OMRF discovers possible treatment for heart valve condition

In a groundbreaking discovery, the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) has unveiled a possible treatment approach that could alleviate a heart valve condition affecting more than six million Americans.

Mitral valve prolapse, characterized by the inadequate opening and closing of the heart's mitral valve, results in inadequate blood flow. This condition can arise from either a birth defect or natural wear and tear over time, potentially leading to debilitating symptoms such as fatigue, stroke, and in severe cases, heart failure.

Sathish Srinivasan, Ph.D., a scientist at OMRF, specializes in studying the lymphatic system, which relies on lymphatic valves to transport tissue fluid throughout the body. Dr. Srinivasan and his research team embarked on a journey to explore whether insights from lymphatic valve research could be applied to heart valves.

According to Dr. Srinivasan, individuals lacking one or both essential proteins, PROX1 and FOXC2, responsible for lymphatic function, experience uncontrolled enlargement of heart valves. Inhibiting this overgrowth could present a novel and highly effective approach to treating dysfunctional heart valves.

Dr. Srinivasan conducted testing with treatment that mimics the functions of the two proteins in research models, and the results showcased a significant improvement in valve function. While this discovery marks a significant breakthrough, Yen Chun Ho, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher in Srinivasan’s lab, emphasizes that it's just the beginning but also “a promising direction for future work.”

Support for this research came from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, a division of the National Institutes of Health, through grant R01HL163095-01A1. Additional funding was generously provided by the Oklahoma Center for Adult Stem Cell Research, a program of the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust.