Research - Vascular Biology

RESEARCH PROJECTS

Scientific interest

 

As physiologists, our research interests lie in the functions of life at the molecular, cellular, and organism levels. In our research endeavors, we are primarily concerned with the functioning of the cardiovascular system. We especially focus on elucidating underlying disease mechanisms at the molecular level, aiming to advance the development of new effective treatment strategies for hypertension, heart failure and stroke. 

 

It is frequently observed that a significant proportion of cardiovascular disorders also have a detrimental impact on the functionality of various other vital organs, such as the lungs, brain, or kidneys. The treatment of such associated organ damage is often complex and challenging. Our research focuses on biologically important signaling molecules that play pivotal roles in regulating the cardiovascular and immune systems with the objective to identify potential starting points for new therapeutic avenues.
 

 

Research projects

 

 

 

Research methods

 

  • Modeling of cardiovascular disease (e.g. heart failure, stroke, hypertension)
  • Non-invasive imaging (magnetic resonance imaging) to determine heart function, brain perfusion, infarct size
  • Behavioral examinations for the detection of cognitive impairments in models of cardiovascular disease
  • Immune-profiling using flow cytometry
  • Histological methods to detect structural cell and tissue alterations and changes in expression pattern
  • Microscopic techniques incl. fluorescence microscopy, confocal microscopy
  • Cell biological, biochemical and molecular biological methods, including genetic modification of cells, polymerase chain reactions (PCR), Western blot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  • Biomarker validation in clinical samples
  • Application of various in vitro and ex vivo methods for the functional investigation of cell-cell interactions
  • Mass spectrometry for the determination of sphingosine-1-phosphate concentrations in blood and tissue

 

 

Team Vascular Biology

 

Publications

COOPERATION PARTNERS

  • Prof. Janina Bahnemann, Technical Biology, University of Augsburg
  • Prof. Christoph Knote, Model-based Environmental Exposure Science, University of Augsburg
  • Prof. Arne Lindgren, Neurologie – Stroke Unit, University Hospital Lund, Sweden
  • Dr. Martin Magnusson, Kardiologie, University Hospital Lund (Malmö), Sweden
  • Dr. Iben Lundgaard, Glymphatic System, Lund University, Sweden
  • Dr. Joao Duarte, Diabetes and Brain Function, Lund University, Sweden
  • Prof. Lena Uller, Airway Inflammation, Lund University, Sweden
  • Prof. Gabor Petzold, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Bonn
  • Prof. Jörg Fritz, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
  • Prof. Steffen-Sebastian Bolz, Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Canada

 

Matuskova Hana, Porschen Lisa T., Matthes Frank, Lindgren Arne G., Petzold Gabor C., Meissner Anja. Spatiotemporal sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 3 expression within the cerebral vasculature after ischemic stroke. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2024.110031
BibTeX | RIS | DOI
Vanherle Lotte, Lidington Darcy, Uhl Franziska E., Steiner Saskia, Vassallo Stefania, Skoug Cecilia, Duarte Joao M. N., Ramu Sangeetha, Uller Lena, Desjardins Jean-François, Connelly Kim A., Bolz Steffen-Sebastian, Meissner Anja. Restoring myocardial infarction-induced long-term memory impairment by targeting the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.104384
PDF | BibTeX | RIS | DOI
Jujic Amra, Vieira João P. P., Matuskova Hana, Nilsson Peter M., Lindblad Ulf, Olsen Michael H., Duarte João M. N., Meissner Anja, Magnusson Martin. Plasma galectin-4 levels are increased after stroke in mice and humans. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241210064
PDF | BibTeX | RIS | DOI
Battistella Roberta, Kritsilis Marios, Matuskova Hana, Haswell Douglas, Cheng Anne Xiaoan, Meissner Anja, Nedergaard Maiken, Lundgaard Iben. Not all lectins are equally suitable for labeling rodent vasculature. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222111554
PDF | BibTeX | RIS | DOI
Matthes Frank, Matuskova Hana, Arkelius Kajsa, Ansar Saema, Lundgaard Iben, Meissner Anja. An improved method for physical separation of cerebral vasculature and parenchyma enables detection of blood-brain-barrier dysfunction. https://doi.org/10.3390/neurosci2010004
PDF | BibTeX | RIS | DOI
Lidington Darcy, Fares Jessica C., Uhl Franziska E., Dinh Danny D., Kroetsch Jeffrey T., Sauvé Meghan, Malik Firhan A., Matthes Frank, Vanherle Lotte, Adel Arman, Momen Abdul, Zhang Hangjun, Aschar-Sobbi Roozbeh, Foltz Warren D., Wan Hoyee, Sumiyoshi Manabu, Macdonald R. Loch, Husain Mansoor, Backx Peter H., Heximer Scott P., Meissner Anja, Bolz Steffen-Sebastian. CFTR therapeutics normalize cerebral perfusion deficits in mouse models of heart failure and subarachnoid hemorrhage. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacbts.2019.07.004
PDF | BibTeX | RIS | DOI
Munk Anne Sofie, Wang Wei, Bèchet Nicholas Burdon, Eltanahy Ahmed M., Cheng Anne Xiaoan, Sigurdsson Björn, Benraiss Abdellatif, Mäe Maarja A., Kress Benjamin Travis, Kelley Douglas H., Betsholtz Christer, Møllgård Kjeld, Meissner Anja, Nedergaard Maiken, Lundgaard Iben. PDGF-B is required for development of the glymphatic system. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2019.02.050
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Meissner Anja, Garcia-Serrano Alba M., Vanherle Lotte, Rafiee Zeinab, Don-Doncow Nicholas, Skoug Cecilia, Larsson Sara, Gottschalk Michael, Magnusson Martin, Duarte João M. N.. Alterations to cerebral perfusion, metabolite profiles, and neuronal morphology in the hippocampus and cortex of male and female mice during chronic exposure to a high-salt diet. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24010300
PDF | BibTeX | RIS | DOI
Jujic Amra, Matthes Frank, Vanherle Lotte, Petzka Henning, Orho-Melander Marju, Nilsson Peter M., Magnusson Martin, Meissner Anja. Plasma S1P (Sphingosine-1-Phosphate) links to hypertension and biomarkers of inflammation and cardiovascular disease: findings from a translational investigation. https://doi.org/10.1161/hypertensionaha.120.17379
BibTeX | RIS | DOI

