Investigating the immune system’s response to a heart attack

The role of APRIL (A Proliferation Inducing Ligand) in myocardial infarction

Our immune system plays a critical role in the health and disease of our heart and circulatory system, though researchers believe there is much more to this crucial relationship than we currently understand. For instance, we know little about the immune response after a heart attack. Deciphering these details could pave the way for totally new ways to improve recovery after a heart attack and save lives. Dr Tsiantoulas is investigating, in mice, the role of the immune system in the days after a heart attack. He will focus on the responses involving B lymphocytes, which are the cells known for producing antibodies e.g. after an infection or vaccination. They are major players in determining the risk of death after a heart attack, but it is not known how they sense that the body experiences a heart attack and how they take action. This research will give insights into how the network of B lymphocytes, and the chemical signals that they sense, affect the outcome after a heart attack. This may reveal clues that could lead to the development of new drugs against the often-fatal consequences of a heart attack, such as heart failure.