Dr. Xiaohui Wang was awarded a R21 grant in the amount of $412,500 in 2023 by the National Institutes of Health National Institute on Aging. His project, "Role of Endothelial Cell Senescence in Age-Related Cardiomyopathy," will expand upon and elucidate his novel studies showing that endothelial HSPA12B declines with age and is linked to severe cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, and persistent inflammation.In addition, he has found that HSPA12B is crucial for sustaining ATF6 transcriptional activity and increased expression of ATF6 protects against endothelial cell senescence.
Dr. Wang states, “We hypothesize that HSPA12B anti-endothelial cell senescence is mediated by activation of ATF6/MANF signaling and that endothelial cell senescence contributes to cardiac hypertrophy via promoting metabolic reprogramming in cardiomyocytes.” He will evaluate this hypothesis by defining the mechanisms by which HSPA12B regulates ATF6 transcriptional activity and limits endothelial cell senescence and investigating the role of endothelial cell senescence in age-related cardiac hypertrophy and its underlying mechanisms. The new insights gained through this study can potentially lead to the development of innovative therapies for age-related cardiomyopathy.
Dr. Wang says, “I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. Chuanfu Li and Dr. David L. Williams in the Department of Surgery for their invaluable support and assistance.”
Dr. Xiaohui Wang is an assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences and is a member of the Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease, and Immunity.