SUMMARY
The research of Esther Lutgens, M.D., Ph.D., helps to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms of the immune system that cause cardiovascular diseases. Dr. Lutgens' work focuses on the role of immune cells, their interactions and inflammatory potential in the different stages of atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis is the underlying cause of the majority of cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction and stroke. Her team, consisting of clinical and basic scientists, aims to identify the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. By understanding these mechanisms, Dr Lutgens strives to design and develop new immunotherapeutic drugs to combat atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Focus areas
- Dr. Lutgens' laboratory uses state-of-the-art approaches to study the immune system in the development of atherosclerosis. Her technical resources include:
- Advanced in vitro models to study immune cell behavior.
- Atherosclerotic mouse models with specific immune system modifications.
- Biobanked atherosclerotic plaque materials to investigate the contribution of immune cells in human cardiovascular diseases.
- Flow and mass cytometry to characterize immune cell phenotypes.
- Single cell sequencing approaches to characterize transcriptomic activity of individual cell types.
- Drug design and testing of new immunotherapeutics.
- Designing the immune checkpoint atlas of atherosclerosis. Co-stimulatory and co-inhibitory molecules are master communicators of the immune system, but their cell type specific expression varies depending on atherosclerotic disease stage and type. Using single cell technologies, one team in Dr. Lutgens' laboratory details the immune checkpoint landscape in mouse and human atherogenesis to define cell- and disease-stage specific, immune checkpoint-based therapeutic targets.
- Identifying the cell-type specific role of co-stimulatory and co-inhibitory immune checkpoints in atherosclerosis. Co-stimulatory and co-inhibitory molecules strongly influence the immune system. A second team in Dr. Lutgens' lab investigates the cell type-specific effects of immune checkpoints in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
- Targeting co-stimulation in atherosclerosis. A third team in Dr. Lutgens' laboratory designs and tests new immune checkpoint-based immunotherapeutics. One example is the newly developed CD40-TRAF6 small molecule inhibitor that we are preparing for human use.
Significance to patient care
The benefits of current state-of-the-art treatments to combat atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease have stagnated. Treatments are mostly based on lipid-lowering, anti-hypertensive and lifestyle-changing strategies. It is known that atherosclerosis is not only driven by dyslipidemia but also by inflammation. Dr Lutgens' goal is to detail the role of the immune system and inflammation in atherosclerosis on a cellular and molecular level to develop safe immunotherapeutic approaches to combat atherosclerotic disease.
Professional highlights
- United States coordinator, Leducq International Network of Excellence, CHECKPOINT ATHERO, 2023-2028.
- Chair, Gordon Research Conference on Atherosclerosis, 2025.
- European Society of Cardiology.
- Chair, atherosclerosis and vascular biology working group, 2022-2024.
- Outstanding Achievement Award, Basic Science Council, 2018.
- University of Amsterdam Medical Centers, Netherlands.
- Professor of Experimental Vascular Immunopathology and head of the Experimental Vascular Biology lab, 2012-2021.
- Research Board of Directors, 2019-2021.
- Professor of Experimental Vascular Pathology, Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig Maximilian's University, Munich, Germany, 2011-2021.
- Consolidator grant, CD40INN, European Research Council, 2016.
- Jeffrey M. Hoeg Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology Award for basic science and clinical research, council on arteriosclerosis, thrombosis and vascular biology scientific sessions, American Heart Association, 2016.
- Vici laureate, Innovational Research Incentives Scheme, Dutch Research Council, 2013.