The project entitled “Rejuvenating the heart in pulmonary arterial hypertension by targeting the bone morphogenetic protein 10” co-submitted by Dr. Gonzalo Sanchez-Duffhues and Dr. Frances S. de Man (Dept. of Pulmonary Medicine, AUMC) was successfully awarded in this occasion. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare condition characterized by pulmonary vascular remodeling of the arterioles leading to a progressive increase in pulmonary vascular resistance and right heart failure. The major predisposing risk factors for the development of PAH are gene mutations disturbing the Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) signaling, leading to a loss-of-function of the BMP receptor 2 (BMPR2) gene. BMP10 is an endogenous BMP ligand of the BMPR2 receptor complex, which is highly expressed during embryonic development and is indispensable for the formation of the heart. In adults, however, its expression is limited to the right atrium. In this project, a PhD student will take advantage of the synergistic expertise of the two labs to understand how BMP10 expression is regulated in cardiomyocytes and examine whether small molecules increasing endogenous BMP10 expression would benefit right heart adaptation to pressure overload.
Research grant from The Rembrandt Institute of Cardiovascular Science for Gonzalo Sanchez-Duffhues
During the past 12th Rembrandt Symposium celebrated on the 19th of November, the Rembrandt Institute of Cardiovascular Science (RICS) announced the Rembrandt Grant awards for 2021.
