Role of TLR9 in Atherosclerosis? Therapeutic ODN in heart disease?

ISBN-13: 9783659534447 / Angielski / Miękka / 2016 / 56 str.

Yung-Chih Chen

Opis

Atherosclerosis is the underlying pathology of diseases, such as coronary artery disease, resulting in major overall mortality and morbidity. It is a chronic inflammatory disease of the arterial wall, in which the innate immune system has a pivotal contribution. Toll-like receptor-9 (TLR9) is a major intracellular innate immune receptor that has attracted major interest and is currently clinically tested as a therapeutic target of inflammatory diseases. Using apolipoprotein E-deficient mice fed with high-fat diet during periods of 8 to 20 weeks as a model of atherosclerosis, we used a genetic (TLR9 deletion) and a pharmacological approach (TLR9 agonist) to demonstrate a protective role of TLR9 in atherosclerosis. We describe the modulation of cell numbers and inflammatory phenotype of CD4+ T cells as a potential mechanism. Moreover, we have identified a novel and attractive therapeutic approach to attenuate progression of atherosclerotic disease based on the use of TLR9-activating CpG oligodeoxynucleotides.

O autorze

Yung-Chih Chen, Veterinary Medical Degree, Master of Biotech and Business at RMIT, PhD in Medicine at Monash University. Heart Foundation Early Career Fellow. Research Officer at BakerIDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne. My research interest is focusing on the unstable atherosclerotic plaques and animal model of plaque instability.