Joint and Cardiovascular Seminar Co-hosted by the Heart Research Institute and Centenary Institute, and presented at the , The University of

Novel insights into cardiovascular repair mechanisms: Targeting non-coding RNAs and epigenetics Professor Stefanie Dimmeler Institute for Cardiovascular Regeneration University Frankfurt, Germany 19 February 2019, 12:30pm

Cardiac repair and regeneration requires a well controlled interaction of interstitial cells, such as endothelial cells and fibroblasts, immune cells and cardiomyocytes. The fine tuning of gene expression by non-coding RNAs and epigenetic pathways importantly contributes to the development of post-infarction heart failure. The lecture will focus on two aspects: The first part will summarize the functions of non-coding RNAs, particularly microRNAs, which are well known to exhibit various activities in the heart after injury. Targeting of microRNAs can be used to augment the recovery after ischemia and to promote cardiac regeneration. Advanced therapeutic strategies using antimiRs, which are tested in Phase I clinical studies, will be reported. In the second part of the presentation, novel insights in the control of cardiac disease by epigenetic pathways will be provided. Recent studies suggest that acquired mutations of epigenetic enzymes leading to expansion of inflammatory cells (so called “clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential” CHIP) are a novel risk factor for coronary artery disease and are associated with a high mortality of patients with heart failure. We used single cell sequencing to study the impact of such mutations on immune cells in patients with heart failure. The lecture will provide novel insights into the consequences of the mutations and their role in heart failure.

When: Tuesday, 19 February 2019 12:30–1:30pm followed by networking lunch Where: Level 6 Seminar room, Charles Perkins Centre, The