Role of the coronary artery disease gene REST in atherosclerosis (B02)

• Subject Area: Cardiology, Angiology ; Gastroenterology
• Term: since 2014
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 238187445

In the past 15 years, numerous genetic variants were associated with premature coronary artery disease (CAD) and myocardial infarction. As part of this collaborative research center, we elucidated the role of variants influencing the NO-cGMP pathway and the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms. We specifically obtained evidence for a molecular mechanism linking a CAD risk variant at the RE1-Silencing Transcription (REST) locus with alterations of the NO/cGMP signaling pathway. In this project, we aim to dissect the interplay of REST and NO/cGMP signaling and to further elucidate the role of REST in atherosclerosis.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1123: Atherosclerosis: Mechanisms and Networks of Novel Therapeutic Targets
• Applicant Institution: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Christian Hengstenberg, until 6/2018; Professor Dr. Thorsten Kessler; Professor Dr. Heribert Schunkert