Increase in cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking or high sugar, all these increase the risk of heart attack and I beleive this is through an acceleration of the ageing of the endothelium. The aim of this project is validate this hypothesis and the mechanisms by which this occurs. We could then develop strategies to protect the endothelium and slows this abnormal ageing process that lead to premature heart attack.
Amount: CA$770,000
Funding type: research
Funder scheme: Operating Grant
Start date: 2008-10-01
End date: 2013-09-30
Investigator: Eric Thorin
Institution: Montreal Heart Institute
Funded outputs count: 17
Funder award ID: 14496_4
OpenAlex ID: G450412305