The CDG asks for your consent: We would like to process your pseudonymised data about the use of the website for analysis purposes in order to understand how visitors use our website so that we can make it even better and more intuitive. We use the open-source software Matomo for this purpose. By clicking on "accept all" you can give us your consent for this. You can revoke your consent at any time with effect for the future. You can withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the button "Customise cookie settings" and unchecking the "Analyse" box. The legality of the processing carried out up to that point is not affected by the cancellation.
Without your consent, we will only process your data to the extent technically necessary to display the website to you. Information on the required data processing and the technically required cookies can be found after clicking on the "Settings" button under "Required cookies" and in our privacy policy.
CD Laboratory for Cardio-Metabolic Immunotherapy
Head of research unit
Commercial Partner
Affiris AG
Duration
01.06.2011 - 31.12.2015
Phasing out period:
01.01.2016 - 31.12.2016
01.01.2016 - 31.12.2016
Thematic Cluster
Medicine
A scientific basis for vaccinations against type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases is being created. The focus is on molecules that cause inflammatory reactions in the context of both diseases. The starting point is the molecule osteopontin.
Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are the most important challenges for our healthcare system. Chronic inflammation is a key mechanism for these diseases. For this reason, research is focussing on osteopontin, which has been shown to play an important role in the development of these diseases. This is a cytokine, i.e. a protein with carbohydrate components, which regulates the differentiation and position of cells. Osteopontin also has important positions in the immune system and in inflammatory processes.
In the course of such inflammatory processes, especially in fatty tissue and the liver, osteopontin inhibits the effect of insulin in the body and thus contributes to insulin resistance. Despite the presence of insulin, the body cannot react accordingly, resulting in insufficient breakdown of blood sugar and unfavourable changes in fat metabolism. Insulin resistance is the basis of type 2 diabetes. At the same time, osteopontin is also involved in the development of atherosclerosis, the basis of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes.
Work is being carried out on the principles of actively immunising the body against osteopontin in order to reduce its damaging effect. Passive immunisation has already shown efficacy, which confirms the principle of this therapeutic strategy. In contrast to passive immunisation, active immunisation should lead to long-term protection against type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases by eliminating inflammatory components.
On the way to active immunisation against osteopontin, the molecular mechanisms by which osteopontin contributes to chronic inflammation must first be uncovered. Subsequently, immunisation strategies will be developed and further target molecules for these strategies will be identified in the body.
