Project description
The role of ketones in cardiomyocyte metabolism and function in heart failure
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a syndrome in which patients have clinical symptoms of heart failure despite nearly normal cardiac pump function. HFpEF is increasing in prevalence due to ageing of the population and risk factors such as hypertension and obesity. Funded by the European Research Council, the KetoCardio project focuses on changes in metabolism of cardiomyocytes as a trigger for HFpEF. The working hypothesis is that the metabolites ketones are major regulators of cardiomyocyte biology and serve as a significant energy source in HFpEF. Ketones may also regulate gene transcription and metabolic signalling in cardiomyocytes. Researchers will combine omics approaches with metabolic evaluation to reveal the impact of ketones metabolism and signalling on cardiomyocyte function in HFpEF.
Objective
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a burgeoning public health problem for which there are little to no evidence-based therapies. This syndrome has proven particularly challenging because of the limited insight into its underlying molecular mechanisms. Metabolic adaptations are critical for cardiomyocyte response to stress. Ketones are metabolites actively produced in heart failure and their role as metabolic rheostat capable of modulating cardiac metabolism and cardiomyocyte signaling pathways has been postulated. However, there is fundamental, open gap in understanding how ketones are utilized as source of energy in HFpEF and how -hydroxybutyrate (-OHB) the most abundant ketone plays a role as non-energy carrier governing cardiomyocyte function. In this project proposal, I hypothesize that ketones are major regulators of cardiomyocyte biology representing an alternative source of fuel in HFpEF (energy role) and act as protein modifiers trough -hydroxybutyrylation a lysine-based post-translational modification (PTM) thereby regulating chromatin architecture, gene transcription and metabolic signaling in cardiomyocytes (non-energy role). The overall aim of KetoCardio is to define mechanisms integrating ketone metabolic adaptation with signaling pathways and epigenetic changes in HFpEF-stressed cardiomyocyte. Coupling proteomics, transcriptomics and genomics approaches together with cardiac and systemic metabolic evaluation and rigorous preclinical experimental modeling of HFpEF, I will be able to define the previously unrecognized role(s) of ketones as energy substrates in HFpEF and as substrate for proteins PTM impacting on cardiomyocyte function. In summary, focusing on metabolic pathways that govern cardiomyocyte abnormalities in preclinical HFpEF, this project will provide a transformative molecular understanding of ketones biology in cardiomyocyte fostering innovation in the field and beyond.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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)
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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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.
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Call for proposal
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(opens in new window) ERC-2022-STG
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10117 Berlin
Germany
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