Ulf Landmesser is a recognized expert in the field of endothelial cell biology and its relation to atherosclerosis, who has more recently focused on the role of differential microRNA regulation in this respect. His work has been recognized by the Friedrich-Götz Award (Medical Faculty Zurich), the Jan-Brod Award (Medical School Hannover) and an Honorary Professorship at the University College London. UL`s publications have been cited 4’700 times; his h-index is 34 (Web of Science).

Prof. Landmesser has accepted a professorship at the Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin and will be leaving the consortium in early 2014.  

In the framework of KFSP Small RNAs, Prof. Landmesser investigated questions related to vascular disease:   

In the present project we aim to identify the microRNAs that are the most potent regulators of arterial endothelial cell inflammatory and pro-apoptotic activation, that are key processes in development and progression of coronary atherosclerosis and therefore highly interesting potential novel therapeutic targets. We have developed a high-throughput assay for quantification of endothelial cell inflammatory and proapoptotic activation in 96-well plates (using VCAM- 1, MCP-1 and caspase-3 as read-outs) that will be used to determine by high-throughput screening using a human microRNA-Library microRNAs that are the most important regulators of human coronary endothelial cell inflammatory and pro-apoptotic activation. This approach will be unbiased and reliable to identify the microRNA most critical in regulating coronary endothelial cell pro-inflammatory activation and apoptosis, and is only possible by using the core unit and highthroughput functional screening platform of the present application and the close cooperation within the KFSP. Previous studies in this regard have frequently relied on computational in silico analysis for prediction of microRNAs and their targets involved and largely analysed the effects of single microRNAs, that has, however, major potential limitations. MicroRNAs are predicted to have several hundreds of targets and mRNAs can be targeted by numerous miRNAs. The present approach using a high-throughput setting will therefore allow for a comprehensive assessment of which microRNA are functionally most important for regulation of the endothelial pro-inflammatory and apoptotic activation, and are therefore potential novel therapeutic targets for anti-atherogenic treatment strategies.

In a second phase of the project we will determine the impact of the identified microRNA on in vivo atherosclerotic plaque development/stability and endothelial integrity. The final long-term aim of the research project is to translate these observations into a potential novel and targeted therapy to prevent development and promote regression of atherosclerotic lesions and disease, by impacting on the susceptibility of endothelial cell proinflammatory and pro-apoptotic activation, that are key processes in this respect. It is anticipated that these studies will lead to novel patent applications.