RESEARCH FUNDING

Intramural Funding

„Forschungspotenziale besser nutzen!“, University of Augsburg – funding since 2024 

 

Cross-disciplinary tandem project, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg – funding since 2024 
 

 

Third-party funding

Albert Påhlsson Stiftelse: Sex-specific cardiovascular consequences of high in dietary salt consumption - Funding period 2022 - 2025
 

Wenner Gren Stiftelse: Immunomodulation in hypertension improves outcome after myocardial infarction - funding period 2022 - 2024
 

Crafoordska Stiftelse: The role of ischemia-induced S1P-S1pr3 signaling in astrocytes  – funding period 2022 - 2024

 

Vetenskaps râdet:  Inkretinsystemets inverkan på hjärt-kärlsjukdom och cancer – funding period 2023 - 2026

  

DFG: Hypertension-related cognitive deficits and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) - pathophysiology and therapeutic significance - funding period 2017 - 2021
 

Vetenskapsrådet: Communication between Sphingosine-1-phosphate signaling and the Renin-Angiotensin System during hypertension: a bearer of therapeutic significance in blood pressure regulation and Target Organ Damage? - Funding period 2018 - 2020

News

Elucidating mechanistic pathways of ambient particulate matter pollution on the cerebral vasculature

Dr. Frank Matthes (Vascular Biology) & Dr. Katrin Gohlsch (Model-based Environmental Exposure Science) receive project funding to jointly investigate the influence of air pollution on the blood vessels of the brain. In May 2024, Dr. Fatima Gimeno-Ferrer joined the team and kicked off the project.

Investigating the Cause and Focusing on Treating Heart Failure-Related Target Organ Damage

Lotte Vanherle defends her doctoral thesis. Faculty Opponent: Prof. Chris Sobey Latrobe University, Melbourne, Australia PhD committee members: Prof. Angela Censi-Nilsson (Lund University, Sweden) Dr. Darcy Wagner (Lund University, Sweden) Dr. Emma Börgesson (Aarhus University, Denmark)

April 10, 2024

Poster Prize WCMM Research Day 2024

Congrats to Lisa Porschen for winning this year's WCMM Research Day Poster prize! Poster Title: "High fat diet and its effects on altered S1P signaling in experimental stroke"

May 31, 2024

PhD convocation ceremony

The official convocation ceremony of Lund University took place today with the latest PhD graduate of the Vascular Biology Research Group.

May 31, 2024

New publication on S1P signaling in stroke

In our recent publication, we show that the S1P receptor S1PR3 is acutely upregulated in perilesional reactive astrocytes after ischemic stroke and that stroke volume and behavioral deficits are ameliorated in mice lacking S1PR3. Importantly, administration of an S1PR3 antagonist at 4 hours post-stroke, but not at later time points, improves stroke outcome. Finally, we observed higher plasma S1PR3 levels in experimental stroke and in patients with ischemic stroke. Taken together, our results establish S1PR3 as a potential drug target and biomarker in ischemic stroke. Read all details here: Matuskova et al., iScience 27, 110031 June 21, 2024: https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.isci.2024.110031

open positions

Are you a scientist with a keen interest in fundamental cardiovascular research? 

 

Our team engages in cutting-edge research projects that demand innovative approaches and techniques. We foster an environment that is both intellectually stimulating and globally inclusive. 
 

We are consistently interested in collaborating with motivated students in the context of internships, bachelor's and master's theses, as well as medical doctorates. Just get in touch with us!

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