Signal modulation in cardiac fibroblasts by the plasma membrane calcium ATPase 4 (PMCA4) controls cardiac hypertrophy
Heart failure is a life-threatening condition that develops when the heart becomes damaged because of a heart attack, high blood pressure or an inherited heart condition. In most cases, the heart fails because heart muscle cells overgrow - a process called hypertrophy - become weak and cannot pump blood efficiently around the body. Heart failure can develop when heart muscle cells become stretched and weakened. This may occur because, after damage by a heart attack or by high blood pressure, the heart cells receive signals telling them to grow from other nearby cells called fibroblasts. Fibroblast cells give the heart its structure, but following damage, they can send out signals telling heart cells to grow and become hypertrophied. Over three years, Dr Oceandy and his team will investigate whether stopping these growth signals can prevent overgrowth of heart muscle cells. They will also investigate other signalling pathways involved in heart muscle overgrowth. Finding ways to prevent heart cells overgrowing would help reduce the number of people affected by heart failure.
Project details
| Grant amount | £213,638 |
|---|---|
| Grant type | Project Grants |
| Application type | Project Grant |
| Start Date | 01 May 2013 |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Reference | PG/13/12/30017 |
| Status | Complete |
