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Researcher
Lynn Roth
- Research Expertise:The Laboratory of Physiopharmacology has a major track record in cardiovascular disease. Our research involves the morphological and hemodynamic changes that occur during atherogenesis, with an important focus on cell death pathways, arterial stiffness and neovascularization. Various experimental models have been established in genetically modified mice, including several cell type specific autophagy deficient models and an atherosclerotic mouse model showing intraplaque angiogenesis and spontaneous plaque rupture. Using immunohistochemical and molecular biological techniques the role of apoptosis, necrosis, autophagy as well as neoangiogenesis in the vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaques is studied. Functional alterations of macrophages, endothelial and smooth muscle cells in atherosclerotic blood vessels are investigated in isolated cells. Vascular ring segments are used to determine vascular reactivity in an isometric organ bath set-up. Arterial stiffness is assessed by measuring aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) using high-frequency ultrasound (in vivo) and by using the Rodent Oscillatory Tension Set-up to study Arterial Compliance (ROTSAC), which is an ex vivo technique that was developed and validated in-house for the isobaric analysis of aortic stiffness. Pharmacological manipulation of the above measured parameters, including the study of potential plaque stabilizing therapies, is also performed. Overall, this approach might result in a better understanding of the etiopathogenesis and clinical complications of atherosclerosis and might result in new therapeutic strategies.
- Keywords:ATHEROSCLEROSIS, NEOVASCULARISATION, ARTERIAL STIFFNESS, VASCULAR REACTIVITY, AUTOPHAGY, Pharmacy and pharmacology
- Disciplines:Cardiac and vascular medicine not elsewhere classified, Cell death, Cell physiology, Pathophysiology, Pharmacology not elsewhere classified, Pharmacotherapy
- Research techniques:Cell culture, mouse models, immunohistochemistry, (fluorescence) microscopy, Western blotting, qPCR, flowcytometry, echocardiography, blood pressure measurements, isometric organ bath set-up, ROTSAC
- Users of research expertise:Companies and academic researchers with an interest in vascular biology and cardiovascular disease.