Projects
Mitochondrial adaptations in the adjacent and remote myocardium of a chronic myocardial infarction KU Leuven
Scarring and remodelling of the left ventricle (LV) after myocardial infarction (MI) results in ischemic cardiomyopathy with reduced contractile function. Regional differences related to persisting ischemia may exist. We investigated the hypothesis that mitochondrial function and structure is altered in the myocardium adjacent to MI with reduced perfusion (MI adjacent ) and less so in the remote, nonischemic myocardium (MI remote). We used a ...
The development and validation of myocardial compartment models for the assessment and follow-up of regional functional and perfusion magnetic resonance data in acute myocardial infarction. KU Leuven
Probing local ROS distributions and calcium signaling microdomains in cardiac myocyes after myocardial infarction KU Leuven
After a heart attack some of the heart tissue has died (myocardial infarction) and the heart is left scarred. The remaining tissue and cells will grow and adapt but overall the heart pump function is weakened and the heart rhythm is also affected with sometimes deadly rhythm disturbances. This phenomenon is referred to as remodeling and better knowledge may give insights on how to slow or reverse this deleterious process and improve health. ...
Ryanodine receptor heterogeneity in cardiac myocytes in ischemic cardiomyopathy after myocardial infarction KU Leuven
Ventricular arrhythmias can be an unwanted consequence after myocardial infarction and are a major cause of mortality worldwide. A large fraction of these arrhythmias are thought to be initiated and perpetuated through a loss of a normal intracellular calcium balance, causing abnormal electrical activity and proarrhythmogenic events. In the current project, we will examine the changes in one of the key proteins that regulate the calcium ...
Probing local ROS distributions in Calcium signaling microdomains after myocardial infarction KU Leuven
An increasing number of people suffer cardiovascular diseases and experience myocardial infarction (MI). The subsequent heart remodeling is characterized by weaker contractility, hypertrophy and lethal arrhythmias. The poorly-understood underlying mechanism is related to calcium (Ca2+) mishandling in cardiomyocytes and oxidative stress. To date, most of the studies described global cellular processes and were unable to propose efficient ...
Study of the activation of endogenous repair mechanisms of the heart and the suppression of fibrosis for myocardial recovery after an infarction. Hasselt University
Mechanisms of triggers and substrate of ventricular tachycardia in the myocardial infarction border zone KU Leuven
Sudden death because of abnormal electrical activity of the heart is an important complication in patients who suffered a heart attack. The clogging of the blood vessel during an attack will leave a part of the heart damaged. The scar that replaces the lost heart tissue cannot maintain the normal heartbeat and the other cells in the heart will grow and adapt to maintain the heartbeat. Between this living tissue and the scar is a border zone. ...
Linking functional microarchitecture of the myocardial infarction borderzone to arrhythmogenesis KU Leuven
The mortality associated with a heart attack has become quite low due to better treatment during this acute event. However, life-threatening rhythm disorders often develop in the following months and years for which treatment remains limited. Providing novel insights in the underlying mechanisms is the major aim of the proposed research. The proposal builds on the power of novel research tools to investigate why the border zone around the ...
Cell-cell interactions and the role of tissue microarchitecture in cardiac arrhythmias after myocardial infarction KU Leuven
Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is one of the leading causes of death among people who have suffered an acute myocardial infarction (MI), and is the cause of about half of all deaths from cardiovascular diseases. Most SCDs result from ventricular tachyarrhythmias - ventricular tachycardia(VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) and, less frequently, bradyarrhythmias. Therefore, identifying and treating areas vulnerable to arrhythmias have clinical ...