Study Reveals How Blood Flow Force Prevents Clogged Arteries
Monday, August 25, 2008 - 11:21
in Biology & Nature
Machines on cell surfaces, mechanical and lifeless as bed springs, protect blood vessels by responding to blood flow force, according to research published today in the Journal of Cell Biology. By sensing and reacting to force, such machines interfere with inflammatory pathways central to atherosclerosis, the leading cause of heart attack and stroke. The next set of studies will seek to "tweak" the process with the goal of designing a new class of therapies.