Detail

Keywords

Atherosclerosis; B-Lymphocytes; Cell-Derived Microparticles; Complement Factor H; Immunity; Immunity, Humoral; Inflammation; Lipid Peroxidation; Lipoproteins; Receptors, Oxidized LDL; Thrombosis

Research group(s)

• Atherosclerosis Research Unit
  Research Area: Oxidation-specific epitopes in atherosclerosis
  Members:
  Christoph J. Binder

Research interests

• Immune mechanisms of atherosclerosis
• Role of innate immunity in inflammation and oxidative stress
• Elucidate the role of natural lgM antibodies and complement in atherosclerosis and thrombosis
• Immune modulation as therapy for cardiovascular diseases and other chronic inflammatory diseases

Techniques, methods & infrastructure

The laboratory space is located in the Anna Spiegel Research Building and is equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure including cell culture facilities, a histology unit, a Fortessa flow cytometer, a NanoSight instrument, Seahorse XF, chemiluminescent und fluorescent readers, a Biacore instrument, as well as standard infrastructure for molecular biology, biochemistry, immunology and cell biology techniques. A high-end flow activated cell sorting facility and an advanced imaging facility are available in the building. Murine atherosclerosis, vascular inflammation, and thrombosis models are established, and mice are bred in the in-house SPF animal facility. 

Selected publications

1. Binder, C.J., Papac-Milicevic, N. & Witztum, J.L., 2016. Innate sensing of oxidation-specific epitopes in health and disease. Nature Reviews Immunology, 16(8), pp.485-497. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nri.2016.63.
2. Tsiantoulas, D. et al., 2017. Increased Plasma IgE Accelerate Atherosclerosis in Secreted IgM Deficiency. Circulation Research, 120(1), pp.78-84. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.116.309606.
3. Tsiantoulas, D. et al., 2014. Circulating microparticles carry oxidation-specific epitopes and are recognized by natural IgM antibodies. Journal of Lipid Research, 56(2), pp.440-448. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1194/jlr.P054569.
4. Weismann, D. et al., 2011. Complement factor H binds malondialdehyde epitopes and protects from oxidative stress. Nature, 478(7367), pp.76-81. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature10449.
5. Chou, M.-Y. et al., 2009. Oxidation-specific epitopes are dominant targets of innate natural antibodies in mice and humans. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 119(5), pp.1335-1349. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1172/JCI36800.