Grace Gackenbach
Pronouns: she/her
Research Mentor(s): Nadia Sutton, Assistant Professor
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Internal Medicine- Cardiology, Michigan Medicine
Presentation Date: Thursday, April 22, 2021
Session: Session 1 (10am-10:50am)
Breakout Room: Room 14
Presenter: 5
Abstract
Arterial calcification involves crystallization of calcium and phosphate in the extracellular matrix of the arterial wall. Vascular aging, the gradual hardening and stiffening of the arteries over time through arterial calcification and atherosclerosis, and the subsequent consequences of it including myocardial infarction and heart disease are leading causes of death in the United States. As a result, the mitigation of these illnesses in a clinical setting is increasingly important. This research looks to find the link between the influence of ectonucleotidases CD39 and CD73 on inflammation and arterial calcification using two target genes (RUNX2 and GAPDH) of human coronary artery smooth muscle cells treated with ticagrelor (a P2Y12 inhibitor), CGS21680 (an adenosine A2A subtype receptor antagonist), and an ossifying medium. The osteogenic medium is expected to amplify the expression of the RUNX2 gene which would cause calcification in the human coronary artery smooth muscle cells, while the treatment of ticagrelor and the adenosine receptor antagonist should reverse it. Preliminary evidence demonstrates that although the ossifying medium increased the number of transcription factors that aid in calcification, neither ticagrelor nor the CGS21680 reversed this effect.
Authors: Grace Gackenbach, Nadia Sutton
Research Method: Laboratory Research
