Michael Autieri, PhD

The long-term focus of our research program is the identification and characterization of proteins and pathways which play a role in regulation of vascular inflammation, with a current focus on the role of endogenous anti-inflammatory cytokines in this process.  We have two distinct, but related areas of investigation: 1- inhibition of vascular occlusive diseases such as atherosclerosis, restenosis, and allograft vasculopathy, and; 2- promotion of angiogenesis to treat peripheral vascular disease.  Currently, we are focusing on an endogenous anti-inflammatory cytokine termed IL-19 which: regulates macrophage polarity, macrophage and smooth muscle cell cholesterol homeostasis, smooth muscle and endothelial cell proliferation, and decreases inflammatory mRNA stability, suggesting that this cytokine may represent a therapeutic modality to treat vascular inflammatory diseases.