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ATHEROSCLEROSIS AND TROMBOSIS UNIT
Director: Andrea Mezzetti
Phone: +39 0871 541
E-Mail: mezzetti@unich.it
Supervisor: Maria Luigia Fazia
Phone: +39 0871 541427
E-Mail: lfazia@unich.it
Description of Unit and available services:
Atherosclerosis is the main underlying cause of acute ischemic syndromes, including stroke, unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death. The atherosclerotic process starts as a protective response to insults to the endothelium of the arterial wall, and progresses to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques which narrow and may totally obstruct the lumen of the affected artery. Clinical manifestations of acute ischemic syndromes result from atherosclerotic plaque rupture/erosion, which permits contact between blood elements and the highly thrombogenic material within a lesion's lipid core, leading to thrombus formation over the site of the plaque.
The research lines of this Unit focus on the study of the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying the two fundamental steps in the onset of acute ischemic syndromes, i.e. atherosclerotic plaque rupture and thrombus formation. In particular, on the basis of much evidence which have recognized a role of arachidonic acid metabolism in atherosclerotic disease progression, the main objective of this Unit is to characterize the role of enzymes and receptors along this metabolic pathway in plaque rupture and in aspirin-insensitive mechanisms of platelet aggregation in patients with acute ischemic syndromes.
Ongoing studies:
Molecular mechanisms underlying atherosclerotic plaque instability, particularly focused on the role of metabolites, enzymes and receptors along the arachidonic acid cascade in the inflammatory process characterizing atherosclerotic disease.
Characterization of the cannabinoid system in human stable and unstable atherosclerotic plaques, in monocytes from human peripheral blood cells, and in peritoneal macrophages from wild type and genetically modified mice. Relationship of the expression of cannabinoid receptors with the traditional cardiovascular risk factors, with particular attention to diabetes mellitus
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