Myocardial hypertrophy is associated with progressive contractile dysfunction, increased vulnerability to ischemia/reperfusion injury, and is, therefore, a well-recognized risk factor in cardiac surgery. During the progression of myocardial hypertrophy, a mismatch develops between the number of capillaries per unit area and cardiomyocytes, indicating an increase in diffusion distance between cardiomyocytes and vessels. Hypertrophying cardiomyocytes are likely exposed to a limited supply of oxygen and nutrients. Treating hypertrophied hearts with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), enhanced capillary growth, improved tolerance to ischemia and preserved myocardial contractile function. Based on this observation, we hypothesize that in pressure-overload hypertrophy, despite the multitude of adaptive changes that occur in myocytes, there is no significant adaptive response in the capillary endothelial or non-myocyte cells, but the response to exogenous growth factors is preserved. In a model of left ventricular pressure-overload hypertrophy in immature rabbits, we will investigate whether an increase in diffusion distance between capillaries and hypertrophying myocytes results in relative myocyte hypoxia with stimulation of the hypoxia-induced signaling pathway or in an impairment of nutrient substrates. We will then evaluate therapeutic strategies aimed at promoting angiogenesis and targeting matrix turnover, complementing pro-angiogenic treatment in hypertrophied myocardium. We propose to pursue three specific aims:
Aim 1 - Determine whether regulation of hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) activity and its downstream effectors such as VEGF is altered in hypertrophied myocardium;
Aim 2 - Determine the effects of pro-angiogenic exogenous growth factors on the microvasculature of the hypertrophying myocardium;
Aim 3 - Determine the effect of pro-angiogenic therapy on matrix remodeling in hypertrophying myocardium and the role of specific matrix metalloproteinases (MMP). Improved understanding of the primary mechanisms involved in response of the myocardium to chronic pressure overload may facilitate the development of new therapeutic modalities to prevent and/or delay the onset of failure. The applicant is dedicated to pursue an academic career concentrating on topics relevant to pediatric cardiac surgery. The five-year time frame provided by this grant will serve as a transitional period between postdoctoral training and independent faculty position.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) (K08)
Project #
5K08HL075430-02
Application #
7002340
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZHL1-CSR-M (O1))
Program Officer
Varghese, Jamie
Project Start
2005-01-01
Project End
2009-12-31
Budget Start
2006-01-01
Budget End
2006-12-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$127,683
Indirect Cost
Name
Children's Hospital Boston
Department
Type
DUNS #
076593722
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115
Illigens, Ben M-W; Casar Berazaluce, Alejandra; Poutias, Dimitrios et al. (2017) Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Prevents Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Hypertrophy. Ann Thorac Surg 104:932-939
Xu, Xingbo; Friehs, Ingeborg; Zhong Hu, Tachi et al. (2015) Endocardial fibroelastosis is caused by aberrant endothelial to mesenchymal transition. Circ Res 116:857-66
Yoshida, Tadashi; Friehs, Ingeborg; Mummidi, Srinivas et al. (2014) Pressure overload induces IL-18 and IL-18R expression, but markedly suppresses IL-18BP expression in a rabbit model. IL-18 potentiates TNF-?-induced cardiomyocyte death. J Mol Cell Cardiol 75:141-51
Friehs, Ingeborg; Cowan, Douglas B; Choi, Yeong-Hoon et al. (2013) Pressure-overload hypertrophy of the developing heart reveals activation of divergent gene and protein pathways in the left and right ventricular myocardium. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 304:H697-708
Friehs, Ingeborg; Illigens, Ben; Melnychenko, Ivan et al. (2013) An animal model of endocardial fibroelastosis. J Surg Res 182:94-100
Hofstaetter, Jochen G; Blouin, Stephane; Friehs, Ingeborg et al. (2012) No effect of short-term hypertension on bone matrix mineralization in a surgical animal model in immature rabbits. Clin Exp Hypertens 34:107-12
Nikolova, Andriana; Ablasser, Klemens; Wyler von Ballmoos, Moritz C et al. (2012) Endogenous angiogenesis inhibitors prevent adaptive capillary growth in left ventricular pressure overload hypertrophy. Ann Thorac Surg 94:1509-17
Kaza, Elisabeth; Ablasser, Klemens; Poutias, Dimitrios et al. (2011) Up-regulation of soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 prevents angiogenesis in hypertrophied myocardium. Cardiovasc Res 89:410-8
Griffiths, Eric R; Friehs, Ingeborg; Scherr, Elisabeth et al. (2010) Electron transport chain dysfunction in neonatal pressure-overload hypertrophy precedes cardiomyocyte apoptosis independent of oxidative stress. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 139:1609-17
Friehs, Ingeborg (2008) Proteasome inhibition in hypertrophied myocardium. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 295:H1373-4

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