Coraline Heron, a 1st year PhD student in the laboratory, has together with our collaborator, David Godefroy (Inserm U1239), used light sheet imaging to reveal the delicate network of cardiac lymphatics in mice. Their work was awarded with a 1st Prize at the yearly FASEB BioArts competition in 2020.

https://www.faseb.org/Publications-and-Resources/BioArt/Current-Winners

Some concerns about the prescription of drugs acting on the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) have emerged due to SARS COV2 and COVID-19 pandemic and the revelation of the fundamental role of ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) in COVID-19 infection. Indeed, SARS COV2 utilizes ACE2 as a membrane receptor to enter target cells. Consequently, the question arises whether RAS modulating drugs impact the risk of developing severe or fatal severe acute respiratory syndrome in case of COVID-19 infection.  Here we discuss the evidence avilable on the impact of angiotensin-converting enzyme 1 inhibitors (ACEi) versus angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers (ARB). Based on the currently available evidences, and as recommended by several medical societies, ACEi or ARB should not be systematically discontinued because to date no safety signal was raised with the use of these drugs.

Alexandre J, Cracowski JL, Richard V, Bouhanick B; French Society of Pharmacology and Therapeutics (SFPT). Drugs acting on renin angiotensin system and use in ill patients with COVID-19. Therapie. 2020;75(4):319-325.

doi: 10.1016/j.therap.2020.05.009.. PMID: 32553503

In a recent study from our laboratory, Pr Paul Mulder and colleagues have developed a new animal model of acute cardiac decompensation induced by salt overload. Using this model, they investigated whether heart rate reduction (HRR) opposes the acute decompensation‐related aggravation of cardiovascular dysfunction. Briefly, they found that acute HRR, induced by the I_f current inhibitor S38844, opposes cardiac decompensation by preventing aggravation of cardiovascular dysfunction, including reduced myocardial tissue perfusion and coronary relaxation. Importantly, the protective effects of HRR persist beyond the transient treatment, and led to partial prevention of the development of pulmonary congestion. Whether early transient HRR induced by I_f current inhibitors or other bradycardic agents, i.e. beta‐blockers, exerts beneficial effects in human ADHF warrants further investigation.

ESC Heart Failure https://doi.org/10.1002/ehf2.13094

Previous media articles on our research:

• Projet FHU CARNAVAL
• FASEB BIOART 2020
• RHU STOP-AS (@RHU_STOPAS) | FDNitter
• Projet RHU STOP-AS sélectioné
• Un reseau invisible au secours du coeur
• Prix Jean-Paul Binet
• Ma thèse en 180 secondes
• Prix "Don de soi -don de vie"
• Réseau ERA-CVD LYMIT-DIS
• Réseau FHU REMOD-VHF
• Helene Eltchaninoff, membre de la Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire - Portail vidéo de l'Université de Rouen Normandie (univ-rouen.fr)