Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are released by a variety of cell types and are today known as critical mediators of intercellular communication during development,regeneration and disease. Yet, there is still so much to learn about molecular basis of intercellular EV transfer, even in the heart. We examine the reveal the role of cardiac-cell derived EVs on controlling cardiac angiogenesis. This therapeutic approach may help to enhance the efficacy of cardiac regeneration following myocardial injury.
10/29/24
8/01/23
Blood-derived extracellular vesicles as diagnostic and prognostic markers in cardiovascular diseases
EVs have been implicated in cellular signalling in atherosclerosis development. Our laboratory aims to reveal the biophysical properties of plasma derived EVs which can be used as clinically potential tools for dignosis and prognosis in atherosclerosis.
Molecular and cellular mechanisms in the pathophysiology of heart failure
Our researches focuse on better understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying adult and congenital cardiovascular diseases.In these studies, we aim to identify the signalling pathways and cellular mechanisms that cause cardiovascular damage, as well as to elucidate direct protective effects of drugs on the deteriorating/decreasing heart function,both at cellular and animal level.
Cardiac progenitor cells in cardiac regeneration
The limited regeneration capacity of the adult mammalian heart increases the risk of heart failure that develops after cardiac damage. The expectation from the progenitor/stem cell-based therapy is that differentiation of the transplanted cells into specialized cardiac cells and/or trigger the cellular and molecular mechanisms governing repair via paracrine effect. But insufficient cell engraftment, late cardiac functional recovery are major concerns in this treatment method.
Stem/progenitor cells also contribute to cardiac repair releasing extracellular vesicles which can lead to angiogenesis and tissue repair. In recent years there has been a huge interest on the using of stem/progenitor cell-derived extracellular vesicles due to their potential therapeutic applications.
We aim to increase transplantation effieciency of both cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) and cardiac progenitor cell-derived extracellular vesicles via different approaches.