Projects at the Unit of Immunology and Chronic Disease

Natural antibodies

A recent discovery is that antibodies against lipid antigens, especially phosphorylcholine (anti-PC) share genetic background with chronic lymphatic leukemia (CLL) and are protection markers for CLL. Ongoing collaboration with Twin Registry and also Monica Studies in Umeå will now include also CLL and some common cancer types.

Financing

  • to be applied for
  • Swedish Heart Lung Foundation (on general anti-PC properties)

Contact person

Natural antibodies against lipid antigens as phosphorylcholine (PC) and malondialdehyde (MDA)

Our group discovered novel protection markers in cardiovascular disease, including anti-PC and anti-MDA, especially IgMs. This concept is now explored in larger cohorts, in SLE prospectively.

Financing

  • The Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation
  • The Swedish Rheumatic Foundation
  • Gustav V 80 year fund, EU (IMI)

Contact person

Mechanisms of immune activation and inflammation in atherosclerosis

Mechanisms of immune activation and ensuing inflammation in human atherosclerosis is essential for improving treatment and understanding of this disease condition. We study antigens in oxidized LDL with focus on epitopes generated during lipid oxidation, including MDA and PC, also heat shock proteins, and inhibitors we discovered, as anti-MDA and anti-PC and Annexin A5 are further studied. Novel factors include statins and PCSK9-inhibition.

Financing

  • The Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation
  • The Swedish Rheumatic Foundation
  • Gustav V 80 year fund
  • EU (IMI)

Contact persons

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Mizanur Rahman

Affiliated to Research

Explorative research to identify novel therapies

We have discovered two potential therapies against Cardiovascular disease, both targeting lipid epitopes (and not peptide/protein epitopes) namely Annexin A5 and natural antibodies, anti-PC and anti-MDA. These are now in different stages of clinical development, and one is tested in patients. Hopefully we can develop a concept of vaccine against cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases.

Financing

  • EU grants
  • Swedish Heart Lung foundation
  • RMR
  • Gustav V 80årsfond

Contact person

Risk markers, outcome and underlying mechanisms in SLE.

Through the SLEVIC cohort (JF is PI) we combine a unique cohort with patients from southern Stockholm (Huddinge area) with matched controls (age, sex and population). This cohort (SLEVIC) has now been followed up after 6 years, with detailed vascular and clinical measurements. We have discovered that natural lipid antibodies, especially against phosphorylcholine and malondialdehyde (anti-PC and anti-MDA) are strong protection markers, and have identified underlying mechanisms by which they may be directly involved in the disease.

Financing

  • The Swedish Rheumatic Foundation
  • Gustav V 80 year fund
  • EU (IMI)

Contact person

Risk markers, outcome and underlying mechaninsms in RA

Through collaborations, especially with Ingiäld Hafström, we study RA in large cohorts of high quality such as Barfot. We have identified anti-PC as a potential mechanism and marker for being non-responsive to biologics. Antibodies against other lipid moieties are also studied.

Financing

  • The Swedish Rheumatic Foundation
  • Gustav V 80 year fund
  • EU (IMI)

Contact person

Explorative research to identify novel therapies

We have discovered two potential therapies against Inflammatory disease (where cardiovascular diseases actually are including. These are both targeting lipid epitopes (and not peptide/protein epitopes) namely Annexin A5 and natural antibodies, anti-PC and anti-MDA which are tested clinically in cardiovascular disease but also hopefully apply to inflammatory diseases as SLE and RA which will be investigated. Also a vaccine against these lipids can hopefully be studied further.

Financing

  • The Swedish Hear and Lung Foundation
  • The Swedish Rheumatic Foundation
  • Gustav V 80 year fund
  • EU (IMI)

Contact person

Genetic mechanisms and gene-environment interaction

Large international studies in SLE and other rheumatic cohorts are studied, also SLEVIC is included. Objectives include to identify underlying mechanisms of these diseases, where SLE is an important focus, and to contribute to reclassification of Rheumatic diseases.

Financing

  • Swedish Science fund
  • The Swedish Rheumatic Foundation
  • Gustav V 80 year fund
  • EU (IMI)

Contact person

Marta Alarcón

Principal Researcher

Risk markers, outcome and potential mechanisms and treatment in COPD.

Through a study, AHLDI, we perform at Emergency Medicine in Huddinge, we study various risk markers including novel ones as anti-PC and anti-MDA to identify outcomes, risk and potential mechanisms in acute medical diseases including chronic Fobstructive pulmonary disease.

Financing

  • Swedish Heart Lung foundation

Contact Person

AP
Content reviewer:
Anna Persson
02-10-2023