Christensen group: Cellular and molecular biology of myocardial hypertrophy

We aim to develop novel therapeutic approaches and better diagnostic tools for heart failure through new knowledge about molecular mechanisms involved.

 

 

In particular, we study the concept that cardiac proteoglycans are active and central signal mediators of myocardial remodeling. Proteoglycans are highly glycosylated proteins localized to the cell membranes and the extracellular matrix (ECM).

By examining the unique properties of transmembrane proteoglycans we have discovered that the proteoglycan syndecan-4 is a mechanical stress-sensor in cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts and involved in signalling causing heart failure. One important ECM-localized molecule is lumican and we have shown that it regulates cardiac remodelling and heart failure. Currently we are testing promising drugs to treat heart failure by targeting mechanisms identified by our group. The ultimate goal of our research is to improve the well-being and prognosis of patients.

 

The work in this group is supervised by professor Geir Christensen. The group consists of scientists from IEMR that collaborate closely with Department of Thoracic Surgery (Professor Theis Tønnessen) and Department of Cardiology at Oslo University Hospital (Professor Lars Gullestad). In addition to top-of-the-range international scientists from Harvard, Johns Hopkins, among others, who are world leading in their field.

Group Leader

Geir Christensen

Group Leader & Professor

Group members

Athiramol Sasi

Doctoral Research Fellow

Chloe Rixon

Doctoral Research Fellow

Associated members

Francesca Lockwood

Doctoral Research Fellow

Maria Vistnes

Postdoctoral fellow, Resident

Latest publications

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Vistnes M (2023)
How can we improve the follow-up of patients with heart failure?
Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen, 143 (17)
PubMed 37987060 DOI 10.4045/tidsskr.23.0735
Vistnes M, Erusappan PM, Sasi A, Nordén ES, Bergo KK, Romaine A, Lunde IG, Zhang L, Olsen MB, Øgaard J, Carlson CR, Wang CH, Riise J, Dahl CP, Fiane AE, Hauge-Iversen IM, Espe E, Melleby AO, Tønnessen T, Aronsen JM, Sjaastad I, Christensen G (2023)
Inhibition of the extracellular enzyme A disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin motif 4 prevents cardiac fibrosis and dysfunction
Cardiovasc Res, 119 (10), 1915-1927
PubMed 37216909 DOI 10.1093/cvr/cvad078
Bhatnagar R, Berge K, Røysland R, Didrik Høiseth A, Brynildsen J, Christensen G, Omland T, Røsjø H, Lyngbakken MN (2023)
Cardiac troponin T and NT-proBNP for prediction of 30-day readmission or death in patients with acute dyspnea: Data from the Akershus Cardiac Examination 2 Study
Cardiology
PubMed 37544298 DOI 10.1159/000533266
Li J, Sundnes J, Hou Y, Laasmaa M, Ruud M, Unger A, Kolstad TR, Frisk M, Norseng PA, Yang L, Setterberg IE, Alves ES, Kalakoutis M, Sejersted OM, Lanner JT, Linke WA, Lunde IG, de Tombe PP, Louch WE (2023)
Stretch Harmonizes Sarcomere Strain Across the Cardiomyocyte
Circ Res, 133 (3), 255-270
PubMed 37401464 DOI 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.123.322588
Perdreau-Dahl H, Lipsett DB, Frisk M, Kermani F, Carlson CR, Brech A, Shen X, Bergan-Dahl A, Hou Y, Tuomainen T, Tavi P, Jones PP, Lunde M, Wasserstrom JA, Laporte J, Ullrich ND, Christensen G, Morth JP, Louch WE (2023)
BIN1, Myotubularin, and Dynamin-2 Coordinate T-Tubule Growth in Cardiomyocytes
Circ Res, 132 (11), e188-e205
PubMed 37139790 DOI 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.122.321732
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