Researchers have uncovered how fluctuations in blood flow that occur when there is a narrowing in the arteries contribute to harmful inflammation and blood clot formation, revealing the critical role that blood flow–driven forces play in the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases. These new insights from researchers at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, published today (August 22) in Nature Communications , have led to the identification of a target that could mitigate harmful inflammation and blood clot formation , and potentially have a significant impact on diseases including atherosclerosis and heart valve disease. When there is a narrowing in blood vessels , blood flow fluctuates and a sequence of cellular events take place, including the activation of white blood cells —the body's innate immune response.
However, the blood flow fluctuation (shear stress) also induces a process called NETosis, which sees white blood cells (neutrophils) release web-like structures that trap and neutralize harmful invaders like bacteria. This trapping and subsequent arterial build-up have been found to contribute to harmful inflammation and blood clot formation. Baker Institute Head of the Mechanobiology and Microfluidics Lab, Associate Professor Sara Baratchi, has identified that an ion channel called Piezo1 is crucial in the NETosis process, paving the way for the identification of protective treatments to prevent shear stress-induced arterial narrowing.
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