Objective Mural cells (pericytes and vascular smooth muscle) enclose blood vessels and are critical for vascular homeostasis.Absence or malfunction of pericytes or vascular smooth muscle results in aneurysm formation in small or large bloodvessels, respectively. Our previous work showed Tbx18 is selectively expressed in mural cells of multiple adult organs.Preliminary data indicates that, in mice, ablation of Tbx18 in mural cells results in aortic tortuosity and lethality due torupture. These observations led to the hypothesis that transcriptional regulation by TBX18 in mural cells is critical for thedevelopment of functional vascular networks. To fully understand the roles of TBX18 in mural cells and eventually place itas a gene involved in human vascular disease, we propose to: 1) fully characterize the vascular phenotypes of Pdgfrb-Cre;Tbx18 mutants; 2) identify genes directly regulated by Tbx18 in mural cells; and 3) test a putative involvement of TBX18in human aneurysmal diseases. Fields of science medical and health sciencesclinical medicineangiologyvascular diseasesnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsmutationmedical and health sciencesbasic medicinephysiologyhomeostasis Keywords Vascular Disease Aneurysm Vascular development TBX18 Transcriptional regulation Mural Cells Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2016 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2016 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) Coordinator HUMANITAS UNIVERSITY Net EU contribution € 168 277,20 Address VIA RITA LEVI MONTALCINI SNC 20090 Pieve Emanuele Italy See on map Region Nord-Ovest Lombardia Milano Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 168 277,20
