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Cambridge Cardiovascular

 

Research

The effect of diet-induced immune response on atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the arterial wall and high cholesterol levels in blood accelerate the atherosclerotic plaque progressions. We recently have found the difference in atherosclerotic plaque size between two groups in different types of diet habits. The mechanisms are currently under investigation.

The mechanisms of heart failure induced by irradiation

Radiation therapy is a commonly used treatment for early breast cancer, but this therapy to the left chest has been related with cardiac dysfunction. Irradiation is thought to cause fibrosis in the heart. The mechanisms of the radiation-induced heart disease have been not fully understood yet. We have newly discovered some gene might have an important role in the radiation induced heart failure. We are searching the mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.

The mechanisms of aortic aneurysm progression and rupture

Aortic aneurysms are a common vascular disease and a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Western populations. The mechanisms of the progression of aortic aneurysms have not been elucidated yet. We have lately observed some molecule might be able to prevent the aortic aneurysm rupture. The further mechanisms how this molecule has affected the aortic aneurysms are under examination.

Publications

Key publications: 
  1. Takaoka M*, Tadross JA, Al-Hadithi ABAK, Zhao X, Villena-Gutiérrez R, Tromp J, Absar S, Au M, Harrison J, Coll AP, Marciniak SJ, Rimmington D, Oliver E, Ibáñez B, Voors AA, O'Rahilly S, Mallat Z, Goodall JC*. GDF15 antagonism limits severe heart failure and prevents cardiac cachexia. Cardiovasc Res. 2024 Dec 31;120(17):2249-2260. doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvae214. *Corresponding authors.
  2. Takaoka M, Zhao X, Lim HY, Magnussen CG, Ang O, Suffee N, Schrank PR, Ong WS, Tsiantoulas D, Sommer F, Mohanta SK, Harrison J, Meng Y, Laurans L, Wu F, Lu Y, Masters L, Newland SA, Denti L, Hong M, Chajadine M, Juonala M, Koskinen JS, Kähönen M, Pahkala K, Rovio SP, Mykkänen J, Thomson R, Kaisho T, Habenicht AJR, Clement M, Tedgui A, Ait-Oufella H, Zhao TX, Nus M, Ruhrberg C, Taleb S, Williams JW, Raitakari OT, Angeli V, Mallat Z. Early intermittent hyperlipidaemia alters tissue macrophages to fuel atherosclerosis. Nature. 2024 Oct;634(8033):457-465. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07993-x. Epub 2024 Sep 4.
  3. Kiss MG, Papac-Miličević N, Porsch F, Tsiantoulas D, Hendrikx T, Takaoka M, Dinh HQ, Narzt MS, Göderle L, Ozsvár-Kozma M, Schuster M, Fortelny N, Hladik A, Knapp S, Gruber F, Pickering MC, Bock C, Swirski FK, Ley K, Zernecke A, Cochain C, Kemper C, Mallat Z, Binder CJ. Cell-autonomous regulation of complement C3 by factor H limits macrophage efferocytosis and exacerbates atherosclerosis. Immunity. 2023 Aug 8;56(8):1809-1824.e10. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2023.06.026.
Research Associate

Contact Details

mt709@cam.ac.uk

Affiliations

Collaborator profiles: 
Person keywords: 
atherosclerosis
heart failure
aortic aneurysm
inflammation
immune system
metabolism