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Investigation into the role of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate mediated calcium release in controlling cardiac hypertrophy

Reference	BBS/E/B/0000H215
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Prof. Llewelyn Roderick
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Babraham Institute
Department	Babraham Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	146,817
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	17/09/2007
End date	31/03/2012
Duration	55 months

Abstract

Heart disease is a significant cause of mortality in the developed world. In 2004 it was responsible for 137,700 deaths in the UK, equating to 24 percent of all deaths. A major predictor of mortality due to heart disease is cardiac hypertrophy (an increase in cell size without increase in cell number), and it is the most important risk factor for heart failure in humans. Hypertrophy can however also be a beneficial adaptive response providing the increased blood supply required during pregnancy and to sustain levels of increased physical activity experienced by athletes. Cardiac hypertrophy is characterised by an increase in the muscle mass/size of the heart due to enlargement of heart cells without any proliferation. Calcium increases in the muscle cells of the heart control contraction and the activity of genes that determine heart size. Since during disease the heart can grow too much, causing it not to work so well and fail, it is important to understand how calcium can precisely regulate the genes' activity and heart contraction. Using microsocopy and molecular biology techniques, we will measure changes in cell calcium and gene activity associated with heart growth. The effect of modifying calcium changes upon heart growth will also be monitored. Using these approaches, we aim to understand how calcium can precisely control myocyte (muscle cell) transcription (the copying of DNA information into RNA) independent of its effects on contraction. Ultimately, drugs will be developed to control heart growth without affecting heart function.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Biochemistry & Cell Biology (BCB)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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