Immune mechanisms in atherosclerosis

Our research deals with the role of immune mechanisms in atherosclerosis. In particular, we investigate mechanisms of adaptive immunity, including immune activation, antigen specificity, cellular immune responses, proinflammatory effector mechanisms, and regulatory immunity. Recent work has identified (non-modified) LDL protein as a major antigen in disease and shown that mobilization of protective immunity towards this antigen significantly reduces disease in experimental models. We have identified key molecular and cellular pathways of atheroprotective immunity, with validation of experimental findings in human biobanks. Our goals are to elucidate the molecular immunopathology of atherosclerosis and help translating this knowledge into therapy.

Selected publications

Depletion of FOXP3+ regulatory T cells promotes hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis J Clin Invest. 2013; 123(3):1323-34.
The tryptophan metabolite 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid lowers plasma lipids and decreases atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolaemic mice Eur Heart J. 2012. 33(16):2025-34.
Identification of a danger-associated peptide from apolipoprotein B100 (ApoBDS-1) that triggers innate proatherogenic responses Circulation. 2011; 124(22):2433-43, 1-7.
Highlights of 10 years of immunology in Nature Reviews Immunology. Nat Rev Immunol. 2011 Sep 23;11(10):693-702.
Pulling down the plug on atherosclerosis: cooling down the inflammasome. Nat Med. 2011 Jul 7;17(7):790-1.
Progress and challenges in translating the biology of atherosclerosis. Nature. 2011 May 19;473(7347):317-25.
Upregulation of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway in human aortic valves correlates with severity of stenosis and leads to leukotriene-induced effects on valvular myofibroblasts. Circulation. 2011 Mar 29;123(12):1316-25. Epub 2011 Mar 14.
Immunotherapy With Tolerogenic Apolipoprotein B-100-Loaded Dendritic Cells Attenuates Atherosclerosis in Hypercholesterolemic Mice Circulation. 2011; 123: 1083-1091
The immune system in atherosclerosis Nat Immunol. 2011 Mar;12(3):204-12.
Inhibition of T cell response to native low-density lipoprotein reduces atherosclerosis J Exp Med. 2010;207(5):1081-93.
Association of genetic risk variants with expression of proximal genes identifies novel susceptibility genes for cardiovascular disease. Circ Cardiovasc Genet. 2010 Aug;3(4):365-73.
Intranasal immunization with an apolipoprotein B-100 fusion protein induces antigen-specific regulatory T cells and reduces atherosclerosis. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2010 May;30(5):946-52.
Innate immune signals in atherosclerosis Clin Immunol. 2009 Sep 8.
CD137 is expressed in human atherosclerosis and promotes development of plaque inflammation in hypercholesterolemic mice. Circulation. 2008 Mar 11;117(10):1292-301.
T-cell activation leads to reduced collagen maturation in atherosclerotic plaques of Apoe(-/-) mice. Am J Pathol. 2009 Feb;174(2):693-700.
T cell-mediated inflammation in adipose tissue does not cause insulin resistance in hyperlipidemic mice Circ Res. 2009 Apr 24;104(8):961-8.
Inflammation, atherosclerosis, and coronary artery disease. N Engl J Med. 2005 Apr 21;352(16):1685-95.

More group publications