Thesis supervisor: Viktória Jeney
Location of studies (in Hungarian): Debreceni Egyetem Abbreviation of location of studies: DEÁOK
Description of the research topic:
Once considered as a passive process, nowadays it is evident that vascular calcification is an active cell-mediated process. Vascular calcification now is considered as a consequence of osteochondrogenic differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). During this differentiation process VSMCs lose their linage markers and gain osteoblast-like phenotype. This is orchestrated mainly by the master osteogenic transcription factors RUNX2 that control the transcription of different osteoblast-like proteins. Different triggers of such osteogenic trans-differentiation have been identified including but not limited to elevated inorganic phosphate that can play a pathophysiologic role in accelerated mineralization in patients with chronic kidney disease, and high glucose which is linked to increased mineralization in patients with type 2 diabetes. It is not clear whether other cells are involved in vascular calcification, but recently a population of macrophages with high expression of osteoblast-specific markers was identified in peripheral blood of patients with type2 diabetes.
Under this project we will address the role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in vascular calcification. We will use the human aorta smooth muscle cells and valve interstitial cells and investigate the contribution of ER stress in high phosphate, high glucose and hypoxia-induced calcification. We will determine mRNA and protein expressions of certain osteoblast-specific markers, such as RUNX2, SOX9, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, etc. We will also measure matrix mineralization. We will use adenine-induced chronic kidney disease model to study the role of ER stress in medial calcification and valve calcification.
Number of students who can be accepted: 1
Deadline for application: 2024-05-15
2024. IV. 17. ODT ülés Az ODT következő ülésére 2024. június 14-én, pénteken 10.00 órakor kerül sor a Semmelweis Egyetem Szenátusi termében (Bp. Üllői út 26. I. emelet).
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