Mechanical stimulation of micro-vascular endothelial cells contributes to lung remodelling in chronic heart failure

长期心力衰竭患者出现呼吸短促，部分原因是肺部出现疤痕和僵硬，导致肺部更难扩张，工作效率降低。当心脏功能受损时，最常见的是在心脏病发作后，流入心脏的血管中的压力增加，并且它们变得膨胀。我认为这些血管的伸展有助于长期心力衰竭患者的肺瘢痕形成。我们的研究小组已经开发出一种模型，使我们能够检查拉伸小血管细胞的后果。利用这个模型，我将研究拉伸对促进瘢痕形成的细胞释放物质的影响。我们希望确定心力衰竭中肺瘢痕形成的原因，以期发现新的靶点，改善患有这种非常常见和衰弱的疾病的患者的生活。

Shortness of breath in longstanding heart failure occurs partly because the lungs become scarred and stiff, with the result that they are more difficult to expand and work less efficiently. When heart function is impaired, most commonly after a heart attack, the pressure in blood vessels draining into the heart increases and they become distended. I propose that stretching of these blood vessels contributes to lung scarring in longstanding heart failure. Our research team has developed a model that allows us to examine the consequences of stretching the cells that line small blood vessels. Using this model, I shall investigate the effect of stretch on the release of substances from cells that promote scar formation. We hope to identify the cause of lung scarring in heart failure with a view to discovering new targets for improving the lives of patients suffering from this very common and debilitating condition.