Project: “The role of B cell immunity in accelerated atherosclerosis”

Acronym	B-eatATHERO (Reference Number: JTC-2019_013)
Duration	01/05/2020 - 30/04/2023
Project Topic	Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, and results in the formation of atherosclerotic plaques that upon rupture or erosion cause myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke. The recent clinical trial CANTOS (Canakinumab Anti-Inflammatory Thrombosis Outcome Study) has demonstrated the therapeutic value of immunomodulation in secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. This is very important as MI survivors are at a high risk for recurrent infarctions. Experimental studies have attributed this risk profile to accelerated atherosclerosis. However, the role of the immune system in this setting is not well understood. Here, we aim to investigate how major risk factors for secondary atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, such as aging and history of MI, modulate B lymphocyte responses and thereby affect atherosclerosis progression. Our studies will employ atherosclerosis-prone mice and will include analysis of plaque specimens and peripheral B cell subsets from coronary artery disease patients. These studies will provide new insights for the development of precise therapeutic strategies, which will be particularly relevant for the secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Network	ERA-CVD
Call	ERA-CVD Joint Transnational Call 2019

Project partner

Number	Name	Role	Country
1	Leiden University	Coordinator	Netherlands
2	Medical University of Vienna	Partner	Austria
3	Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin	Partner	Germany