How does the heart train itself to deal with low oxygen levels?

Linking STAT3 redox control to oxidative stress-responsive gene regulation, cell survival and ischaemic preconditioning (Ms Michela Grillo)

Supervised by Professor Peter Shaw, this PhD student is studying how the heart trains itself to cope with periods of low oxygen. Over time, reduced oxygen due to heart disease causes the heart to become damaged. The heart can work with less oxygen for some time without getting damaged if it has been trained, or pre-conditioned. Training can involve temporarily stopping oxygenated blood flowing to an arm or leg – this type of training is called ‘remote preconditioning’. Scientists think this works because a signal from the treated limb, made by a molecule called STAT3, reaches the heart and helps it change so it can pump with less oxygen. Professor Shaw’s research team have used a model system, in mice, to mimic the STAT3 signal and see what responds to it. They have found the signal from the treated limb turns on a set of genes that they think are important for the heart’s learning and training process. In this project, the researchers will identify the key genes that are switched on in mouse heart muscle cells when they have less oxygen, and when oxygen levels are normal. This research will reveal the key genes needed for the heart’s learning process, and may give clues to other molecules that could be used to help the heart adapt to low oxygen levels.