The role of HDAC3 unconventional splicing-mediated endothelial-mesenchymal transition in cardiac fibrosis
Fibrosis is the development of scar tissue, which prevents the heart from working normally and can lead to heart failure. BHF Senior Lecturer Dr Lingfang Zeng and BHF Professor Ajay Shah from King’s College London are interested in the disease process of fibrosis in the heart. With three years of funding totalling over £213,000 the researchers will uncover the processes behind fibrosis and how they may be prevented. Over time it is thought that high blood pressure transforms the cells that line blood vessels so they are no longer able to perform their normal function. Instead, they lay down scar tissue, contributing to what is known as ‘mechanical stiffness’ in the heart. Professors Zeng and Shah are focusing on this transformation. They think that two proteins in the cells lining blood vessels, called TGF beta and HD3 alpha, may drive this unwanted process. If they are correct, it may be possible to develop new treatments that target these two proteins to try and prevent fibrosis from occurring as currently there are no specific treatments for scarring in the heart.
Project details
| Grant amount | £230,588 |
|---|---|
| Grant type | Project Grants |
| Application type | Project Grant |
| Start Date | 01 January 2014 |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Reference | PG/13/63/30419 |
| Status | Complete |
