The red blood cell as a mediator and therapeutic target in cardiovascular disease

BackgroundThe risk of myocardial infarction is dependent on cardiovascular risk factors including type 2 diabetes (T2D) but underlying mechanisms are poorly understood.

We identified that red blood cells (RBCs) mediate beneficial cardiovascular regulatory effects under hypoxic/ischemic conditions via signaling by nitric oxide (NO) and soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) in the RBCs. By contrast, the RBCs become dyregulated in T2D and instead induce cardiovascular injury.

This project investigates the signaling of RBCs in cardiovascular disease and explores novel therapeutic strategies that target RBC function in myocardial infarction and T2D.AimsTo determine themechanisms behind cardioprotective effect of RBCs in myocardial infarctionsignaling behind cardiovascular injury induced by RBCs in T2Drole of extracellular vesicles in signaling by RBCstherapeutic effects of treatments targeting RBC signalingWork planRBCs collected from patients with myocardial infarction, patients with T2D and healthy controls are investigated in bioassays including isolated hearts of ischemia/reperfusion, endothelial function and cell cultures.

Molecular mechanisms behind the effects of RBCs are identified with focus on the NO-sGC pathway in the RBCs. Therapeutic studies are performed ex vivo and in a randomized clinical study.

SignificanceThis project unravels the RBC as a mediator of cardiovascular disease and has the potential to identify novel therapeutic strategies by targeting RBC signaling.