Heart-specific antibodies as modulators of myocardial infarction (B6)
Antibodies in myocardial infarction
Recent studies from our groups and from others have revealed that myocardial infarction and heart failure elicit the production of heart-specific antibodies, which associate with a poorer disease outcome both in mice and humans. Nevertheless, the specificities of the antibodies produced in response to cardiac injury and the mechanisms by which they impact myocardial biology remain largely unknown.
Rationale and aims
We will seek to track the B-cells activated after myocardial infarction and to characterise the antibodies produced by them.
Approach
We will complementarily use high-end multi-colour fluorescence approaches such as intravital and light-sheet fluorescence microscopy, multicolour flow cytometry and single-cell sequencing to track and phenotype the “rare-but-right” antigen-specific B-cells activated after myocardial infarction in mice and patients.
Significance and outlook
We expect that this approach will enable us to identify for the first time the MI-triggered antibodies and to produce them in vitro for mechanistic studies.
Anschrift
Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Zentrum für Innere Medizin (ZIM), Oberdürrbacher Straße 6, Haus A3, 97080 Würzburg, Deutschland
Deutsches Zentrum für Herzinsuffizienz Würzburg | Comprehensive Heart Failure Center | Am Schwarzenberg 15 | Haus A15 | 97078 Würzburg