Josep Maria de Anta Vinyals

Associate Professor of Embriology and Human Anatomy

Professor Agregat d'Anatomia i Embriologia Humana

E-mail: janta@ub.edu

Phone: +3493 4021904

Research Interests and Current Projects

Our main research interest is focused the genetic basis of arteriogenesis in the heart (coronary collateral circulation). We are searching molecular determinants of collateral circulation in coronary artery disease patients. In particular, we are studying the role of functional SNP genotypes in arteriogenic and angiogenic genes, as well as the functional responses of endothelial progenitor cells from coronary artery patients to fluid shear stress in relation with collateral circulation. Other approach is based on an experimental model of arteriogenesis to evaluate the effect of hypercholesterolemia on Notch signaling pathway during arteriogenesis.

Our group is also interested in the genetic basis of human anatomical variations, in particular on coronary artery patterning and its importance in myocardial perfusion. This investigation has been supported by several grants from University of Barcelona (ACESBELL).

Our group

Our group includes several members with a large experience in cellular and molecular biology, anatomical dissection and also in morphology techniques:

• Josep Maria de Anta. Ph.D. Associate Professor of Human Anatomy and Embryology.

• Víctor J. Götzens. Ph.D. Associate Professor of Human Anatomy and Embryology.

• Joan Duran, Ph.D. Assistant Professsor of Human Anatomy and Embryology.

• Alex Cordero, B.Sc. PhD fellow.

Our team also includes cardiologists from two reference hospitals of Barcelona (Centre Cardiovascular Sant Jordi and Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron)

Current projects

• Genetic susceptibility to coronary neovascularisation in patients with coronary heart disease: an approach based on single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping of genes involved in arteriogenesis and angiogenesis. Fundació La Marató de TV3 (Ref. 20080810). 2009-12. IP.
• Effect of hypercholesterolemia in Notch signalling pathway during arteriogenesis in mice with hindlimb ischemia. ACESBELL 09. University of Barcelona. 2009-10
• Fluid shear stress responses in endothelial progenitor cells from coronary artery patients as determinants of coronary collateral circulation. IP. Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria. Spanish Ministery of Health. Submitted 2010. IP
• Effect of hypercholesterolemia in Notch signalling pathway during arteriogenesis in mice with hindlimb ischemia and its reversion by simvastatina. Importance in coronary collateral circulation. Grants on Basic Cardiology. Spanish Society of Cardiology. Submitted 2010.

Selected Recent Publications and Congress

Former research has been focused on the study of mechanisms of resistance to antimetabolites in colon adenocarcinoma cell lines, activities supported by several competitive grants that have resulted in several publications:

• De Anta, J.M., Real, F.X., Mayol, X. Low tumor cell density environment yields survival advantage of tumor cells exposed to MTX in vitro. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2005 Jan 18;1721(1-3):98-106. Epub 2004 Nov 4.
• De Anta, J.M., Real, F.X., Mayol, X. Methotrexate resistance in vitro is achieved by a dynamic selection process of tumor cell variants emerging during treatment. Int J Cancer. 2006 Oct 1;119(7):1607-15.
• De Anta, J.M., Pérez-Castro, A.J., Real, F.X., Freire, R. and Mayol, X. The DNA damage checkpoint is activated during residual tumour cell survival to methotrexate treatment as an initial step of acquired drug resistance. Anticancer Drugs. 2006 Nov;17(10):1171-1177.

Congress and publications regarding current research:

• De Anta, JM, Ramírez, M, Buxeda, M, Sánchez, E, Götzens, V, Duran, J, Ortiz, JC. VEGFA and KDR single nucleotide polymorphisms and coronary artery variations in hearts from human cadaver specimens. 104th International Meeting of the Anatomische Gesellschaft. Antwerpen. Belgium. 2009.
• Duran J, Götzens V, Cordero A, Carballo, J, Petit M, de Anta JM. Coronary arterial branching is associated with +405 VEGFA genotypes. Clinical implications for myocardial infarction. In preparation. 2010.
• Cordero A, Carballo, J, Duran J, Götzens V, Petit M, de Anta JM. +469G ICAM1 allele is associated with low collateral support in coronary artery disease patients. En preparación.