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Christian Gleissner, M.D.
Research Interests: Atherosclerosis represents the leading cause of morbidity in Western countries. Monocyte adhesion to the vascular endothelium and transmigration into the vessel wall followed by differentiation into monocytes, macrophages, and foam cells are key events in atherogenesis. Differentially modified forms of low density lipoprotein (native LDL, minimally modified LDL, and oxidized LDL) have differential effects on these events. Based on Affymetrix gene arrays investigating LDL effects on monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages, we study different aspects of foam cell differentiation. Our focus is on phenotypic and functional characterization of those cells, which share some gene expression patterns with dendritic cells. The results of this research are expected to give new insights into function and fate of monocytes and monocyte-derived dendritic cells in atherosclerosis thereby unveiling potential therapeutic targets. |
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