Project description
Mapping the molecular mechanism for hypoxia
The human body relies on oxygen, but our precise molecular responses to low oxygen states remain unknown. One such mechanism is the release of erythropoietin (EPO), a glycoprotein that stimulates red blood cell production whose structure is partly determined by genetics. By studying individuals with a congenital excess of red blood cells with small structural differences in EPO, the MSCA-funded HYPOXIA project will decipher the splicing and expression pattern of EPO. The project will utilise an innovative cellular disease model to study the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into erythropoietin-producing cells. These cells will then be analysed using RNA-seq and ATAC-seq approaches. This research has the potential to greatly benefit human health, particularly of those living with pathological haematological conditions.
Objective
Cellular adaptation to oxygen deficiency (hypoxia) is a complex biological process. Germline mutations occurring in the hypoxia genes pathway provided major information to dissect the molecular mechanisms regulating this pathway. The objective of HYPOXIA project is to elucidate the molecular and regulatory mechanisms governing erythropoietin (EPO) gene expression, a major actor of the hypoxia pathway. The originality of HYPOXIA lies in identifying naturally occurring germline EPO mutations in patients with hereditary erythrocytosis presenting excess red blood cells production. Recently, the host laboratory and European collaborators have identified intriguing genetic variants located in non-coding sequences of EPO in six families with erythrocytosis. Remarkably, all families exhibited normal circulating EPO levels, suggesting gain-of-function potentials of the new EPO. EPO is the hormone that regulates daily red blood cells production and its regulation greatly depends on the developmental stage, cellular type, and oxygen concentration. Given the complexity in EPO regulation, HYPOXIA aims at deciphering the expression and splicing mechanism of the newly identified EPO. I will use an innovative cellular disease model based on differentiating human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into different EPO-producing cells (neural crest cells and hepatocytes). The wild-type, edited, and mutant cells will then be studied using Next Generation Sequencing approaches (RNAseq and ATACseq). Besides its erythropoietic role, studies have highlighted various pleiotropic effects of EPO such as its protective role in ischemic injury and wound healing and regulation of metabolic homeostasis including gender-specific EPO response. Thus, HYPOXIA cellular model may lead to the development of new therapeutics or treatments for erythrocytosis, anemia, and other EPO-related disorders. The newly identified EPO isoforms might render this cytokine a promising game changer in human health.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics mutation
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine hematology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology homeostasis
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
75654 PARIS
France
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.