Our laboratory is studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for the metabolic adaptation to the hypoxic stress associated with myocardial ischemia.
Specialized Terms: Myocardial ischemia; Metabolic adaptation to hypoxic stress; Cardio-protection; Cardiomyopathy; LKB1-AMPK pathway; Diabetes
Our laboratory is studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for the metabolic adaptation to the hypoxic stress associated with myocardial ischemia, recently focusing on the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway. AMPK has emerged as a key regulator of glucose transporter (GLUT4) translocation, cellular metabolism, ion channel activity, and cell survival and apoptosis in the heart.
Combining physiologic models of ischemia with cellular and molecular techniques, we are interested in the cardio-protective action of AMPK in the heart, the upstream mechanisms of AMPK activation and its downstream interaction with other signaling pathways, as well as the discovery of novel AMPK targets. The use of transgenic mouse models allows us to dissect the role of AMPK and other signaling pathways in the intact perfused heart and in vivo. The goal of this research is to develop novel strategies to protect the heart against injury during myocardial ischemia.
Cell Survival; Diabetes Mellitus; Insulin Resistance; Myocardial Ischemia; Apoptosis; Glucose Transporter Type 4; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases