Intrinsic stiffness of aortic vascular smooth muscle cell in the development of hypertension
Description: Lay abstract Hypertension is one of the most common age related chronic disorder in humans and is a well–established risk factor for stroke and cardiovascular diseases among older people. Less is known about the mechanisms involved in the aging large arteries. A key feature of the current proposal is to determine the alterations occurring in aortic stiffness during aging due to the novel hypothesis, that a key intrinsic component of aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is regulated by the master transcription factor serum response factor. By combining physiological measurements in animal models with a series of novel bio-engineering techniques including atomic force microscopy and a reconstituted tissue model as well as a spatially distinct blood vessel model, we will identify the function of SRF in intrinsic VSMC stiffness during aging and as hypertension develops in aged animals. Once this is demonstrated, it will open up new avenues of therapy for aortic stiffness and hypertension in elderly, i.e., with pharmaceutical targets directed at the level of the VSMC itself.
Funding type: research
Funder scheme: R01
Start date: 2013-03-01
End date: 2025-01-31
Investigator: HONGYU QIU
Institution: UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Funded outputs count: 54
Funder award ID: R01HL115195
OpenAlex ID: G7285413546