ADRF, vasoregulation and hypertension

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Maik Gollasch
• Subject Area: Nephrology ; Cardiology, Angiology
• Term: from 2011 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 193179237

This research project aims to define the periadventitial regulation of vascular tone in hypertension, obesity and metabolic syndrome. On a conceptual level, the project aims to demonstrate that the perivascular adipose tissue acts as a source of 'Adipocyte-derived relaxing factor' (ADRF) and its disturbed local, paracrine, vasoactive effects are causing vascular dysfunction in these disease states. The investigations are focused hydrogen sulfide (H2S), hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HPETEs) and hydroxy-epoxyeicosatrienoic (HEETs) as candidates of ADRF; the importance of these products for the periadventitial vessel regulation is explored in animal models of obesity, hypertension and the metabolic syndrome. To clarify the role of involved KCNQ potassium channels gene Kcnq gene -deficient mice will be used. Vasoactive factors of adipocytes or their receptors could represent targets for the development of novel cardiovascular drugs.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants