TeaM O. KUNDUZOVA / A. PARINI

Cardiometabolic remodeling : mechanisms and microenvironnement (CERAMIC)

The focus of our research program is to delineate the molecular mechanisms that govern cardiac remodeling processes and to translate these discoveries into new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for heart failure (HF). Fibrosis, inflammation and metabolic abnormalities are major aspects of cardiac remodeling and ventricular dysfunction leading to the development and progression of HF. This is currently the central axis of our research projects that combine the expertise of clinical and academic researchers. A specific focus of our studies is to understand how metabolism regulates myocyte and stroma cell functions and how to exploit metabolic changes for therapeutic benefits to prevent adverse cardiac remodeling. We combine state-of-the-art « omics » technologies with mainstay techniques of molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, (patho)physiology and pharmacology to identify and characterize new actors and networks in cardiovascular biology. The translational research programs of our team foster the multidisciplinary integration of basic- and patient-oriented research, moving from bench to bedside.

Coordinators : O. Kunduzova, F. Savagner, V. Poinsot, D. Cussac, A. Parini

Through our research program we aim to characterize the metabolic reprogramming of fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition in myocardial fibrotic remodeling, to define the metabolic profile of cardiac mesenchymal stromal cells in relation to their secretory activities and to establish their links with immunoinflammatory cells in HF predisposing conditions (pressure overload, obesity, aging).

Coordinators : J. Roncalli, C. Laborde, A. Parini

The translational part of our project concerns two major Axes: 1) the design of novel strategies targeting at challenges of cardiac regenerative medicine and 2) the identification of novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers of cardiac dysfunction associated with obesity and aging. Our group has a large experience on the approaches of cardiac cell therapy using bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells  (BM-MSCs). In addition, we have developed an alternative strategy based on the design of bioengineered BM-MSCs/biomatrices providing the local delivery of beneficial paracrine factors without major side effects related to intramyocardial injection.