Biological responses: from targets to treatments

Lectures will present major mechanisms involved in the control of vascular and cardiac homeostasis under physiological conditions and their alteration during physiological ageing. Both molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in the local and neuronal regulation of the cardiovascular structure and function will be described as well as the interaction of blood cells and blood-derived factors on the cardiovascular system. The different elements of these regulatory systems and their alteration during ageing will be developed. For each regulatory system, the actual and potential targets for therapeutic intervention will be discussed. The lectures are based predominantly on published articles. Tutorials will illustrate ageing-related cardiovascular dysfunctions in experimental animals and humans based on published articles.

Knowledge of the major systems and their different elements contributing to the regulation of cardiovascular homeostasis and their alteration during physiological ageing. For each regulatory system, the student will be able to identify the key targets enabling the modulation of the cardiovascular system and discuss its pertinence.