03101-A: Enhancing Autophagy to Control Canine Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease
Grant Status: Open
Abstract
Development of novel treatments to control degenerative diseases requires understanding of their molecular biology. Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is one such disease, is the most important chronic degenerative cardiovascular disease of the dog, with no treatments to prevent, control or reverse valve pathology. In our laboratory we have shown important changes in the mechanisms controlling cell persistence in diseased valves likely contributes to valve degeneration over many years. We have confirmed that the diseased valve interstitial cells (VICs) enter what known as a senescent staff and the mechanism that normally prevent this from happening are blunted or not functioning. We have also fond that by enhancing a mechanism called autophagy we can overcome senescence and transition diseased VICs back to a normal healthy state. These data suggest suggest that autophagy is a key regulator of MMVD and a is a promising potential therapeutic target to treat MMVD in dogs. Interestingly there are a variety of readily available flavonoid products (found in foodstuffs) that can enhance autophagy. In this project we plan to examine the efficacy of these products and other pharmacological agents using our well established cell culture system, validated measures and complex molecular analysis techniques. This study aims to clarify the contribution of the autophagy pathway to development of MMVD and contribute data to inform potential future clinical trials or development of future treatments, that may even be in the form of dietary supplements.
Publication(s)
Help Future Generations of Dogs
Participate in canine health research by providing samples or by enrolling in a clinical trial. Samples are needed from healthy dogs and dogs affected by specific diseases.
