Matthew DeBerge

The general area of our research is the origin and role of inflammation in homeostasis and disease. We are particularly interested in the cellular and molecular regulation of inflammatory signaling during cardiovascular disease and neurodegeneration. This involves studying tissue resident immune cells, including cardiac macrophages and brain-resident microglia, as well as recruited monocytes and T cells. Using mouse models of heart failure and dementia, we determine the requirements for these immune cells in disease pathogenesis. This is followed by mechanistic studies using primary cells isolated in vivo or cultured in vitro. Finally, we validate our findings using human samples and test therapeutic efficacy by targeting inflammatory signaling in our preclinical mouse models. Together, our studies will advance our understanding of inflammation and fuel development of new strategies to target inflammation and improve the quality and quantity of life. Projects/Techniques: Basic concepts of cardiovascular immunology and neuroimmunology; murine models of heart failure and neurodegeneration; Flow cytometry and cell sorting, ELISA, immunohistochemistry, immunoblot analysis, quantitative RNA analysis.