2019 participants
Gayathri Rajesh Nair
Endothelial cells line the inner surface of blood vessels. Inflammation causes disruption to endothelial cell function leading to disease, i.e. atherosclerosis. Factors involved in the inflammatory response of endothelial cells were studied in this project.
The project focuses on the long noncoding RNA NEAT1, a biological molecule until recently considered “junk” as its function was vastly unknown, and its potential role in the inflammatory response of endothelial cells.
Levels of inflammatory mediators were measured after reducing NEAT1 in endothelial cells in conditions mimicking inflammation. Results showed that levels of inflammatory mediators decreased after reducing NEAT1, suggesting that NEAT1 plays a role in driving inflammation.
Our findings suggest NEAT1 has a potential role in the inflammatory response in endothelial cells. These findings allow the possibility of future work using NEAT1 as a therapeutic target to lower inflammation in human disease such as atherosclerosis.
Funding source: Newcastle University
Project supervisor: Professor Konstantinos Stellos