Descripción del proyecto
Información sobre el papel de la matriz extracelular en las enfermedades cardiovasculares
La matriz extracelular (MEC) es una gran red de proteínas y otras moléculas que sostienen y organizan las células en los tejidos del organismo. La MEC también está apareciendo como centro de comunicación que transduce los estímulos mecánicos y facilita la interacción entre células. El equipo del proyecto MATRICARD, financiado por el Consejo Europeo de Investigación, quiere comprender el papel de la MEC en las enfermedades cardiovasculares. Por ello, los investigadores estudiarán la composición de la MEC durante estados inflamatorios, como la aterosclerosis y el infarto de miocardio, y cómo puede influir en la progresión de la enfermedad. Los resultados del proyecto aportarán importantes conocimientos sobre los mecanismos que regulan la MEC en la salud y la enfermedad, mientras que la identificación de dianas terapéuticas ayudará a evitar enfermedades cardiovasculares.
Objetivo
Cardiovascular diseases, as coronary artery disease (CAD) and its sequelae myocardial infarction (MI) and heart failure, represent the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in industrialized and developing countries. Atherosclerosis is the pathology causing CAD and MI; both are characterized by a sterile inflammation with a chronic and acute course of the disease, respectively. There is a plethora of cell types, as leukocytes, endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, platelets, fibroblasts, and cardiomyocytes, which play important roles in the initiation, propagation, and termination of the pathophysiological processes. Recent data from genetic studies found that genetic variation influencing extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins is associated with cardiovascular diseases. We found that such proteins which are secreted by one cell type influence phenotypes of other cell types via, e.g. silencing of inflammatory functions or modulation of ECM composition. The ECM hence not only represents a meshwork in which cells are organized but also a communication hub to transduce mechanical stimuli and cell-cell-interaction signals. Here, we aim to explore the ECM proteome in sterile inflammatory diseases as atherosclerosis and MI in an unprecedented depth. We aim to identify novel regulators which give insights into the underlying processes and we will study the molecular and cellular mechanisms modifying the course of the disease. This will lead to the identification of novel therapeutic targets which might reshape our understanding of how these diseases occur and how we can prevent them, and to the development of novel, individualized treatment strategies. Finally, we aim to translate our findings to humans to get first insights on whether these strategies can be adapted and used in clinical trials. MATRICARD will go beyond technical boundaries and lead to a deep knowledge of ECM-mediated cell-cell-communication and reveal its translational potential.
Ámbito científico
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsproteomics
- social sciencessociologydemographymortality
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencesinflammatory diseases
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinecardiologycardiovascular diseasesarteriosclerosis
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepathology
Programa(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Régimen de financiación
ERC - Support for frontier research (ERC)Institución de acogida
80636 Munich
Alemania