Yiru Xie
Research Mentor(s): Ahmed Abdel-latif
Mentor Department: Internal Medicine-Cardiology
Authors: Raven Xie, Rachel Lopez
Session: Session 1 (9:00am – 9:50am)
Presentation Type: Poster 2
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in the United States. Heart failure, specifically, is responsible for 1 in every 9 deaths and remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Heart failure arises from a variety etiologies and there are a limited number of therapies to promote cardiac repair. Our study investigates the roles of cellular metabolism in cardiac repair, focusing on the unique regenerative capabilities of the Acomys (African Spiny mouse). Using a multi-disciplinary approach, we combined animal models, in vivo imaging, and molecular biology techniques to explore metabolic adaptations in Acomys in cardiac injury. Our findings revealed that Acomys exhibit unique metabolic pathways that reduce mortality, minimize scar size, and restore cardiac function after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Specifically, the Acomys exhibit a distinct metabolic adaption to AMI with significant increases in energy metabolism pathways. With these data, key pathways were identified that offer potential therapeutic targets for human heart failure and will be further pursued. These results highlight the importance of metabolic pathways in cardiac repair and identify promising therapeutic strategies for heart failure. By integrating findings from animal models and clinical studies, this research provides a foundation for developing novel treatments that target metabolic mechanisms. These findings could improve patient outcomes and pave the way for future research into regenerative therapies for cardiovascular disease.
