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 If 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 If 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:
Research performed in Inserm U1096 Unit in Rouen, concerns evaluation of the mechanisms behind and novel treatments of cardiovascular diseases, focusing on vascular protection and improvement of cardiac contractile function. This research is transversal, and performed both in experimental models and in human.
Our work mostly concerns the protection of vascular endothelial cells in the context of cardiovascular risk factors or cardiovascular diseases (hypertension, diabetes, myocardial infarction, heart failure etc. ). We also investigate new biotherapy approaches for stimulation of cardiac angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis.
Development and assessment of new treatments of heart failure, as well as the clinical evaluation of percutaneous aortic valve replacement.