Avery Sycko
Research Mentor: Andre Monteiro Da Rocha
Mentor Department: Cardiology – CVC Cardiovascular Regeneration Core, Medicine
Author(s): Avery Sycko, Andre Monteiro Da Rocha
Session: Session 6 (3:00 PM – 3:50 PM)
Presentation Type: Poster 57
Abstract
Diastolic dysfunction is a major contributor to heart failure for older adults and children with Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome; however, its molecular mechanisms are still not completely understood. This critical knowledge gap limits the development of targeted therapies to prevent or reverse age-associated cardiac dysfunction. This study will use human induced pluripotent stem cells derived into ventricular cardiomyocytes from patients with Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome to examine diastolic dysfunction in older adults. Through the use of the stem cells we can look at how aging-associated activation of Wnt signaling drives diastolic dysfunction through dysregulation of cardiomyocyte calcium handling. Furthermore, identify Slug (SNAI2) as a form of as a target to restore cardiac function. Likely conclusions including B-Catenin activation increases the transcription of SNAI2 protein in cardiomyocytes. Also, SNAI2 upregulation could lead to increased diastolic levels of calcium and delayed calcium uptake. This study is significant because it can aid in finding the mechanism that links Wnt signaling and calcium overload that causes diastolic dysfunction.
