Institute for Surgical Research, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet

Current research focus

The current research focus is to unravel and characterize the receptor(s) and intracellular pathways of the matricellular protein CCN2 in cardiac myocytes and cardiac fibroblasts. CCN2 increases tolerance of adult cardiac myocytes towards hypoxia/reoxygenation injury. However, the mechanisms underlying the cytoprotective action of CCN2 has not been resolved.

Research projects

Project manager

• Characterization of intracellular signaling pathways of CTGF and mechanisms of cytoprotective actions in cardiac myocytes

Collaborator

• Antihypertrophic effects of CTGF in a transgenic rodent model.
• Generation of transgenic mice with inducible, cardiac-restricted expression of CTGF