MCB Seminar Series: Dr. Katey Rayner

Dear Colleagues,

Please join us as we welcome Dr. Katey Rayner as part of MCB's Seminar Speaker Series on Wednesday, January 29th, 2020.

Seminar time: 10:30 - 11:30 AM
Room: SSC 2315

All are welcome to attend. Please see poster for further details.

Sincerely,
MCB Distinguished Speaker Seminar Committee

Title:

Emerging concepts in Non-coding RNA regulation of cardiovascular disease

Abstract:

MicroRNAs are small (~22 nucleotides) non-coding RNAs that function as “rheostats” to simultaneously tweak the expression of multiple genes within a genetic network, resulting in dramatic functional modulation of biological processes.  The last decade has brought the identification of miRNAs, their targets and function(s) in health and disease, including cardiometabolic diseases, there remains much to be deciphered from the human genome and its complexities in mechanistic regulation of entire genetic networks.  Accumulating experimental evidence has revealed a key role for microRNAs in regulating cellular and molecular processes related to atherosclerosis development, ranging from risk factors, to plaque initiation and progression, up to atherosclerotic plaque rupture. We discovered that macrophages can promote pro-inflammatory and pro-atherogenic phenotypes in recipient cells through secretion of extracellular vesicles containing miRNAs and can inhibit macrophage migration in vitro and in vivo. Our studies suggest that EV-derived miRNAs secreted from atherogenic macrophages may accelerate the development of atherosclerosis lesions. We will discuss how microRNAs can influence atherosclerosis biology, as well as the potential clinical applications of microRNAs which are being developed as both targets and therapeutics for a growing industry hoping to harness the power of RNA-guided gene regulation to fight disease and infection.

Dr. Katey Rayner University of Ottawa Heart Institute Profile Page