Overall Research Interests: Our laboratory is interested in understanding the basic biology of cardiovascular development and its function at the cellular and molecular level. We want to understand how embryonic progenitor stem cells give rise to tissues of cardiovascular system. We use developing mouse heart as a model system to study these questions. Our study focuses on two aspects of heart development: development of coronary vessels and great arteries (Aorta and Pulmonary trunk) of the heart.
1. Development of coronary vessels. One of our main focus in the Sharma lab is to study embryonic progenitor stem cells that give rise to coronary vessels. We are particularly interested in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that guide coronary endothelial cells arising from sinus venosus and endocardium progenitor stem cells during coronary angiogenesis. Currently, we are looking into the roles of APJ signaling (SV-derived pathway) and hypoxia inducible signaling (Endocardium-derived pathway) as potential regulators of coronary vessel development. In addition, we are also interested in characterizing the differences between SV- and endocardium-derived coronary endothelial cells at a cellular and molecular level. Furthermore, our long-term goals is to test whether SV- vs. Endocardium-derived coronary endothelial cells exert similar or differential function in the heart regeneration. We are using a combination of in-vitro and in-vivo systems, mouse genetics, modern cell and molecular techniques, and advance imaging technology to understand these questions. There is a huge need for our understanding of endothelial cell biology to cope with diseases due to defective vascular tissues.
2. Development of great arteries (Aorta and Pulmonary Trunk) of the heart. In addition to coronary vessel formation, we are also interested in understanding how the second heart field (SHF) progenitor stem cells differentiate into the great vessels of the heart, the aorta and pulmonary trunk. We want to unravel the cellular and molecular mechanisms of aorta and pulmonary differentiation and morphogenesis from common SHF progenitor stem cells.
1. Development of coronary vessels. One of our main focus in the Sharma lab is to study embryonic progenitor stem cells that give rise to coronary vessels. We are particularly interested in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that guide coronary endothelial cells arising from sinus venosus and endocardium progenitor stem cells during coronary angiogenesis. Currently, we are looking into the roles of APJ signaling (SV-derived pathway) and hypoxia inducible signaling (Endocardium-derived pathway) as potential regulators of coronary vessel development. In addition, we are also interested in characterizing the differences between SV- and endocardium-derived coronary endothelial cells at a cellular and molecular level. Furthermore, our long-term goals is to test whether SV- vs. Endocardium-derived coronary endothelial cells exert similar or differential function in the heart regeneration. We are using a combination of in-vitro and in-vivo systems, mouse genetics, modern cell and molecular techniques, and advance imaging technology to understand these questions. There is a huge need for our understanding of endothelial cell biology to cope with diseases due to defective vascular tissues.
2. Development of great arteries (Aorta and Pulmonary Trunk) of the heart. In addition to coronary vessel formation, we are also interested in understanding how the second heart field (SHF) progenitor stem cells differentiate into the great vessels of the heart, the aorta and pulmonary trunk. We want to unravel the cellular and molecular mechanisms of aorta and pulmonary differentiation and morphogenesis from common SHF progenitor stem cells.