CO6: Cardiovascular Regenerative Therapy and Applied Proteomics

The group is mainly composed of basic researchers, but also includes clinical researchers from primary care and internal medicine, all of whom participate jointly in the Projects carried out.

Our work focuses primarily on studying the mechanisms of action of various cell types (endothelial progenitor cells, regulatory T cells, mesenchymal cells) in order to apply them as cell therapy in atherosclerosis and, more specifically, in peripheral ischemia of the lower limbs (PILI).

To this end, we conduct in vitro tests to characterize the molecular mechanisms by which these cells are activated in response to atherosclerotic environments, using proteomic tools, as well as to determine their behavior in such environments, using functional tests (proliferation, migration, angiogenesis), with the aim of modulating them and enhancing their regenerative (endothelial) and anti-inflammatory (Tregs) roles.

In turn, we perform in vivo trials using an ICMI mouse model to evaluate the vascular regenerative power of endothelial progenitor and mesenchymal cells. We use this same model with Rex-001 cells from the company Rexgenero. At this point, we evaluated the changes that occur as a result of ischemia and in response to cell therapy (blood flow recovery, neovascularization, arterogenesis). We are also conducting biodistribution tests to determine where the administered cells go, which is important in preclinical trials.

At the same time, we also apply proteomic tools to identify biomarkers related to cardiovascular diseases, primarily atherosclerosis, with the aim of defining protein panels that enable the detection of patients at risk of thrombosis through routine analysis in order to prevent such events.

Responsible researcher

Maria del Carmen Durán Ruiz:
- E-mail: maricarmen.duran@gm.uca.es
- ORCID: 0000-0003-3954-3734

Lines of research

Line 1: Regenerative cell therapy in cardiovascular diseases.

╸Evaluation of the regenerative role of human endothelial progenitor cells as cell therapy in atherosclerosis.

╸Evaluation of the role of regulatory T cells in atherosclerosis as an alternative cell therapy.

╸Cell therapy applied to peripheral ischemia of the lower limbs (in murine models): Evaluation of the regenerative role of human endothelial progenitor cells.

╸Cell therapy applied to peripheral ischemia of the lower limbs (in mouse models): Evaluation of the regenerative role of bone marrow-derived cells (Collaboration with the company Rexgenero).

╸Cell biodistribution tests in animal models.

Line 2: Proteomics applied to cardiovascular diseases.

╸Proteomic analysis of markers associated with the atherosclerotic process. Identification and validation of associated markers.

╸Search for diagnostic markers in dyslipidemic patients.

Line 3: Studies on the prevention of cardiovascular disease.

╸Socioeconomic status and early markers of dyslipidemia.

Primary Care in Basic Research on Dyslipidemia and Cardiovascular Diseases.

Keywords

# Cell therapy
# Cardiovascular research
# Regenerative medicine
# Biomarkers
# Proteomics
# Atherosclerosis
# Peripheral artery disease

CO6: Cardiovascular Regenerative Therapy and Applied Proteomics

Responsible researcher

María del Carmen Durán Ruiz:

Assistant Professor in the area of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Department of Biomedicine, Biotechnology, and Public Health.

E-mail: maricarmen.duran@gm.uca.es
ORCID: 0000-0003-3954-3734
Research ID: P-4175-2017

Team Members

Principal Investigators:
- María del Carmen Durán Ruiz (PI).
Researchers:
- Almudena González Rovira.
- Margarita Jiménez Palomares.
- Antonio Rosal Vela.
- María Calderón Domínguez.
- María Jesús Extremera García.
- Josefa Benítez Camacho.
- Isabel María Galeano Otero.
- Jorge Cabañas Penagos.

CO6: Cardiovascular Regenerative Therapy and Applied Proteomics

Production

Find all of the group's work (their Projects, Patents Publications) on the Andalusian Public Health System's I+Salud Portal: