The Morrell laboratory is studying the molecular mechanisms underlying pulmonary arterial hypertension. In particular our research is focussed on how mutations in the bone morphogenetic protein type II receptor (BMPR-II), a receptor member of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily, cause familial pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Our research is revealing how BMPR-II mutation leads to dysfunctional signalling, gene transcription and vascular cell biology. This work has also revealed a broader role for BMPR-II in angiogenesis, inflammation, iron metabolism and innate immunity. [Read More...]

Trembath RC, Thomson JR, Machado RD, Morgan NV, Atkinson C, Winship I, Simonneau G, Galie N, Loyd JE , Humbert M, Nichols WC, Morrell NW Clinical and molecular genetic features of pulmonary hypertension in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia N Engl J Med 2001; 345: 325-334

Morrell NW, Yang X, Upton PD, Jourdan KB, Morgan N, Sheares KK, Trembath RC Altered growth responses of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells from patients with primary pulmonary hypertension to TGFbeta-1 and bone morphogenetic proteins Circulation 2001; 104: 790-795

Atkinson C, Stewart S, Upton PD, Machado R, Thomson J, Trembath RC, Morrell NW Primary pulmonary hypertension is associated with reduced pulmonary vascular expression of BMPR-II Circulation 2002; 105: 1672-1678

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