Ventricular remodeling under regenerative and pathological conditions (B01)

• Subject Area: Developmental Biology
• Term: since 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 268555672

We aim to develop antifibrotic, pro-regenerative therapies for cardiac stromal cells. We identified Interleukin-11 (Il-11) as a key factor inducing epigenetic changes, leading to regenerative reprogramming. Our goal is to 1) perform a comparative analysis to identify potential differences in Il11 signaling and modulation between zebrafish and mammals, 2) manipulate Il11 signaling by modulating the Il11ra receptor and GP130 co-receptor in mouse models of PH-induced cardiac remodeling to promote regenerative reprogramming and limit fibrosis, 3) elucidate the role of ACVR2A and ACVR2B ligands in mammalian cardiac regeneration, 4) use zebrafish as a high-throughput vertebrate model platform for gain and loss of function studies to heart regeneration.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1213: Pulmonary Hypertension and Cor Pulmonale
• Applicant Institution: Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen
• Project Heads: Dr. Sven Reischauer; Professor Didier Y. Stainier, Ph.D., until 6/2024