Atherothrombosis research lab

Atherothrombosis remains one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in the western countries. Arterial wall rupture leads to clinical complications, involving intimal cap rupture in vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques and adventitial rupture in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Among different mechanisms of pathological wall remodeling, immune inflammatory response plays a main role. Although it has been a great progress in the knowledge of the mechanism of these diseases, there is still a need of identifying molecules that could help in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of patients.

In the present TFM, the student will analyze the role of mediators involved in the primary and resolution phases of immune-inflammatory response in AAA. Immune inflammatory response is a complex mechanism involving both pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators, followed by a resolution program. Our hypothesis is that in chronic diseases such as AAA, those processes are dysfunctional and that their modulation could prevent disease progression. An experimental model of AAA will be performed, as well as in vitro experiments, to test the effect of modulation of proinflammatory or proresolution mediators. We will also analyze the potential diagnostic/prognostic role of the levels of these molecules in plasma of patients with AAA