Keywords: cardiovascular disease, nitric oxide, atherosclerosis, plaque, lymphatic vessels

“Drainage versus defense: the management of vascular leakage in cardiovascular diseases”

This dissertation aimed to find new treatments for cardiovascular diseases. Nitric oxide (NO) promotes cardiovascular health, and is produced by the endothelium. We showed that a novel drug promoted NO-producing enzyme in a healthy state, and could treat mice with enlarged heart due to high blood pressure. Additionally, recent studies suggest that stimulation of lymph vessel formation can prevent atherosclerotic plaque development. We found a new gene in human plaque tissue. We showed that this gene could promote the formation of lymph vessels in cell culture and in zebrafish embryos. This gene may represent a new therapy for atherosclerotic patients.