Modulating TGFβ signalling following myocardial infarction to improve heart repair
A heart attack happens when there is a blockage in one of the coronary arteries which supply blood to the heart. It’s vital to quickly restore blood flow to limit the damage this causes, but doing so can itself sometimes cause further damage. In this project, Professor Arthur and her team at the University of Newcastle are studying ways to reduce this effect to help prevent heart failure. Her team previously showed that giving a single dose of an anti-inflammatory molecule called TGFß1, at the time when blood flow is being restored, can reduce the amount of scarring in the heart. More recently, they found that a similar molecule, produced by a parasitic worm found in humans, had the same beneficial effects. In this project, they will find the dose and timing of treatment with TGFß1, or the similar version, which most effectively protects mice against the damage caused by a heart attack. They will also look at how and where this molecule travels in the body of the mice to help work out how it is working. Finally, they will determine the role of endothelial cells – cells that line the surface of the heart’s blood vessels – in this protective effect. This project is the first essential step towards developing TGFß1 as a potential new treatment for people who have had a heart attack.
Project details
| Grant amount | £310,415 |
|---|---|
| Grant type | Project Grants |
| Application type | Project Grant |
| Start Date | 01 January 2019 |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Reference | PG/18/57/33941 |
| Status | In Progress |
