The protective role of fibroblast growth factor signaling in hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension

项目摘要 这项K08提案将加快首席调查员朝着成为一名 独立的内科医生兼科学家致力于增加我们对糖尿病发病机制的了解 治疗肺动脉高压(PH)，并开发创新疗法以改善结果。 候选人：Kel Vin Woo博士是华盛顿大学医学院的内科科学家。 他完成了儿科心脏病学的研究，并在成纤维细胞的交叉点开发专业知识 在世界权威大卫·奥尼茨博士的指导下，生长因子信号转导和血管生物学 关于成纤维细胞生长因子生物学。在奥尼茨博士的指导下，PI研究了内皮细胞成纤维细胞生长因子信号是如何调节的 低氧通过减轻内皮细胞向间充质细胞的转变而诱导PH。他将利用所获得的技能 在他的研究期间，进一步分析血管平滑肌细胞中的成纤维细胞生长因子信号，并使用腺病毒- 血管内皮细胞成纤维细胞生长因子作为一种潜在的调节血管重构的方法。 职业发展计划：吴博士将在奥尼茨博士的指导下从事这一领域的研究 以及库里尔博士(腺病毒矢量学专家)的共同指导。此外，一支由校内和 校外顾问包括PH、血管和肺部生物学方面的专家，他们都有相当多的 培养独立调查人员的经验。WUSM提供了高度交互的环境， 优越的设施、资源和机遇。这一五年计划建立在PI先前经验的基础上，并进一步 丰富了他的训练，为他提供了独立所需的工具。它包括以下目标： (1)掌握先进的小鼠血流动力学表型鉴定技术；(2)精通腺病毒 利用低氧诱导的血管重构的临床前模型改善PH预后的工程学；(3) 在不同的场所传播研究成果，并积极建立富有成效的合作。 研究计划：该方案的总体假设是肺内皮细胞和血管中的成纤维细胞生长因子信号 平滑肌细胞对低氧诱导的PH具有保护作用。特定目标1将研究平滑肌肉是如何 细胞成纤维细胞生长因子可防止肺血管重塑。AIM 2将询问内皮靶向腺病毒- 注射成纤维细胞生长因子可减少缺氧引起的血管重塑和PH严重程度。在完成建议的 研究方面，吴博士将精通以下几个方面：(1)调节对内皮和平滑至关重要的细胞内通路 (2)分析新培育的条件性基因敲除小鼠的血流动力学。 对肺部的影响；以及(3)开发将基因输送到肺内皮细胞作为潜在治疗方法的方法 治疗肺血管疾病。这些获得的技能将很容易适用于其他形式的肺 血管疾病和血管重塑中的内皮-平滑肌相互作用。在完成 在拟议的培训中，吴博士将获得成为独立调查员所需的专业知识 重点是减轻肺部疾病的负担，与NHLBI的使命保持一致。

Project Summary This K08 proposal will expedite the principal investigator’s progress towards his goal of becoming an independent physician-scientist focused on increasing our understanding of pathogenic mechanisms of pulmonary hypertension (PH) and developing innovative therapies to improve outcomes. Candidate: Dr. Kel Vin Woo is a physician-scientist at Washington University School of Medicine (WUSM). He completed a fellowship in Pediatric Cardiology and is developing expertise at the intersection of Fibroblast Growth Factors (FGF) signaling and vascular biology under the mentorship of Dr. David Ornitz, a world authority on FGF biology. Under Dr. Ornitz’s mentorship, the PI investigated how endothelial FGF signaling modulates hypoxia-induced PH by mitigating endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition. He will leverage the skills gained during his fellowship to further analyze FGF signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells and use adenovirus- delivered endothelial FGF as a potential method of regulating vascular remodeling. Career Development Plan: Dr. Woo will pursue this line of research with primary mentorship from Dr. Ornitz and co-mentorship from Dr. Curiel (an expert in adenovirus vectorology). Additionally, a team of intramural and extramural advisors include experts in PH, and vascular and pulmonary biology, and all have considerable experience in nurturing independent investigators. WUSM provides a highly interactive environment with excellent facilities, resources and opportunities. This 5-year plan builds on the PI’s prior experience and further enriches his training, providing him with the tools needed for independence. It includes the following objectives: (1) Master techniques in advanced mouse hemodynamic phenotyping; (2) Become proficient with adenovirus engineering to improve PH outcomes using preclinical models of hypoxia-induced vascular remodeling; (3) Disseminate research findings in diverse venues and actively establish productive collaborations. Research Plan: The overall hypothesis of the proposal is that FGF signaling in lung endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells protects against hypoxia-induced PH. Specific Aim 1 will investigate how smooth muscle cell FGF prevents pulmonary vascular remodeling. Aim 2 will interrogate how endothelial targeted adenovirus- delivered FGF reduces hypoxia-induced vascular remodeling and PH severity. Upon completion of the proposed research, Dr. Woo will be proficient in: (1) modulating intracellular pathways important for endothelial and smooth muscle cell remodeling; (2) analyzing newly developed conditional knockout mice to ascertain the hemodynamic effects on the lungs; and (3) developing approaches for gene delivery to lung endothelium as a potential therapy for pulmonary vascular disease. These acquired skills will be readily applicable to other forms pulmonary vascular disease and endothelial-smooth muscle interactions in vascular remodeling. Upon completion of the proposed training, Dr. Woo will have acquired the necessary expertise to become an independent investigator focused on reducing the burden of pulmonary diseases, in alignment with the NHLBI mission.