Prabha Nagareddy, PhD's project, A Dialogue Between Neutrophils and Monocytes for Effective Resolution of Inflammation Following Acute Myocardial Injury, started July 1. The goal is to understand how neutrophils that infiltrate the ischemic heart help in wound healing by instructing monocytes, the cells that follow neutrophils, to undergo a quick maturation and help resolve inflammation following an acute episode of myocardial infarction. Dr. Nagareddy aims to study the role of certain soluble proteins released by neutrophils in the heart in monocyte maturation to reparative macrophages.
Even beyond this study, the primary focus of Dr. Nagareddy’s lab is to understand the pathological basis of the so-called “cardiovascular risk factors” in diabetes, obesity, rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions, with particular interest in examining the role of neutrophil-derived proteins S100A8 and S100A9, which are emerging as key signaling molecules in chronic, low-grade inflammation. His lab is also intent on developing various therapeutic strategies, such as monoclonal antibodies and pharmacological inhibitors, to reduce inflammation and improve outcomes in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.