Kinase signaling driving “pseudo-malignant” lung vascular remodeling – therapeutic exploitation (A08)

• Subject Area: Pneumology, Thoracic Surgery
• Term: since 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 268555672

Structural pulmonary vascular remodeling is a hallmark of pulmonary hypertension (PH), which is characterized by excessive proliferation, apoptosis resistance, and migration of pulmonary vascular cells. We aim to identify kinases that are responsible for this phenotype and to study the functional consequences of their inhibition in cell culture experiments. In addition, kinome studies using peripheral blood derived mononuclear cells as well as plasma proteomic analysis should reveal pathological alterations and might serve as predictors of drug responsiveness. Finally, the therapeutic efficacy of novel kinase inhibitors will be addressed in clinically relevant animal models of PH.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1213: Pulmonary Hypertension and Cor Pulmonale
• Applicant Institution: Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Friedrich Grimminger; Professor Dr. Ralph Schermuly