Project description
Resolving cardiovascular inflammation
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is characterised by chronic vascular inflammation and abnormal immune activation. The mechanisms behind this dysregulation are poorly understood, particularly the role of smooth muscle cells in resolving inflammation. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the MaResIn project focuses on the role of Maresin 1 (MaR1), a lipid mediator with anti-inflammatory properties that, through binding to the LGR6 receptor, could potentially modulate vascular inflammation and atherosclerotic plaque stability. Researchers will investigate MaR1 biosynthesis and LGR6 expression in human tissues and blood and explore how MaR1-LGR6 signalling impacts the phagocytic capacity of smooth muscle cells. This work will pave the way for new approaches that resolve inflammation in ASCVD.
Objective
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is a progressive disease characterized by aberrant immune activation and chronic vascular inflammation as a result from a failure in the resolution phase. However, the mechanisms responsible for this dysregulation are not well understood. Little is known about the role of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in regulating resolution of inflammation, an active process orchestrated by endogenous specialized proresolving lipid mediators (SPMs). These include the maresin family, and in particular maresin 1 (MaR1), which was recently shown to be a specific activator of LGR6. Despite the potent anti-inflammatory and proresolving actions of MaR1 in murine models and human cells, its role in ASCVD remains uncovered. Hence, this proposal aims to elucidate the role of SMC-derived resolution of inflammation in ASCVD, and the impact of MaR1-LGR6 in stimulating resolution. Specifically, I will focus on the molecular mechanisms of MaR1-LGR6 signaling, mainly on the phagocytic capacity of SMCs.
I will employ mechanistic and functional assays in human SMCs, as a proxy for its potential in plaque “clearing” and plaque stabilization. I will characterize the expression of LGR6, by mass spectrometry imaging, and the biosynthesis of MaR1 in human atherosclerotic tissue (local) and identify indicators in blood samples (systemic) by LC-MS/MS-derived lipidomic profiling of human samples, in to obtain a profile of systemic lipid biomarker(s) that reflects the local abundance of SPMs or their receptors. This could be used to design personalized proresolving prevention in prone-to-CVD individuals. Lastly, I will investigate the SMC phenotypic modulation by MaR1-LGR6 in a LGR6-specific SMC-deletion ASCVD mouse model. Deciphering the SMC-mediated resolution programs in inflammation (a novel concept in ASCVD), and the involvement of MaR1-LGR6 in this process, will be a major advance in understanding chronic cardiovascular inflammation and its mechanisms.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
171 77 STOCKHOLM
Sweden
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