FAU own research funding: EFI / IZKF / EAM ...
Start date : 01.09.2019
End date : 31.08.2020
Humans are incapable to regenerate their heart. Cardiac injury results in cardiomyocyte loss due to hypoxia and a changed mechanical micro-environment. Here we propose to determine the potential of polyploid cardiomyocytes, the majority in the adult heart, to contribute to heart repair. We propose to clarify if polyploid cardiomyocytes can be induced to proliferate or whether diploid and polyploid cardiomyocytes differ in regards to stress resistance, cell size, and mechanical properties.