IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERISATION OF THE ROLE OF MUCOSAL ASSOCIATED INVARIANT T CELLS IN CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES – IACOTA

Cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and its consequences as myocardial infarction are the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Therefore, there is a need for new therapies to reduce atherothrombotic events. Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells function at the interface between innate and adaptive immunity. Inasmuch as MAIT cells can produce pro-inflammatory and pro-atherogenic cytokines such as interferon-?, we hypothesize that MAIT cells could play a determinant role in the inflammatory response of atherosclerosis. This proposal will be the first to address the role of MAIT cells in atherosclerosis. This work will involve validated animal models, in combination with cellular mechanistic studies and a clinical translational part addressing the relevance of the experimental findings to human disease. Targeting MAIT cells may constitute an attractive therapeutic strategy to reduce cardiovascular diseases.