Researchers' Proposals

Inflammatory, hormonal and free-radical mediated pathogenic processes leading to the erosion of vascular endothelium are studied. Lymphocytes are isolated from septic neonates and their cytokine production is tested under various external stimuli. In a rat model the importance of cytokine and heat shock protein gene expression in the defence against ischemia-reperfusion injury was described. Genetic analyses of nearly 200 preterm neonates suggest, that the presence of some interleukine and renin-angiotensin gene polymorphisms leading to exaggerated inflammatory response might be associated with increased risk for vascular events.