Platelet-derived inflammatory mediators in progressive aortic valve disease (B09)

• Subject Area: Cardiology, Angiology ; Cell Biology
• Term: from 2018 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 374031971

Inflammation is a prominent feature of disease progression in degenerative aortic valve disease. Platelets, platelet-derived mediators and monocytes drive the local and systemic thrombo-inflammatory response. At sites of valve injury, platelets release cytokines such as macrophage migration inhibitory factor that influence inflammatory cells like monocytes as well as tissue resident cells of affected valves. Therefore, we will further elaborate on the role of platelets in the pathophysiology of inflammatory aortic valve diseases using a variety of genetic mouse strains, animal models, and human material to identify novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 240: Platelets – Molecular, cellular and systemic functions in health and disease
• Applicant Institution: Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg
• Project Heads: Privatdozentin Stella E. Autenrieth, Ph.D., until 6/2022; Professor Dr. Meinrad Paul Gawaz, since 7/2022; Dr. Karin Anne Lydia Müller