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The objective of the Cardiovascular Pharmacology research group is to identify molecular key signals for cardiovascular diseases. The work focuses, among other things, on cardiac insufficiency (heart failure) and cardiac hypertrophy (thickened heart muscle). To take action to counter the high mortality risk and the great prevalence of these cardiac diseases, it is important to diagnose them at an early stage and to exert a positive influence on the course of the disease. To do so, however, precise information on the molecular causes of the disorders is required.

In the case of increased load, for example from high blood pressure, the heart reacts with increased growth of the heart muscle. By reacting in this way, the heart is initially able to withstand the load and, up to a certain point, to increase its capacity in a healthy manner. But sooner or later a point is reached at which the process turns negative: when the load is constantly too high and the heart muscle’s growth becomes excessive, heart muscle cells start dying, the heart becomes scarred and incurs long-term damage.

© ISAS / Hannes Woidich

Molecular fingerprint of cardiovascular diseases

Physiologically, these harmful processes are well documented, but at a molecular level it is largely unclear what exactly happens in the cells – and how cardiac insufficiency or cardiac hypertrophy could be stopped. The research group’s scientists have already succeeded in identifying the first potential targets for pharmaceutical treatments: for example, the extracellular regulated kinases (ERK) 1 and 2 play a role in the emergence of pathological cardiac hypertrophy. A change in the distance between these two enzymes leads to a biochemical change in the body that may trigger abnormal heart growth. The researchers identified a protein sequence that can keep ERK1 and ERK2 literally at a distance. 

ERK1 and ERK2 also play a role in arteriosclerosis (vascular calcifications) and cancer. This means the researchers’ findings on the two enzymes also provide important information relating to these disorders.   

Furthermore, the scientists are searching for a mechanism that brings about positive inotropy, for example increased pumping performance of the heart, but without permanently damaging the heart muscle. This signal pathway could also give rise to a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of cardiac insufficiency. With a view to explaining this and other regulatory mechanisms in healthy and diseased hearts, and in order to understand cardiotoxic mechanisms of, for example, cancer medications, the researchers are working with purified proteins, cell lines, primary cells, tissues, murine models for various forms of cardiac insufficiency as well as a range of molecular biological and biochemical methods.

Highlights

5th July 2024

 Thyroid hormones: Timers for the heart?

The Collaborative Research Centre "Local Control of Thyroid Hormone Action - LOCOTACT" investigates the local control of the effects of thyroid hormones in organs such as the heart or liver. In order to find new therapeutic approaches for cardiovascular diseases, for example, researchers at ISAS want to know: How does the body control the transport, metabolism and mechanism of action of thyroid hormones in the heart?

Videograf André Zelck (rechts im Bild) begleitet die Doktorandin Stefanie Dörr (Kardiovaskuläre Pharmakologie) bei ihrer Arbeit am Echokardiographiegerät.
21st November 2023

New Diagnostic Method for a Dangerous Hereditary Disease

Using Raman spectroscopy, researchers at ISAS have tested a new diagnostic method that could potentially help to diagnose Fabry disease earlier. Until now, the disease has often been recognized too late - when it has already attacked the heart and other organs.

Dr. Elen Tolstik.
16th September 2022

Differences are Critical

What do sex-specific differences mean for health research? What role do they play in applied basic research? Five ISAS scientists with different research focuses have an answer to these questions.

Female symbol, unequal, male symbol.
25th August 2022

Two ISAS Postdocs Accepted for Leibniz Mentoring

Physicist Dr Elen Tolstik and biologist Dr Fiorella Solari give an insight into what they hope to gain from their participation in the Leibniz Mentoring programme.

Dr. Elen Tolstik & Dr. Fiorella Solari.
25th March 2022

A Matter of the Heart: German-Chinese Collaboration

In the project »ChInValue - NRW-China Cooperations: GRK5 Inhibitors«, researchers are working together on an active pharmaceutical ingredient for the treatment of cardiac insufficiency.

Miriam Kleindl analysiert die Aktivierung und Menge von Proteinen der in vivo GRK-Studie, um herauszufinden, wie die Signalwege reguliert werden.

Projects

Team

Prof. Dr. Kristina Lorenz

Department Head

Department: Translational Research

Research group: Cardiovascular Pharmacology

Portrait von Prof. Dr. Kristina Lorenz.

Jonas Bodmann

Lab Technician

Department: Translational Research

Research group: Cardiovascular Pharmacology

Portrait von  Jonas Bodmann.

Johann Dierks

Research Associate

Department: Translational Research

Research group: Cardiovascular Pharmacology

Portrait von  Johann Dierks.

Stefanie Dörr

Research Associate

Department: Translational Research

Research group: Cardiovascular Pharmacology

Portrait von  Stefanie Dörr.

Stefanie Güssgen

Lab Technician

Department: Translational Research

Research group: Cardiovascular Pharmacology

Portrait von  Stefanie Güssgen.

Malin Hedtstück

Research Associate

Department: Translational Research

Research group: Cardiovascular Pharmacology

Portrait von  Malin Hedtstück.

Marzena Aneta Nowak

Research Associate

Department: Translational Research

Research group: Cardiovascular Pharmacology

Carlotta Peddinghaus

Research Associate

Department: Translational Research

Research group: Cardiovascular Pharmacology

Portrait von  Carlotta Peddinghaus.

Dr. Eva Schmitteckert

Research Associate

Department: Translational Research

Research group: Cardiovascular Pharmacology

Dr. Elen Tolstik

Research Associate

Department: Translational Research

Research group: Cardiovascular Pharmacology

Portrait von Dr. Elen Tolstik.

Ann-Katrin Weiss

Technical Assistant

Department: Translational Research

Research group: Cardiovascular Pharmacology

Portrait von  Ann-Kathrin Weiss.

Tobias Wieczorek

Student Assistant

Department: Translational Research

Research group: Cardiovascular Pharmacology

Portrait von  Tobias Wieczorek.