Grant: Project Grant

High blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension, PH) complicates lung diseases in babies with overly small lungs. PH doubles the risk of death, and survivors have long-term health problems that can reach into adulthood. Today, there is no treatment to make small lungs grow bigger or lower the PH. Our lab was the first to show that there are fewer blood vessels in these lungs. We also found that specific cells that can make new blood vessels (endothelial progenitor cells or EPCs), can stimulate lung growth and lower PH. EPCs produce tiny particles (extra-cellular vesicles or EVs) that contain factors to instruct new blood vessels to grow. These cells act like "smart local pharmacies" that control appropriate blood vessel growth. We are using induced pluripotent-derived EPCs (iEPCs) made by our long-term collaborator Dr. Mervin Yoder, because these cells can be easily produced in very large quantities, and with consistent quality. We will test if the EVs from iEPCs are safe and effective in experimental neonatal PH. If so, our research will bring a new treatment for PH, save lives and improve the quality of life of babies with high blood pressure in their lungs. Our discovery may also benefit Canadians and patients around the world who suffer from diseases with low blood supply such as heart attack, stroke or preeclampsia (high blood pressure in pregnant women that can put the life of both mother and baby at risk; it often requires a C-section and preterm delivery of the baby).