International Partnering Award: Using AI to assess senescence and mitochondrial morphology in calcifying VSMCs

国际合作奖：利用人工智能评估钙化 VSMC 的衰老和线粒体形态

• 批准号: BB/Y513982/1
• 负责人: Vicky MacRae
• 金额: $ 32.86万
• 依托单位: University of Edinburgh
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2024
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2024 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=BB%2FY513982%2F1
• 关键词: International; Partnering; Award; Using; AI

During natural ageing, calcified tissue frequently develops within arteries, the blood vessels that form a network to distribute oxygen-rich blood to the entire body. This process predominantly involves changes in the function of the main type of cell present within the arteries, the vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC). This is a significant risk factor in the development of future life threatening cardiovascular events, including heart attack and stroke. Identifying new molecules and pathways involved in arterial calcification and novel pharmacological targets that prevent this process could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and enhance the quality of life for the elderly.We have recently published seminal findings revealing, for the first time, that calcifying VSMCs, not only undergo senescence (a process by which a cell ages, changes shape and permanently stops dividing but does not die), but also show longer mitochondria (the energy powerhouses of the cell) which work less efficiently (Phadwal et al., 2023). Present in nearly all types of cells, mitochondria are vital to survival as they generate the energy of the cell. We now ask are our observations simply two parallel consequences of calcification? Or do specific VSMCS first undergo senescence, which then drives mitochondrial elongation within those cells? A more complete understanding of this process will enable our long term ambition to explore the targeting of senescence as a timely and innovative treatment strategy to promote healthy ageing through the inhibition of arterial calcification.

在自然衰老的过程中，钙化组织经常在动脉内发展，形成网络以将富含氧气的血液分配到整个体内的血管。该过程主要涉及动脉中存在的主要细胞的功能，即血管平滑肌细胞（VSMC）。这是未来威胁生命的心血管事件（包括心脏病发作和中风）发展的重要危险因素。确定鉴定动脉钙化涉及的新分子和途径和新的药理学靶标，以防止这一过程可以减少心血管疾病的风险并提高老年人的生活质量。我们最近发表了开创性的发现，首次揭示了第一次揭示，该发现揭示了钙化的降低，而不仅仅是较长的过程，但不仅会逐渐差异，但要彻底地显示出较长的层次，但要彻底地戴上了型号，并且会改变型号，并改变了型号，并且会改变型号。线粒体（细胞的能量动力）的工作效率较低（Phadwal等，2023）。线粒体几乎存在于所有类型的细胞中，对于生存产生细胞的能量至关重要。我们现在问我们的观察只是钙化的两个平行后果吗？还是特定的VSMC首先会发生衰老，然后驱动这些细胞内的线粒体伸长？对这一过程的更完整的理解将使我们的长期野心能够探索衰老作为及时，创新的治疗策略，以通过抑制动脉钙化来促进健康衰老。