The Immunobiology Unit, headed by Dr Christina Bursill, is primarily focussed on determining the role of small proteins called chemokines in diseases of vascular inflammation. Chemokines are part of the body’s immune response to injury or infection. They direct the migration of inflammatory cells to sites of vascular injury and play a critical role in diseases such as atherosclerosis and cancer.
Previous work by Dr Bursill has found that High-Density Lipoproteins (HDL), were able to inhibit the expression of key chemokines in monocytes and endothelial cells, the main cell types associated with atherosclerosis. This provided a mechanism of action for the well-established cardioprotective properties of HDL.
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