Journal of Immunology and Infectious Diseases

Dr. Matthias Clauss research program focuses on endothelial cell activation, which we study both in cell culture and in transgenic and non-transgenic animal models of ischemia, inflammation and angiogenesis. Disease models of interest include lung emphysema and coronary vascular disorders. They analyze endothelial cell activation and signaling in response to stress, cytokines, growth factors and HIV virus and study the effects of activation of interaction with other cells, such as blood monocytes, endothelial progenitor cells and adipose stromal stem cells. Currently he has two major projects in his laboratory, one addresses the role of EMAPII in diseases, while the other one explores how HIV-1 infection can cause increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. His research on EMAPII culminated in the development of an EMAPII neutralizing antibody as a therapeutic tool for treating cigarette smoke induced emphysema. In the context of HIV biology, he analyzes the role of HIV and HIV-encoded proteins in diseases such cardiovascular diseases or pulmonary emphysema with a focus on endothelial dysfunction, leading to cell death and/or loss of barrier function, most likely in synergy with cigarette smoke exposure.