A05
The CD40/CD40L-axis in aortic aneurysm: defining immune cell interactions and therapeutic targets
Co-stimulatory molecules are central for shaping immune responses yet their function in different phases of aneurysm formation is incompletely understood. Here, we will test the contribution of the CD40/CD40L dyad – one of the most prominent co-stimulatory pathways - to disease pathology in experimental murine models of aortic aneurysm. We aim to define the cell types and molecular pathways involved locally and systemically in CD40/CD40L-mediated aneurysm formation. We will use genetic and pharmacological inhibition of the CD40/CD40L pathway and validate its functional expression in patients suffering from aneurysmal disease.
