Inhaltspezifische Aktionen

AG Endothelial Function in Cardiovascular Disease

 

Research Focus

cAMP and AMPK signalling and endothelial function: Molecular mechanisms in cardiovascular diseases (CVD)
Cyclic AMP (cAMP) and AMP kinase (AMPK) signalling play crucial and interconnected roles in regulating vascular function, including endothelial cell behaviour, inflammation, and metabolism. cAMP signalling, through its compartmentalized pools in different cellular locations, controls processes such as endothelial permeability, angiogenesis, and cellular responses to pro-inflammatory factors. On the other hand, AMPK, a central energy sensor, regulates cellular metabolism, mitochondrial function, and metabolic homeostasis. It acts as a key regulator of vascular health by controlling cellular energy balance and promoting protective mechanisms in response to stress. Both pathways are interconnected, with cAMP influencing AMPK activity, and AMPK modulating cAMP production, thereby coordinating vascular responses to stress, metabolism, and inflammation. Additionally, small GTPases, particularly those involved in regulating the actin cytoskeleton and endothelial barrier function, are crucial for maintaining vascular tone and permeability. The activities of these GTPases are modulated by cAMP and AMPK signalling, ensuring proper endothelial cell responses to mechanical stress, inflammation, and metabolic changes. Studies have highlighted the interplay between these pathways in the context of cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and inflammaging, suggesting their potential as therapeutic targets to address endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, and other vascular disorders. Together, cAMP, AMPK, and small GTPases form a dynamic network that regulates vascular health and disease progression.

 

Contact

PD Dr. rer. nat. Muhammad Aslam

Institute for Experimental and Translational Cardiology

Aulweg 129 / 4. OG

35392 Gießen

+49 (0)641 99 42242

muhammad.aslam

Team

 

Publications

  1. Aslam M, Li L, Nürnberger S, Niemann B, Rohrbach S. CTRP13-Mediated Effects on Endothelial Cell Function and Their Potential Role in Obesity. Cells. 2024 Jul 31;13(15):1291.

  2. Barcena ML, Christiansen-Mensch C, Aslam M, Haritonow N, Ladilov Y, Regitz-Zagrosek V. Upregulation of Mitochondrial Sirt3 and Alleviation of the Inflammatory Phenotype in Macrophages by Estrogen. Cells. 2024 Aug 25;13(17):1420.

  3. Barcena ML, Aslam M, Ladilov Y. Editorial: Cardiovascular inflammaging: basic and translational aspects. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2024 Mar 1;11:1385683.

  4. Aslam M, Ladilov Y. Editorial: Advances in cAMP signaling research: basic and translational aspects. Front Physiol. 2023 Sep 1;14:1266718.

  5. Ladilov Y, Aslam M. New Insights into the Basic and Translational Aspects of AMPK Signaling. Cells. 2023 Jan 4;12(2):206.

  6. Chen DW, Kang T, Xu XZ, Xia WJ, Ye X, Wu YB, Xu YR, Liu J, Ren H, Deng J, Chen YK, Ding HQ, Aslam M, Zelek WM, Morgan BP, Kapur R, Santoso S, Fu YS. Mechanism and intervention of murine transfusion-related acute lung injury caused by anti-CD36 antibodies. JCI Insight. 2023 Mar 22;8(6):e165142.

  7. Barcena ML, Aslam M, Pozdniakova S, Norman K, Ladilov Y. Cardiovascular Inflammaging: Mechanisms and Translational Aspects. Cells. 2022 Mar 16;11(6):1010.

  8. Aslam M, Idrees H, Ferdinandy P, Helyes Z, Hamm C, Schulz R. Somatostatin Primes Endothelial Cells for Agonist-Induced Hyperpermeability and Angiogenesis In Vitro. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Mar 13;23(6):3098.

  9. Barvitenko N, Ashrafuzzaman M, Lawen A, Skverchinskaya E, Saldanha C, Manca A, Uras G, Aslam M, Pantaleo A. Endothelial Cell Plasma Membrane Biomechanics Mediates Effects of Pro-Inflammatory Factors on Endothelial Mechanosensors: Vicious Circle Formation in Atherogenic Inflammation. Membranes (Basel). 2022 Feb 10;12(2):205.

  10. Aslam M, Ladilov Y. Emerging Role of cAMP/AMPK Signaling. Cells. 2022 Jan 17;11(2):308.

  11. Li L, Aslam M, Siegler BH, Niemann B, Rohrbach S. Comparative Analysis of CTRP-Mediated Effects on Cardiomyocyte Glucose Metabolism: Cross Talk between AMPK and Akt Signaling Pathway. Cells. 2021 Apr 14;10(4):905.

  12. Barvitenko N, Aslam M, Lawen A, Saldanha C, Skverchinskaya E, Uras G, Manca A, Pantaleo A. Two Motors and One Spring: Hypothetic Roles of Non-Muscle Myosin II and Submembrane Actin-Based Cytoskeleton in Cell Volume Sensing. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Jul 26;22(15):7967.

  13. Aslam M, Ladilov Y. Regulation of Mitochondrial Homeostasis by sAC-Derived cAMP Pool: Basic and Translational Aspects. Cells. 2021 Feb 22;10(2):473.

  14. Barvitenko N, Skverchinskaya E, Lawen A, Matteucci E, Saldanha C, Uras G, Manca A, Aslam M, Pantaleo A. Pleiotropic and Potentially Beneficial Effects of Reactive Oxygen Species on the Intracellular Signaling Pathways in Endothelial Cells. Antioxidants (Basel). 2021 Jun 3;10(6):904.

  15. Aslam M, Ladilov Y. Targeting the sAC-Dependent cAMP Pool to Prevent SARS-Cov-2 Infection. Cells. 2020 Aug 25;9(9):1962.

  16. Niemann B, Li L, Siegler D, Siegler BH, Knapp F, Hanna J, Aslam M, Kracht M, Schulz R, Rohrbach S. CTRP9 Mediates Protective Effects in Cardiomyocytes via AMPK- and Adiponectin Receptor-Mediated Induction of Anti-Oxidant Response. Cells. 2020 May 15;9(5):1229.

  17. Jayarajan V, Appukuttan A, Aslam M, Reusch P, Regitz-Zagrosek V, Ladilov Y. Regulation of AMPK activity by type 10 adenylyl cyclase: contribution to the mitochondrial biology, cellular redox and energy homeostasis. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2019 Dec;76(24):4945-4959.

  18. Gündüz D, Troidl C, Tanislav C, Rohrbach S, Hamm C, Aslam M. Role of PI3K/Akt and MEK/ERK Signalling in cAMP/Epac-Mediated Endothelial Barrier Stabilisation. Front Physiol. 2019 Nov 7;10:1387.

  19. Aslam M, Troidl C, Tanislav C, Rohrbach S, Gündüz D, Hamm CW. Inhibition of Protein Prenylation of GTPases Alters Endothelial Barrier Function. Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Dec 18;21(1):2.