Wei Guo

Our preliminary data from the ongoing project supported by NIH show that the splicing factor RNA binding motif 20 (RBM20) interacts with insulin signaling pathway and insulin signaling can regulate heart stiffness through RBM20. We discovered that RBM20 expression differs in distinct muscle types and the expression level of RBM20 is associated with myogenesis and muscle growth through regulating hypertrophic signaling pathways such as the insulin signaling pathway. This finding has potential for treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy. In addition, another ongoing project also supported by NIH found a splicing factor that is a co- activator of steroid hormone receptors associated with hormonal action and signaling as well as metabolic syndrome. We are also studying how maternal obesity influences the origin and progression of cardiovascular disease in adult offspring.