Local Inflammation in Atherosclerosis

In some individuals, especially the elderly, certain immune cell types create large populations of cell clones and become over-represented. Cardiovascular disease risk is associated with the presence of these clones, and recent research shows that they may be associated with the hardening and narrowing of arteries, causing a disease called atherosclerosis. This team will analyze patients with cardiovascular disease to understand which mutations may bias the population of immune cells and clarify how mutant and normal cells preferentially accumulate at sites of inflammation, such as cardiovascular plaques.