Influence of perivascular brown adipose tissue on aortic valve disease (A08)

• Subject Area: Endocrinology, Diabetology, Metabolism ; Pharmacology
• Term: since 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 397484323

Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) is a type of thermogenic adipose tissue that lines large blood vessels, including the aorta. Given the beneficial effects of thermogenic adipose tissue activity in cardiovascular disease, we hypothesised that activation of PVAT mediates important protective effects in aortic disease during physiological activation by cold exposure. In the previous funding period, we identified an important role for PVAT in regulating aortic function and stenosis. In the second funding period, we will analyse the precise mechanisms through which PVAT influences aortic function and disease as well as functionally characterise molecular targets that were identified during the first funding period. Moreover, we will also focus on the secretomic and metabolomic crosstalk between PVAT and the aortic wall in the context of aneurysm formation.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 259: Aortic Disease
• Applicant Institution: Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
• Project Heads: Dr. Staffan Hildebrand, since 7/2023; Professor Dr. Alexander Pfeifer