The role of the endothelial cell and its most important signaling molecule nitric oxide in the development of arterial media calcification, a lethal co-morbidity of aging related diseases.
Description: Arterial media calcification or the deposition of hydroxy-apatite (calcium-phosphate) crystals in the medial layer of the vessel wall occurs as a result of ageing and is accelerated in chronic kidney disease (CKD), diabetes and osteoporosis. Arterial media calcification has severe cardiovascular consequences including arterial stiffening, hypertension, impaired coronary perfusion, cardiac stroke and left ventricular hypertrophy, ultimately leading to heart failure. Consequently, this pathology has a high impact on patients' quality of live, economic activity and survival. Currently available therapies lack efficacy since they do not directly target the calcification process itself, however, act indirectly by controlling its risk factors. Furthermore, studies performed in the Laboratory of Pathophysiology repeatedly showed that compounds efficiently targeting arterial media calcification compromise physiological bone mineralization, which can be attributed to the fact that arterial media calcification resembles highly to physiological bone mineralization. This project aims to contribute to the search for save, efficient, arterial media calcification treatments, independent of patient population specific risk factors and not affecting bone health.
Funder: Vlaamse regering
Funding type: fellowship
Funder scheme: BOF - doctoral mandates
Start date: 2023-10-01
End date: 2027-09-30
Investigators: Anja Verhulst, Britt Opdebeeck
Institution: UAntwerpen
Funded outputs count: 0
Funder award ID: vlaamse-6de5dd2a-09d9-43ea-8482-f20fc9c7bcb2
OpenAlex ID: G8628051629