Institute for Surgical Research, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet

Current research focus

To uncover the role of myocardial growth factors belonging to the CCN gene family in normal physiology of the heart and in heart failure. Current focus is on myocardial CCN2 – connective tissue growth factor. Myocardial expression of CCN2 is repressed in the postnatal heart, but is substantially induced in heart failure. However, the function of CCN2 in the failing heart is yet to be resolved.

Research projects

Project manager

• Substrate specificities and function of G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK) isoforms in adult, differentiated cardiac myocytes
• Functional significance of CTGF-induced restrictive fibrosis of the heart in endurance training vs. heart failure
• Functions of myocardial CTGF in the postnatal heart – signalling pathways, delineation of CTGF-induced gene expression programs and role in cell proliferation, differentiation and cell death
• Generation of transgenic mice with inducible, cardiac-restricted expression of CTGF

Supervisor

• Mechanisms of myocardial CTGF-induced arrythmias
• Identification and characterization of factors that stimulate proliferation and survival of cardiac stem cells
• Investigation of role of G protein receptor kinase-5 (GRK5) in cardioprotection
• Characterization of intracellular signaling pathways of CTGF and mechanisms of cytoprotective actions in cardiac myocytes
• Role of CCN2/CTGF in in autonomic control of the heart

Collaborator

• The homeostatic chemokine CXCL13 and its receptor CXCR5 are regulated in experimental and human heart failure, and are involved in cardiac remodelling.
• Role of the innate immun system in the development and maintenance of cardiovascular disease
• Pathophysiological role of inflammatory cytokines in heart failure