Scientific research on pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary Circulation Unit: research lines

Our main purpose is to better understand the physiopathology of 2 rare diseases affecting the pulmonary vasculature: pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) by mainly performing translational research.

From pulmonary embolism (PE) to chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH)

1. Contribution of angiogenesis in progression of CTEPH using pulmonary vascular material derived from patients, primary cells culture, microfluidic devices, hydrogels;
2. Unique and novel rabbit model of CTEPH based on repeated embolization and inhibition of angiogenesis using telemetry, ex vivo and in vivo micro computed tomography;
3. Role of air pollution in driving CTEPH progression combining in vivo (CTEPH animal model) and in vitro (primary cells culture, microfluidic devices, hydrogels) approaches;
4. Identification of clinical, biological and environmental factors discriminating patients at risk to develop CTEPH after acute PE.

Exploring novel aspects of the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)

1. Role of Prdm16, a transcription factor interacting with TGFβ/BMP signaling, in the pathogenesis of PAH, by exploring the epigenetic mechanisms at single-cell resolution

Lung structure and function in pulmonary vascular diseases

1. Evaluation of the microcirculation in pulmonary vascular diseases and in chronic lung diseases with specific focus on vascular disappearance in humans and animal models by using micro-CT
2. Phenotyping of patients with pulmonary hypertension associated with chronic lung diseases using imaging registry and artificial intelligence 
3. Low diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide as a predictive factor in chronic lung diseases and pulmonary vascular diseases and its correlation with vascular disappearance 
4. New imaging modalities (perfusion mapping, photon counting CT, cardiac MRI) for the assessment of pulmonary vascular diseases