Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading causes of death in the United States according to recent data from the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Myocardial infarctions, heart attacks, Coronary Artery Disease, ischemic reperfusion injuries, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathies represent common pathologies leading to the hospitalization of Americans. The etiologies of these diseases vary, however there is a common link. The phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) AKT pathway is a cellular pathway that is commonly overexpressed or repressed in myocytes. The human body is in an active limbo to maintain homeostasis. At a cellular level this can be simplified to a delicate balance between cell division and survival. The elucidation of PIP2 and PIP3, critical components of the PI3K pathway, has led to a more direct connection between the pathway and CVD. More specifically, the lynchpin of PTEN has become of great importance. PTEN is the regulator of the pathway, ensuring the balance between senescence and division is controlled. A better understanding of the PI3K pathway has led to the development of PI3K inhibitors and unique pharmaceuticals that stimulate the pathway. With CVD being one of the most common pathologies treated in the inpatient setting, as well as being one of the most well researched disease types in biomedical science, having a better understanding of this pathway is imperative. Leveraging a better understanding of this cellular pathway could result in the synthesis of novel therapeutics that target CVD while decreasing the rate of secondary complications seen in current treatment modalities.

Faculty Mentor

Dr Owens, PhD

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Myocardial PI3K-AKT Pathway and Cardiovascular Disease Etiology

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading causes of death in the United States according to recent data from the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Myocardial infarctions, heart attacks, Coronary Artery Disease, ischemic reperfusion injuries, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathies represent common pathologies leading to the hospitalization of Americans. The etiologies of these diseases vary, however there is a common link. The phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) AKT pathway is a cellular pathway that is commonly overexpressed or repressed in myocytes. The human body is in an active limbo to maintain homeostasis. At a cellular level this can be simplified to a delicate balance between cell division and survival. The elucidation of PIP2 and PIP3, critical components of the PI3K pathway, has led to a more direct connection between the pathway and CVD. More specifically, the lynchpin of PTEN has become of great importance. PTEN is the regulator of the pathway, ensuring the balance between senescence and division is controlled. A better understanding of the PI3K pathway has led to the development of PI3K inhibitors and unique pharmaceuticals that stimulate the pathway. With CVD being one of the most common pathologies treated in the inpatient setting, as well as being one of the most well researched disease types in biomedical science, having a better understanding of this pathway is imperative. Leveraging a better understanding of this cellular pathway could result in the synthesis of novel therapeutics that target CVD while decreasing the rate of secondary complications seen in current treatment modalities.

 

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