Regulatory pathways that control type-2 innate lymphoid cells in atherosclerotic and ischemic heart disease
The immune system, with the help of lots of different types of immune cells, plays a critical role in the health of our heart and circulatory system. Some of these immune cells appear to contribute to atherosclerosis – the build-up of fatty plaques in our arteries that can lead to heart attack and stroke – while others are protective. BHF Professor Ziad Mallat and his team in Cambridge have identified a protective role for a type of immune cell, known as ILC2. In mice they found that ILC2 cells are present around the fatty plaques in arteries and around the heart. These cells are ‘activated’ when the heart is stressed, releasing chemicals that reduce damaging inflammation. In mice that lack ILC2 cells, the team saw that atherosclerosis developed much more quickly. Together, these evidences suggest that boosting the action of ILC2 cells could be a way to stop or slow down atherosclerosis in humans. In this project, the team will study further ILC2 cells and gain deeper insight into their specific contribution to atherosclerosis. This work could lead to a new way to prevent heart attacks and strokes.
Project details
| Grant amount | £316,818 |
|---|---|
| Grant type | Project Grants |
| Application type | Project Grant |
| Start Date | 01 April 2018 |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Reference | PG/18/20/33595 |
| Status | In Progress |
