Research pathologie

Meer over..

Atherosclerosis is a chronic, progressive vasculopathy characterized by subendothelial accumulation of lipids and fibrous constituents in medium-sized and large arteries, and is the major substrate for cardiovascular disease. Age and vascular ageing are important risk factors that promote arterial dysfunction and accelerate atherosclerotic plaque development. The disease becomes clinically manifest only at a late stage, generally through acute cardiovascular syndromes caused by rupture of an advanced, vulnerable plaque. Vulnerable plaques are typified by a large lipid core underlying a thin fibrous cap and abundant inflammatory cell deposits in their adventitia and shoulder regions. The Experimental Vascular Pathology group aims to unravel the underlying mechanisms of vascular dysfunction with ageing and atherogenesis, using a combination of in vitro and in vivo approaches, including proteomics, spatial and single cell transcriptomics, sophisticated bioinformatic analyses, experimental models, and semi-automated, high-throughput functional screening and imaging tools.

• Define and reinstruct Macrophage hetereogeneity and function in atherosclerotic plaques (Prof. Dr. E. Biessen)
• Role of the fibroblast, hypoxia, angiogenesis and autophagy in atherosclerosis (Prof. Dr. J. Sluimer)
• Membrane proteases (ADAMs) and their regulation in atherosclerosis (Dr. M. Donners)
• AMP-activated protein kinase as regulator of tissue homeostasis and therapeutic target (Dr. D. Neumann) 
• Proteomics approaches to identify protein modifications in chronic kidney disease (Prof. Dr. J. Jankowski)
• Vascular injury and repair (Prof. Dr. A. H. Baker)

More detailed information on specific research lines can be found with the respective PIs.