Research
I am interested in how genetic and environmental factors interact to influence responses to inflammation, particularly in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), the cell type which constitutes most of the artery wall and atherosclerotic plaques.
I have identified that the chromosome 9p21 genetic risk locus for cardiovascular disease is linked to inflammatory responses in VSMCs, through regulation of DNA methylation and expression of an important component in the IL-1 signaling pathway.
I was recently awarded a BHF Career Development Fellowship to extend my studies on the chromosome 9p21 locus and investigate the impact of age-related changes in DNA methylation on atherosclerosis.
Publications
Vascular smooth muscle cells in atherosclerosis. Basatemür G, Jørgensen H, Clarke M, Bennett M and Mallat Z. Nature Reviews Cardiology 2019, 16: 727
Interleukin-33 signaling controls the development of iron-recycling macrophages. Lu Y, Basatemür G, Scott I, Chiarugi D, Clément M, Harrison J, Jugdaohsingh R, Yu X, Newland S, Jolin H, Li X, Chen X, Szymanska M, Haraldsen G, Palmer G, Fallon P, Cohen S, McKenzie A, Mallat Z. Immunity 2020, 52:782
Deletion of chromosome 9p21 noncoding cardiovascular risk interval in mice alters Smad2 signaling and promotes vascular aneurysm. Loinard C & Basatemür G, Masters L, Baker L, Harrison J, Figg N, Vilar J, Sage AP and Mallat Z. Circulation Cardiovascular Genetics 2014, 7: 799
