Hypertension and metabolic stress associated changes in cardiac cell populations (B03)

• Subject Area: Cardiology, Angiology ; Cell Biology
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 437531118

Normal function of the human heart relies on highly heterogeneous cell populations with specialized functions. In response to systemic stress and/or injury, reparative processes such as fibrosis occur contributing to adverse remodeling and promoting mechanical dysfunction, arrhythmias and heart failure. To obtain insights into trigger-response patterns in HFpEF, we will apply single-nucleus RNA-sequencing (snRNA-seq) to study the composition of cardiac cell populations in biopsies of HFpEF patients and murine models of diastolic dysfunction. We will characterize cardiac cell states and types, their expression networks and cellular circuits, and locate these in space. By comparing changes between non-failing hearts and HFpEF we will discern fundamental causes of maladaptive cardiac remodeling, characterize heterogeneous cellular responses and infer new therapeutic strategies.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1470: Multilevel mechanistic characterisation of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction - Towards a novel classification of HFpEF for targeted therapies
• Applicant Institution: shared FU Berlin and HU Berlin through:; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Norbert Hübner