Modulation of calcium signalling in cardiac fibroblasts by the Plasma Membrane Calcium Pumps (PMCA) to improve pathological cardiac remodelling
Dr Delvac Oceandy and his team at the University of Manchester are studying if changing calcium levels in cells which help maintain tissue structure in many organs including the heart, called fibroblasts, could help to prevent tissues ‘remodelling’ in heart diseases. This is where the heart can change in size and shape after chronic high blood pressure, or after other events such as a heart attack. This can prevent the heart from functioning normally and lead to a poor prognosis. With BHF funding, Dr Oceandy has discovered that by regulating calcium levels in heart fibroblasts by altering the function of a calcium pump called PMCA4, it is possible to protect mouse hearts from remodelling and subsequently failing due to chronic high blood pressure. In this project, Dr Oceandy will block PMCA4 in heart fibroblasts to find out if this can prevent potentially dangerous changes to the heart after a heart attack and high blood pressure. He will then block both PMCA4 and another calcium pump, PMCA1, in fibroblasts to see if this is even more protective. This project will reveal if targeting calcium levels via calcium pumps in heart cells could be a new way to tackle the harmful changes to the shape of the heart that happens after a heart attack or chronic high blood pressure.
Project details
| Grant amount | £143,367 |
|---|---|
| Grant type | Project Grants |
| Application type | Project Grant |
| Start Date | 01 January 2017 |
| Duration | 1 year, 6 months |
| Reference | PG/16/77/32400 |
| Status | Complete |
