Carolyne Smith
e-mail address: cksm@umich.edu

Mentor: Mariana Kaplan, MD

Research Description

Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder that primarily affects women, manifesting in photosensitivity, rashes, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and renal and neurological disorders.  Female patients with SLE are 50 times more likely to have a myocardial infarction than non-SLE women.  Previous work has demonstrated that the oxidized form of high-density lipoprotein (ox-HDL), shown to be pro-inflammatory and vaso-damaging, is a significant biomarker for atherosclerosis in SLE patients.  The effect of this unique form of HDL on macrophage foam cells is not completely understood.  Our work is focused on elucidating the effect of ox-HDL from SLE patients on macrophages, its subsequent role in atherosclerotic lesion formation, and lupus-specific sources of HDL oxidation.

Publications

Thacker SG, Zhao W, Smith CK, Luo W, Wang H, Vivekanandan-Giri A, Rabquer BJ, Koch AE, Pennathur S, Davidson A, Eitzman DT, Kaplan MJ. Type I interferons modulate vascular function, repair, thrombosis and plaque progression in murine models of lupus and atherosclerosis. Arthritis Rheum. 2012 May 1.

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Abstracts

Awards

Rackham Graduate Student Research Grant