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We are studying the role of innate and adaptive immunity in cardiovascular disease and the role of lipid mediators in this context.
- We are particularly interested in the pathophysiological mechanisms of atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction and cardiac remodelling that may lead to heart failure.
- Our goal is to dissect underlying molecular disease mechanisms, which may eventually help identifying new therapeutic targets.
LATEST NEWS FROM THE LAB
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- Lipid signaling in cardiovascular disease
Lipid mediators derived from the essential fatty acid arachidonic acid play pivotal roles in acute inflammatory responses, resolution of inflammation as well as chronic inflammation such as atherosclerosis. Endocannabinoids are one group of arachidonic acid-derived lipid mediators, which bind to cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. A few years ago, the orphan receptor GPR55 has been proposed as a novel cannabinoid receptor, although this designation remains somewhat controversial. In fact, lysophosphatidylinositols (LPIs) are more potent endogenous GPR55 ligands than endocannabinoids. We are generally studying how lipid mediators and their specific receptors affect acute and chronic cardiovascular disease manifestations.
- Chronic inflammation in atherosclerosis and related metabolic disorders
It is known that tissue and circulating levels of endocannabinoids and fatty acid amide analogues are dysregulated in atherosclerosis and its related cardiovascular risk factors, obesity, dyslipidemia, diabetes and endothelial dysfunction. However, the pathophysiological effect of this dysregulated tone in cardiovascular disease is not well understood. Our group aims to clarify the precise pathophysiological relevance of these receptors and ligands in cardiovascular disease. This might open new avenues for biomarker research and therapeutic interventions.
Endocannabinoid synthesis and degradation_with_COX_LOX
- Myocardial infarction and repair
Myocardial infarction induces an inflammatory response, which is required for the induction of cardiac repair processes. Various cell types, including neutrophils and macrophages, are involved at different stages of infarct healing, ultimately leading to scar formation and adaptive remodeling to preserve cardiac function. The inflammatory response after MI needs to be well-balanced in order to limit infarct expansion and progressive loss of cardiac function. In this regard, our research aims at better understanding the signaling pathways and local (lipid) regulators in the cardiac microenvironment promoting resolution of inflammation and favorable healing responses. Recently, we identified the pericardial adipose tissue as a crucial regulator of post-myocardial infarction immune responses. Our findings suggests that the pericardial adipose tissue is a preferential site for innate-adaptive immune cell cross talk and lymphocyte activation, with important consequences for cardiac healing.
- Adverse cardiac remodeling and heart failure
Heart failure is a state of chronic inflammation, characterized by heightened levels of circulating and myocardial proinflammatory cytokines that promote pathological left ventricular remodeling. Chronic heart failure is generally associated with poor prognosis and high mortality rate, depending on the severity of systolic dysfunction. Heart failure can have multiple causes, such as ischemic injury or cardiac overload, inflammatory, biochemical or neurohormonal changes acting on the myocardium. We aim to clarify the role of the pericardial adipose tissue lymphoid clusters and underlying cues for immune cell activation in this pathophysiological condition.
- Models and techniques used in the lab
Mouse models of atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, angiotensin 2-induced cardiac hypertrophy, TAC-induced hypertrophy, mini-pump implantation, echocardiographic assessment of cardiac function parameters, intraventricular pressure-volume catheter
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Master students from Human Biology Master Program at LMU
Heart, Lung and Metabolism: Practical course (Course Catalogue Reference: 19286)
Heart, Lung and Metabolism: Lecture (Course Catalogue Reference: 19249)
Heart, Lung and Metabolism: Seminar (Course Catalogue Reference: 19287)
Cardiovascular, Lung and Metabolism: Research Group Seminar (Course Catalogue Reference: 19292)
Cardiovascular, Lung and Metabolism: Research practical course (Course Catalogue Reference: 19293)
BioImaging: Practical course und Seminar (Course Catalogue Reference: 19254)
