Research areas

Axis 4 : Study of the Right Ventricular Remodelling in Pulmonary Hypertension in Adults and Children (in collaboration with Team 3 of the unit)

(Coordinators: Dr. Christelle Guibert (INSERM Research Director), Dr. Claire-Marie Pilard (Hospital Practitioner))

In both adults and children, pulmonary hypertension leads to right ventricular hypertrophy, which, in advanced stages of the disease, can progress to right heart failure and patient death.

The pathophysiological mechanisms involved in right ventricular remodelling are still not well understood. A better understanding of these processes could pave the way for innovative therapeutic strategies targeting both the pulmonary arterial circulation and the right ventricle.

Ongoing Projects

  • Study of the right ventricular remodelling in preterm newborns with BPD and its long-term consequences into adulthood (see Axis 2)
  • Investigation of right heart alterations in adult transgenic animals carrying a BMPR2 (Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptor 2) mutation, under both physiological conditions (normoxia – see Figure 1) and pathological conditions (PH induced by chronic hypoxia). Collaboration with Team 3 of the unit.
Figure 1: Spatial alteration of cardiac action potentials under normoxic conditions in adult control rats (wild type (WT) – left) and adult transgenic rats (BMPR2⁺/⁻ – right).

Team

Team 1

Pathophysiology of the pulmonary circulation

This team focuses on the study of vascular remodeling, with particular expertise in electrophysiology, signaling and endothelium-muscle communication, notably through connexins.

Leadership : Christelle GUIBERT 

Other research areas