Role of cardiac sodium homeostasis on immune response after myocardial damage assessed by serial 1H and 23Na and 19F- magnetic resonance imaging

• Applicants: Dr. Martin Christa; Dr. Fabian Tobias Gutjahr
• Subject Area: Medical Physics, Biomedical Technology
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 557520146

Sodium is a recognized risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality, with recent research highlighting its role in inflammatory modulation. We hypothesize that increased cardiac tissue sodium content promotes extensive inflammation after ischemia and reperfusion, leading to adverse remodeling and worse outcomes. To investigate this, we will use non-invasive proton and X-nuclei MR techniques on a myocardial infarction animal model. By optimizing sodium and inflammation imaging and using different sodium diets, we aim to correlate tissue sodium content with inflammation and healing. After validation against FACS, multicolor 19F MRI will assess immune cell polarization, and new artificial intelligence techniques developed by our cooperation partner will improve the spatial resolution of X-nuclei MRI.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigator: Professor Wolfgang Rudolf Bauer