University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
Institute of Pathophysiology
[Scientific staff | Publications within DiMI | References]
Group Description
The Atherosclerosis Research Group at the Institute of Pathophysiology is focussing on the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and its complications, myocardial infarction and heart failure. The major research areas are identification of molecular targets for PET-based imaging of arteriosclerotic plaques (including the ongoing development of metalloproteinase- and caspase-targetting agents together with WP 11.1) and the characterisation of novel biologically active constituents of high-density lipoproteins as vasoprotective agents. The group is employing several transgenic/knockout models of atherosclerosis, spontaneous plaque rupture and heart failure, as well as a murine model of experimental myocardial ischemia/reperfusion. Technical and methodological strengths of the laboratory are in vivo animal work (quantification of athersoclerotic lesions, composition and vulnerability), molecular and cellular biology using human and murine vasular endothelial and smooth muscle cells, and high-end histology. The group has recently installed an ultra high resolution micro-CT that is currently used for vessel wall imaging and characterisation and quantification of vessel volume and vessel hierarchy (e.g. vasa vasorum of organ vascularisation) in the mouse. In future, the micro-CT will be used for correlative multimodal imaging (PET, optical, CT) in mouse models of atherosclerosis. Within the Institute of Pathophysiology, the group has access to modern animal facilities, operation rooms, a laser scanning microscope, flow cytometry and retro/lentiviral biohazard facilities. Through close collaborations with the Department of Cardiology at the University Hospital Essen the group has access to different highly valuable clinical and outpatient collectives and databases as well as patient blood and tissue specimen. [read more]
