Bo Nilsson – Thromboinflammation in Therapeutic Medicine
Our research focuses on the cascade systems of the blood. We are specifically studying the mechanisms behind thromboinflammation, which is triggered by the cascade systems.
The cascade systems of the blood consist of the complement, the contact, the coagulation and the fibrinolysis systems. In particular the complement system, but also the other systems, are part of the innate immune system. The primary function of the complement system is to act as a purging system of the body to remove foreign substances including microorganisms, apoptotic cell debris, immune complexes and foreign bodies/materials. The primary function of the fibrinolysis, the coagulation and the contact systems is in hemostasis. However, all three systems are also engaged in inflammation.
Physiologically, thromboinflammation is an initiator of the healing and repair process of the body. It is triggered by the humoral innate immune system, which primarily consists of the cascade systems of the blood. These subsequently activate leukocytes, platelets and endothelial cells, finally resulting in thrombotic and inflammatory reactions.
Thromboinflammation in diseases and therapies
Thromboinflammation is also an important pathophysiological process involved in several clinical conditions and treatments:
- Cell and cell cluster transplantation and therapies.
- Whole organ transplantation
- Thrombotic events such as cardiac infarction, stroke and other cardiovascular conditions
- Rheumatic conditions such ac scleroderma, SLE and antiphospholipid syndrome.
- Pharmacological delivery systems e.g. liposomes, polymers, virus vectors etc.
- Treatments with biomaterial implants (joint replacements, scaffolds for tissue engineering etc) and extracorporeal treatments (hemodialysis, cardiopulmonary bypass).
The aim of our projects is to clarify the mechanisms behind thromboinflammation and to develop strategies to avoid the damage that thromboinflammation causes on transplanted cells, organs or biomaterial implants.