Atrial mechanical and secretory function in human HFpEF (B01)

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

Atrial remodeling is a hallmark feature of HFpEF, often associated with atrial fibrillation, and linked to increased mortality. Atrial secretory (dys-)function has been linked to a variety of processes associated with remodeling and might represent a driver of the HFpEF phenotype (e.g. via micro-RNAs). The consortium proposes an altered upstream pathway of atrial secretion during HFpEF linked to mechanical and electrical (i.e. atrial fibrillation) cardiac dysfunction. We specifically investigate the role of intercellular interaction and disease/trigger specific atrial secretory activity in human HFpEF using state of the art in-vivo and in-vitro methods to establish the atria as an important endocrine organ that reacts towards and might even mediate HFpEF-related systemic dysfunction.

• 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 Heads: Professor Dr. Volkmar Falk; Privatdozent Felix Hohendanner, Ph.D.; Dr. Kun Zhang