Immune cell-lipid interaction, a mechanism of CKD-induced accelerated atherosclerosis (M07)

• Subject Area: Clinical Immunology and Allergology
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 322900939

Patients with CKD show aggravated atherosclerosis and vascular complications. We observed that CKD triggers the post-translational guanidinylation of Apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I, the primary protein of HDL), altering ApoA-I from a protective to pro-inflammatory protein. Also, we provided new insights into intestinal integrin-β7+ intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs), known drivers of atherosclerosis formation. This project now aims to validate targeting of β7+ IELs as a therapeutic approach against CKD-induced accelerated atherosclerosis formation and elucidate the relevance of post-translationally guanidinylated ApoA-I and macrophage interaction.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 219: Mechanisms of Cardiovascular Complications in Chronic Kidney Disease
• Applicant Institution: Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Florian Kahles; Privatdozent Dr. Emiel van der Vorst