Grant: Operating Grant

Hypertension is associated with abnormal vascular resistance due to vessel wall thickness. The increase in wall thickness of the vessels is due to a greater vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) mass, because of the abnormal growth and proliferation of these cells. The exact mechanism for this abnormality in hypertension is not clearly understood at the present. The studies proposed in this grant application are aimed at delineating the molecular mechanism of the abnormal VSMC growth in animal models of hypertension. More specifically,we propose to investigate if vasoactive peptide and growth factor -induced proliferative and hypertrophic signaling pathways are defecive in animal models of hypertension , and if correction of this aberration by pharmacological or genetic interventions can improve the hypertension. The results obtained from these studies will eventually provide a basis for new approaches to the management of cardiovascular disease, more particularly, hypertension.