Seminar: "The role of cardiac mechanics in cardiac regeneration and cancer inhibition "

 

Abstract: Cardiac regeneration in adult mammals is highly inefficient. Extensive loss of cardiomyocytes and vasculature leads to a permanent decline in contractile function. Our group has contributed to elucidating the mechanisms that halt cardiomyocyte and endothelial cell proliferation after birth and has developed therapeutic strategies to enhance cardiac regeneration and revascularization, including RNA-based approaches and mechanical unloading. More recently, we have demonstrated that cardiac mechanical load can also suppress cancer cell proliferation within the heart, thereby providing protection against tumor growth. In this presentation, I will discuss our ongoing efforts to stimulate cardiac regeneration after injury and to harness cardiac-like mechanical forces as an innovative therapeutic strategy for solid tumors.