Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental MedicineThe heart and lungs interact in a complex interplay. Both systems are affected by partly similar risk factors and there is an overlap of pathogenic molecular mechanisms such as organ fibrosis. Due to high morbidity and mortality, diseases of the heart and lungs play a major role in terms of health economics.
Cardiopulmonary research
Research for healthy hearts and lungs
A synergetic development
Establishment of a university-affiliated Division of Cardiovascular Research in 2021 has generated new methodological and scientific overlaps at Fraunhofer ITEM. As a result, the long-standing expertise in lung research is experiencing a synergetic further development of high clinical relevance. RNA molecules in particular are being investigated very successfully as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the benefit of patients with cardiac and pulmonary diseases. Computer-assisted translational bioinformatics, used to predict molecular mechanisms based on RNA molecules, is of particular importance in this context. Fraunhofer ITEM researchers are currently exploring the potential of RNAs for toxicology and efficacy testing of drugs.
Advancing ideas to the proof of concept
Through their clinical research, Fraunhofer ITEM scientists enable a direct transfer of findings to humans, for example, by using chip cytometry and exhaled breath analysis.
To efficiently translate ideas from bench to bedside, the scientists use appropriate exposure systems, some of which have been developed specifically for this purpose, and innovative model systems that closely mimic the situation in patients. They use the generated data to further develop and refine their modeling approaches, so as to allow in-vitro results or findings to be extrapolated both qualitatively and quantitatively for the prediction of the expected in-vivo effect in humans. Candidate drugs can be tested at the institute for their efficacy and side effects to provide the proof of concept in humans, i.e. the necessary evidence of the drug’s mode of action.
Publications
- Badimon, L., Robinson, E. L., Jusic, A., Carpusca, I., de Windt, L. J., Emanueli, C., Ferdinandy, P., Gu, W., Gyongyosi, M., Hackl, M., Karaduzovic-Hadziabdic, K., Lustrek, M., Martelli, F., Nham, E., Potocnjak, I., Satagopam, V., Schneider, R., Thum, T., Devaux, Y., CA, E. U.-C. C. A. (2021). "Cardiovascular rna markers and artificial intelligence may improve covid-19 outcome: position paper from the eu-cardiorna cost action ca17129." Cardiovascular Research 117(8): 1823-1840. doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvab094 https://academic.oup.com/cardiovascres/advance-article/doi/10.1093/cvr/cvab094/6220322 - Open Access
- Chapman, J. R., Baan, C. C., Bromberg, J., Emond, J. E., Geissler, E. K., Kaplan, B., Tullius, S. G. (2021). "COVID-19: A Year on." Transplantation 105(1): 1-3. doi: 10.1097/TP.0000000000003544 https://journals.lww.com/transplantjournal/Fulltext/2021/01000/COVID_19__A_Year_on.1.aspx - Open Access
- Derda, A. A., Garg, A., Bar, C., Thum, T. (2021). "Reply to 'COVID-19 severity, miR-21 targets, and common human genetic variation'." European Journal of Heart Failure 23(11): 1987-1988. doi: 10.1002/ejhf.2322 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ejhf.2322 - Open Access
- Garg, A., Seeliger, B., Derda, A. A., Xiao, K., Gietz, A., Scherf, K., Sonnenschein, K., Pink, I., Hoeper, M. M., Welte, T., Bauersachs, J., David, S., Bar, C., Thum, T. (2021). "Circulating cardiovascular microRNAs in critically ill COVID-19 patients." European Journal of Heart Failure 23(3): 468-475. doi: 10.1002/ejhf.2096 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ejhf.2096 - Open Access
- Glaab, T., Braun, A. (2021). "Noninvasive Measurement of Pulmonary Function in Experimental Mouse Models of Airway Disease." Lung 199(3): 255-261. doi: 10.1007/s00408-021-00443-9 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00408-021-00443-9 - Open Access
- Holz, O., van Vorstenbosch, R., Günther, F., Schuchardt, S., Trinkmann, F., van Schooten, F. J., Smolinska, A., Hohlfeld, J. M. (2022). "Changes of breath volatile organic compounds in healthy volunteers following segmental and inhalation endotoxin challenge." Journal of Breath Research 16(3). doi: 10.1088/1752-7163/ac6359 - Open Access
- Lu, D., Chatterjee, S., Xiao, K., Riedel, S., Huang, C., Costa, A., Cushman, S., Neufeldt, D., Rode, L., Schmidt, A., Juchem, M., Leonardy, J., Büchler, G., Blume, J., Gern, O., Kalinke, U., Tan, W., Foo, R., Vink, A., van Laake L., van der Meer, P., Bär, C., Thum, T. (2022). A circular RNA derived from the insulin receptor locus protects against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. European Heart Journal. doi: 10.1093/ehac337 https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehac337
- Obert, A. J., Gutberlet, M., Kern, A. L., Kaireit, T. F., Glandorf, J., Moher Alsady, T., Wacker, F., Hohlfeld, J. M., Vogel-Claussen, J. (2022). "Examining lung microstructure using (19) F MR diffusion imaging in COPD patients." Magnetic Resonance in Medicine [Epub ahead of print]. doi: 10.1002/mrm.29237 - Open Access