The storm that’s going on inside the blood vessels

A research led by Eno Ebong aimed at studying the effects of the mechanical forces of blood flow on the endothelial cells that lines and protects the blood vessels. This work can advance vascular disease treatment to a large extent. Under normal circumstances, the environment inside the human blood vessel is somewhat like a quite breezy day. But occasionally it gets stormy especially at branches and constrictions the geometry of the vessels changes. These changes cause blood flow disruptions which in turn affect the endothelial cells lining and protecting the vessel, and can eventually lead to plaque formation. "I study the structure of the glycocalyx under different flow conditions," said Ebong,. "I try to make the connection between glycocalyx structure and its function—or dysfunction—as a protective coat on top of the endothelial cells." "The glycocalyx appears to be so much more complicated than we expected," she added.