Summary
This research project aims to elucidate the mechanism by which systemic activation of branched chain amino acid (BCAA) catabolism protects against heart failure, specifically investigating its role in smooth muscle cells, vasodilation, and myocardial blood flow.
What they want
The project hypothesizes that systemic activation of BCAA catabolism activates BCAA catabolism in smooth muscle cells (SMCs), leading to SMC relaxation, cardiac vasodilation, improved myocardial blood flow (MBF), and cardioprotection. The research will test this hypothesis through four aims: (1) Identify how BCAA catabolism in SMCs inhibits vasoconstriction. (2) Test if BCAA catabolism in smooth muscle cells promotes cardiac vasodilation and MBF. (3) Test the role of smooth muscle BCAA catabolism in cardioprotection. (4) Test if systemic activation of BCAA catabolism promotes cardiac MBF in humans.
Deliverables
- Elucidation of how BCAA catabolism in SMCs inhibits vasoconstriction
- Determination of whether BCAA catabolism in smooth muscle cells promotes cardiac vasodilation and MBF
- Assessment of the role of smooth muscle BCAA catabolism in cardioprotection
- Evaluation of whether systemic activation of BCAA catabolism promotes cardiac MBF in humans
