Research - Vascular Biology
RESEARCH PROJECTS
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
- The role of the immune system in hypertension
- Heart failure and target organ damage
- The role of the S1P signaling pathway in ischemic stroke
- Cardiovascular risk factors and impaired brain function
- Environmental factors and vascular health
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
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
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Meissner Anja, Liefke Jonas, Matthes Frank, Morsing Eva, Ley David, Hedström Erik.
Plasma biomarkers of inflammation associate with blood pressure and arterial stiffness in adolescents after very preterm birth [Letter].
Cardiovascular Research 2024;120(16):1992-1995.
https://doi.org/10.1093/cvr/cvae192
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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.
iScience 2024;27(6):110031.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2024.110031
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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.
eBioMedicine 2022;86:104384.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.104384
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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.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2023;24(12):10064.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241210064
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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.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2021;22(21):11554.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222111554
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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.
NeuroSci 2021;2(1):59-74.
https://doi.org/10.3390/neurosci2010004
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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.
JACC: Basic to Translational Science 2019;4(8):940-958.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacbts.2019.07.004
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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.
Cell Reports 2019;26(11):2955-2969.e3.
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.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2023;24(1):300.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24010300
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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.
Hypertension 2021;78(1):195-209.
https://doi.org/10.1161/hypertensionaha.120.17379
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RESEARCH 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
- DFG project fundung: Investigating Cell-Specific Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptor 3 Signaling in Neurovascular Unit Dysfunction Following Ischemia – funding period 2025 – 2028
- Hjärnfonden: Cell-specific S1P signaling alterations mediate neurovascular unit impairment in response to ischemia – Funding period 2024 – 2025
- 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 - 2027
- 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.
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"
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!