Individual genes and networks that play an important role in inflammation, atherosclerosis identified

HemoShear, LLC, a leading developer of innovative, cell-based, human surrogate models for discovery and assessment of new drug compounds, has produced a profile of all of the genes that influence the biology and function of the human artery system. This research has generated valuable information on the entire spectrum of genes that are found in specific cell-types that make up human arteries.

“Our examination of the data is ongoing, and, as we uncover and validate new gene targets, we plan to collaborate with pharmaceutical companies to develop improved treatments for vascular disease.”

"We are very excited with the results of our recent studies. After extensive analysis of the arterial gene data, we have identified individual genes and novel gene networks that may play an important role in inflammation and atherosclerosis, which remain the leading causes of death in the western world," said Brett Blackman, Ph.D., HemoShear's Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer. "Our examination of the data is ongoing, and, as we uncover and validate new gene targets, we plan to collaborate with pharmaceutical companies to develop improved treatments for vascular disease."

HemoShear's unique, proprietary laboratory technology imparts human blood flow forces on blood vessel cells to simulate their biological function. In HemoShear's recent gene profiling study, the company's scientists conducted experiments with freshly harvested human cells to replicate healthy regions of the human artery system as well regions that are susceptible to disease. The purpose of the experiments was to develop a baseline understanding of human artery biology and to gain insight into how arterial inflammation and early atherosclerosis develop in humans. Atherosclerosis is a blood vessel inflammatory disease characterized by build-up of plaque in the arteries, which limits blood flow and can lead to heart attack and stroke.

"We are already using the data to confirm the roles of certain target genes in cardiovascular disease for our pharmaceutical customers," said Brian Wamhoff, Ph.D., HemoShear Co-founder and Vice President of R&D. "As we create new models of diseases with our technology, the baseline data that we generated in this study will help us determine what genes increase the risk of atherosclerosis in diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, and will accelerate discovery of new drug treatments."

SOURCE HemoShear, LLC