Journal of Biotechnology & Biomaterials
Open Access

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), including restenosis, is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in United States of America. Targeting Wnt-Frizzled (Fzd) signaling and Calcium-activated Potassium (KCa) Channels in deciphering the cellular/molecular mechanisms underlying restenosis in Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery patients is emerging as an attractive therapeutic strategy in management/prevention of CVD. My pilot study aimed to investigate the role of Fzd receptors and KCa channels in human Internal Mammary Artery and Saphenous Vein-derived Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells (VSMCs) from CABG surgery patients of North American ethnicity. Primary human VSMCs were isolated from IMAs and SVs derived from CABG surgery patients using Collagenase-IV enzymatic digestion method. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board. RNA was extracted from hVSMCs (passages P3-P7) using Trizol method. Fzd and KCa mRNA transcripts were identified by semi-quantitative Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction followed by 2% Agarose gel electrophoresis. Whole cell patch clamp electrophysiological recordings were conducted for KCa currents. Mean age of CABG surgery patients (N=9) was 60.3 years (S.D±6.5 years). Receptor studies demonstrated the expression of Fzd1, Fzd2 and Fzd5 mRNA transcripts in IMA and SV-derived hVSMCs. However, BKCa (broad conductance), IKCa (intermediate conductance) and SKCa (small conductance) mRNA transcripts and KCa currents were not expressed/detected in hVSMCs; beta-actin was used as internal control. My preliminary data implicates the public health impact of Wnt-Frizzled signaling in restenosis. Future cell/molecular biology and electrophysiology-based studies targeting Fzd receptors and KCa channels may aid in the development of cost-effective predictive biomarkers for cardiovascular susceptible populations.

Biography

Saumya Pandey is a reputed Faculty/Scientist currently working as Dy. Director (Academics, Clinical Research and Publications/Grants) at Ajanta Hospital and IVF Centre, India (formerly Lecturer (Research Cell), Department of Research, Amity University, India). She earned her Master’s degree (Biochemistry) and PhD (Life Sciences) from India and completed her Postdoctoral Fellowship (Biochemistry Molecular Biology) at University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA. She has approximately 8 years of research experience, 56 academic credits from Graduate Schools of Biomedical Sciences, UTMB, Galveston, TX/Creighton University, Omaha, NE, USA. She has authored 19 peer-reviewed publications (17 as lead author) in reputed journals.

Email: drsaumyapandey6@gmail.com