Grant: Project Grant

Every 10 minutes a Canadian has a stroke, which kills ~14,000 Canadians yearly. Strokes are mainly caused by fatty deposit build-ups (plaques) in the arteries of the neck, which can break-off and travel to the brain. It is important to find out early when a plaque becomes dangerous (ready to break off). However, we only know for sure if a plaque is dangerous when it is removed by surgery and checked under a microscope. Often this is too late as the patient may already have had a stroke. Thus, research should focus on understanding why some plaques become dangerous, while others remain harmless. Current knowledge: 1) Some cells in plaques, called macrophages, can make the plaque more dangerous. Macrophages come from cells in the blood called monocytes. When monocytes enter the plaque, they transform into macrophages. 2) Adiponectin is a substance in the body that may protect our arteries from developing dangerous plaques. To work, it is like a key that must attach to its lock. This lock is the receptors found on monocytes and macrophages. Unknowns: 1) Do people with dangerous and harmless plaques have differences in the adiponectin receptors on their monocytes and macrophages? 2) Do differences in receptors make the plaques more dangerous? We will include patients going for surgery to remove the plaques from their neck arteries. We will examine adiponectin receptors on monocytes and macrophages of people with dangerous and harmless plaques. We believe that in people with dangerous plaques the receptors on the monocytes and macrophages will not work properly. We will use advanced lab techniques to determine if: 1) faulty receptors lead to dangerous plaques, and 2) we can fix these receptors. Our study will clarify the role of adiponectin receptors in the development of dangerous plaques. In the future, we may find treatments that can fix the receptors and turn the plaques from dangerous to harmless. Ultimately, this could prevent strokes and save many lives!