Dr Emma Yu

Mitochondrial dysfunction in atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is characterised by fatty plaques in the vessel walls and remains the leading cause of death in the western world. Understanding the underlying mechanisms is key for developing and targeting new treatments.

Mitochondria are the powerhouses of the cell, generating ATP via oxidative phosphorylation to fuel metabolic processes. Mitochondria are also now recognised as critical regulators of inflammation, cell death and proliferation, all processes that determine plaque composition. My work has highlighted that mitochondria are damaged and dysfunctional in atherosclerosis and that this contributes to disease development.

Our work is now focussed on examining what factors regulate mitochondrial function in atherosclerosis and if targeting these pathways has beneficial effects.