The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) has been awarded a $494,954.00 Project Grant under the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's (NHLBI) Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837). The objective of this 4-year research project is to improve the efficacy of cardiac repair using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) through the modulation of Wnt11 signaling. Specifically, the study aims to:
-
Examine whether recombinant Wnt11 can enhance MSC resistance to apoptosis and improve retention following intramyocardial injection after a myocardial infarction in mice.
-
Elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which Wnt11-treated MSCs may induce superior infarct repair, including effects on angiogenesis, inflammation, and the MSC secretome.
-
Establish whether transplantation of Wnt11-treated MSCs can induce superior infarct repair in vivo and identify the underlying mechanistic basis.
These comprehensive and thoroughly mechanistic studies have the potential to generate an effective cellular product for heart repair that can be readily produced in a GMP facility, with significant therapeutic implications for patients with ischemic heart disease. The research will also yield novel biological insights about Wnt11 signaling in adult cells and may identify additional therapeutic targets to further enhance Wnt11-based cellular reparative strategies.
Generated 2/25/25, 4:40 AM