Lecture and Seminar Current topics in Biomedical Research (Course Catalogue Reference: 19257)
Medical Faculty students
Research School Vascular Biology / Immunology (Course Catalogue Reference: 7C0322)
Praktikum: Introduction to Basics in Cardiovascular Research (Course Catalogue Reference: 7C0475)
Coordination of the CRC1123 Lecture Series
(Course Catalogue Reference: 7C0438)
Coordination of the CRC 1123 Graduate School
Educational Lecture Series in Atherosclerosis (Course Catalogue Reference: 7C4082)
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TEAM
GROUP MEMBERS
Sabine Steffens, PhDPrincipal InvestigatorAlexander Faussner, PhDPrincipal InvestigatorSabrina Bortoluzzi, PhDScientific managerKarthika Annamalai, PhDPostdoctoral ResearcherAnna KaltenbachPhD studentGuo LiPhD studentXfü-Vlvim-ävf miAishvaryaa PrabhuPhD studentGeorge ShakirPhD studentXdi,üpxisRzgolpvim ävf-miYi Xuan ShiaPhD studentShiyu CaoMD studentYoghalakshmi NagarajanResearch assistant (HiWi) studentMartina GeigerMedical TechnicianSrishti RamanathanMedical TechnicianALUMNIAbhishek Derle, former PostDoc
Raquel Guillamat Prats, former PostDoc
Michael Horckmans, former PostDoc
Sarah-Lena Puhl, former Postdoc
Larisa Ring, former PostDoc
Petteri Rinne, former PostDoc
Sibgha Tahir, Former PostDoc
Bingni Chen, former PhD student
Martina Rami, former PhD student
Jakob Schindler, former PhD student
Yong Wang, former PhD student
Linus Keidel, former MD student
Daniel Hering, former MD student
Michael Hilby, former MD student
Maximilian Schloss, former MD student
Brigitte Schopohl, former MD student/HiWi
Mario Volz, former MD student
Theodora Astalaki, former technical assistant
Rodrigo Carrasco, fomer technician
Cornelia Seidl, former technician
Marleen Stremlau, former assistant student
Diana Wagner, former medical technician
Silviya Wolkerstorfer, former technical assistant
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We are always looking for motivated master, MD or PhD students and postdoctoral guest scientists who want to join our lab
Just send an email with your CV, references and motivation letter to: sabine.steffens@med.lmu.de
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Chen B, Prabhu A, Li G, Kaltenbach A, Wang Y, Shakir G, Natarelli L, Megens R, Jansen Y, Ramanathan S, Geiger M, Faussner A, Hristov M, Richter D, Di X, van der Stelt M, Li Z, Sachs N, Paloschi V, Maegdefessel L, Hofmann SM, Weber C, Herzig S, Prats RG, Steffens S. Endothelial cannabinoid CB1 receptor deficiency reduces arterial inflammation and lipid uptake in response to atheroprone shear stress. bioRxiv 2024
Wang Y, Li G, Chen B, Shakir G, Volz M, van der Vorst EPC, Maas SL, Geiger M, Jethwa C, Bartelt A, Li Z, Wettich J, Sachs N, Maegdefessel L, Nazari Jahantigh M, Hristov M, Lacy M, Lutz B, Weber C, Herzig S, Guillamat Prats R, Steffens S. Myeloid cannabinoid CB1 receptor deletion confers atheroprotection in male mice by reducing macrophage proliferation in a sex-dependent manner. Cardiovasc Res 2024.
Guillamat-Prats R, Hering D, Rami M, Härdtner C, Santovito D, Rinne P, Bindila L, Hristov M, Pagano S, Vuilleumier N, Schmid S, Janjic A, Enard W, Weber C, Maegdefessel L, Faussner A, Hilgendorf I, Steffens S . GPR55 in B cells limits atherosclerosis development and regulates plasma cell maturation. Nature Cardiovascular Research 2022
Schloss MJ*, Horckmans M*, Guillamat-Prats R, Hering D, Lauer E, Lenglet S, Weber C, Thomas A, Steffens S . 2-arachidonoylglycerol mobilizes myeloid cells and worsens heart function after acute myocardial infarction. Cardiovascular Research 2019
Horckmans M, Bianchini M, Santovito D, Megens RTA, Springael JY, Negri I, Vacca M, Eusanio M, Moschetta A, Weber C, Duchene J, Steffens S . Pericardial adipose tissue regulates granulopoiesis, fibrosis and cardiac function after myocardial infarction. Circulation 2018
Rinne P, Rami M, Nuutinen S, Santovito D, van der Vorst EPC, Guillamat-Prats R, Lyytikäinen LP, Raitoharju E, Oksala N, Ring L, Cai M, Hruby VJ, Lehtimäki T, Weber C, Steffens S. Melanocortin 1 Receptor Signaling Regulates Cholesterol Transport in Macrophages. Circulation 2017
Horckmans M, Ring L, Duchene J, Santovito D, Schloss MJ, Drechsler M, Weber C, Soehnlein O, Steffens S. Neutrophils orchestrate post-myocardial infarction healing by polarizing macrophages towards a reparative phenotype. European Heart Journal 2017
Schloss MJ, Horckmans M, Nitz K, Duchene J, Drechsler M, Bidzhekov K, Scheiermann C, Weber C, Soehnlein O, Steffens S. The time-of-day of myocardial infarction onset affects healing through oscillations in cardiac neutrophil recruitment. EMBO Molecular Medicine 2016