Immune System and Cardiovascular disease
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigation into the role of the immune system in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases
IRAS ID
193553
Contact name
Ziad Mallat
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Cambridge
Duration of Study in the UK
10 years, 0 months, 3 days
Research summary
Cardiovascular disease has a complex etiology with important co-dependent roles for resident cells of the vascular wall and invading leukocytes, as well as systemic metabolic and inflammatory signals. This study forms part of the wider goals of the laboratory, which aims to understand the underlying biological mechanisms that lead to the development of atherosclerosis, stroke and aneurysms. Atherosclerosis is caused by a maladaptive immune response to the tissue injury and inflammation that results from excess lipid accumulation in the artery wall; Aneurysms result from the thinning of the artery wall which may to lead to rupture, and also involve inappropriate immune responses that are currently studied in many laboratories, including ours. Although much progress has been made in understanding the disease, further work is required to understand which processes accelerate and which slow or reverse the disease. The major approach taken by the lab is the use of in vivo animal models and/or human cell culture models. The aim of this study is to analyse relevant tissue from human cardiovascular disease patients (and appropriate controls where required) to address multiple hypotheses gained from experimental studies. This will include diseased vascular tissue, either containing atherosclerotic plaque or from aortic aneurysms. Tissue will primarily be analysed by immunohistochemistry, for example using antibodies against cell type specific markers, or against specific proteins of interest, but may also be used for protein or RNA extraction and analysis.
REC name
South Central - Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/SC/0656
Date of REC Opinion
12 May 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion