Cardiovascular Inflammation

Principal investigator: Professor Hendrik Sager

Research

Our research focusses on the role of the immune system in cardiovascular disease. Specifically, we are interested in the origin, function and fate of innate immune cells (monocytes, macrophages, neutrophils) in atherosclerosis and wound healing after myocardial infarction.

Based on new mechanistic understanding, we seek to develop novel therapeutic concepts. We are part of the German Heart Center Munich and aim translate our findings to better understand and improve human health.

We are always looking to recruit highly motivated researchers. Please apply with a CV to hendrik.sager@tum.de.
 

DHM_Kardiologie_AG_Kard_Inflammation_Dr_Sager

Funding

We thankfully acknowledge support from our funding agencies:

 

Major publications

Proliferation and Recruitment Contribute to Myocardial Macrophage Expansion in Chronic Heart Failure.
Sager HB, Hulsmans M, Lavine KJ, Beltrami Moreira MB, Heidt T, Courties G, Sun Y, Iwamoto Y, Tricot B, Khan OF, Dahlman JE, Borodovsky A, Fitzgerald K, Anderson DG, Weissleder R, Libby P, Swirski FK, Nahrendorf M.
Circ Res. 2016 Sep 16;119(7):853-64. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.116.309001. (IF=11.6)

RNAi targeting multiple cell adhesion molecules reduces immune cell recruitment and vascular inflammation after myocardial infarction.
Sager HB, Dutta P, Dahlman JE, Hulsmans M, Courties G, Sun Y, Heidt T, Vinegoni C, Borodovsky A, Fitzgerald K, Wojtkiewicz GR, Iwamoto Y, Tricot B, Khan OF, Kauffman KJ, Xing Y, Shaw TE, Libby P, Langer R, Weissleder R, Swirski FK, Anderson DG, Nahrendorf M.
Sci Transl Med. 2016 Jun 8;8(342):342ra80. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aaf1435. (IF=16.3)

Targeting Interleukin-1β Reduces Leukocyte Production After Acute Myocardial Infarction.
Sager HB, Heidt T, Hulsmans M, Dutta P, Courties G, Sebas M, Wojtkiewicz GR, Tricot B, Iwamoto Y, Sun Y, Weissleder R, Libby P, Swirski FK, Nahrendorf M.
Circulation. 2015 Nov 17;132(20):1880-90. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.115.016160. (IF=17)

Myocardial Infarction Activates CCR2(+) Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells.
Dutta P*, Sager HB* (contributed equally), Stengel KR, Naxerova K, Courties G, Saez B, Silberstein L, Heidt T, Sebas M, Sun Y, Wojtkiewicz G, Feruglio PF, King K, Baker JN, van der Laan AM, Borodovsky A, Fitzgerald K, Hulsmans M, Hoyer F, Iwamoto Y, Vinegoni C, Brown D, Di Carli M, Libby P, Hiebert SW, Scadden DT, Swirski FK, Weissleder R, Nahrendorf M.
Cell Stem Cell. 2015 May 7;16(5):477-87. doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2015.04.008. (IF=22.4)

Chronic variable stress activates hematopoietic stem cells.
Heidt T*, Sager HB* (contributed equally), Courties G, Dutta P, Iwamoto Y, Zaltsman A, von Zur Muhlen C, Bode C, Fricchione GL, Denninger J, Lin CP, Vinegoni C, Libby P, Swirski FK, Weissleder R, Nahrendorf M.
Nat Med. 2014 Jul;20(7):754-8. doi: 10.1038/nm.3589. (IF=27.4)

Physicians' perception of guideline-recommended low-density lipoprotein target values: characteristics of misclassified patients
Sager HB, Linsel-Nitschke P, Mayer B, Lieb W, Franzel B, Elsasser U, Schunkert H.
Eur Heart J. 2010 May;31(10):1266-73. (IF=10)