SFB / Transregio 23
"Vascular Differentiation and Remodeling"

Mannheim - Heidelberg - Frankfurt

Prof. Dr. Thomas Korff University of Heidelberg Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology Im Neuenheimer Feld 326 D-69120 Heidelberg Phone: 0049 (0)6221 54 4131 Lab Homepage
	korff(at)physiologie.uni-heidelberg.de
C5: Regulation of the smooth muscle cell phenotype switch during remodeling processes of arteries and veins
As shown by our previous results, biomechanical stretch is sufficient to control the switch from the contractile to the synthetic smooth muscle cell (SMC) phenotype which is a prerequisite for venous and arterial remodeling processes. With RGS5, NFAT-5 and AP-1, we identified a G-protein signalingregulating protein and two transcription factors that control specific properties of contractile/synthetic SMCs exposed to an increase in wall stress (WS) or stretch. This proposal is thus aimed at investigating the functional properties and mechanisms regulating the activity of these molecules in venous and arterial SMCs during chronic and acute vascular diseases.

Summary of stretch-mediated changes in the SMC phenotype which contribute to the development
of arteriosclerosis, arteriogenesis, varicosis and hypertension-induced remodelling.