In the 20th edition of the PRELUDIUM competition announced by the National Science Center in Krakow, Agnieszka Karaś, M.Sc., is one of the winners, who is pursuing her doctorate in the laboratory of the Jagiellonian Center for Experimental Therapeutics. The subject of the distinguished project is: “The role of lactate dehydrogenase A in development of endothelial dysfunction in murine model of heart failure”.
The aim of this project is to evaluate the link between vascular metabolism and endothelial dysfunction during the development of heart failure. Heart failure (HF) is currently a leading cause of mortality worldwide, moreover, in Poland, the morbidity and mortality of HF are one of the highest in Europe. Interestingly, systemic endothelial dysfunction is observed in patients even with mild HF and is an important factor predicting poor patient outcome and increased risk of cardiac death. Endothelium, the single layer of cells lining the interior surface of blood vessels, plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy vessel function. To date, the mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction development in HF are not clear. We hypothesise that alterations in cellular bioenergetics in the vessel wall may contribute to vascular pathology in the progression of HF. Therefore, this study is set out to understand the connection between endothelial dysfunction and metabolic changes focusing on the role of lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA), an enzyme responsible for the production of lactate, which is not only an energy source but also a crucial regulatory factor. This project will be performed using a murine model of HF. Results of this study will shed new light on vascular pathophysiology in HF and may contribute to novel therapeutic strategies improving patient prognosis.
- Budget: 209 996 PLN
- Implementation period: 36 months