Elevated serum levels of the inorganic uremic toxin phosphate are associated with progressive changes in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the heart, causing both structural myocardial damage and dysfunction. In cell cultures and in the rat model of chronic kidney disease (CKD), we will investigate additional effects of organic uremic toxins, which are present in the disturbed gut microbiota in CKD, on the expression and composition of ECM components, in particular glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). The aims of this project are to investigate how the cardiac ECM changes are visualized in cardiac MRI performed with gadolinium- and iron-based imaging probes, how oral toxin binder treatment affects disease progression and imaging appearance in cardiac MRI, and whether imaging can identify the disease stage up to which cardiac disease is reversible.
DFG Programme
Collaborative Research Centres
