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Group members Elma Aflaki Prakash Chandak Prakash Doddapattar Anton Ibovnik Dagmar Kolb Silvia Povoden Branislav Radovic
Collaborators
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Dagmar Kratky, PhD Group leader  dagmar.kratky@medunigraz.at |
Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Center of Molecular Medicine Medical University of Graz Harrachgasse 21/III 8010 Graz, Austria
Phone: +43 (316) 380 7543 |
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ResearchCellular cholesterol is an ubiquitious component of eukaryotic cell membranes. However, an excess of cholesterol causes atherosclerotic diseases including coronary heart disease and cerebral stroke. Monocyte-derived macrophages are well established as being the central problem in the development of atherosclerosis. The presence of macrophage-derived foam cells that accumulate cholesteryl esters in the subendothelial space is one of the initial events of atheroma formation.The research activities of our laboratory focus on lipid metabolism in macrophages. We expect variations in the expression and activity levels of intracellular lipases, lipid synthesizing enzymes and lipid droplet-associated proteins to promote or prevent lipotoxic effects in macrophages. Utilizing mouse models with varying lipid content in macrophages, we investigate the in vivo impact of the respective proteins on macrophage morphology and (dys)function, lipotoxicity and cell death. Moreover, transgenic and knockout mouse models are investigated with regard to atherosclerosis susceptibility. Moreover, we are interested in as yet unknown proteins which hydrolize cholesteryl esters or mediate cholesterol trafficking inside and out of the cell. Since the actions of sex hormones on atherogenesis are very complex, with different effects of estrogens or androgens on male or female cells, it is likely that there are many as yet unknown genes involved in the sex-specificity of the atherosclerotic process. Therefore, we aim at discovering genes that are differentially expressed in male and female macrophages and foam cells. | ||||||
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| Nov 12, 2009 dagmar.kratky@medunigraz.at HOME MedUni Graz |