Jan Rapacz
Research Description: Using specific genetic strains of swine as animal models, developed in this laboratory during the last three decades, the research interests center on:
1. Identification and characterization of mutant genes and their corresponding polymorphic protein products associated with:
a) hypercholesterolemia, dyslipidemia, lipid metabolism, concentration of plasma cholesterol and other plasma lipids and their defective transport and specific receptor uptake b) development of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease c) susceptibility and resistance to the most severe form of infectious diarrhea and resistance to infections in general. 2. Attempts, by experimental breeding, to dissect the identified complex polygenic hypercholesterolemia phenotype (c-FHC), associated with human-like severe atherosclerosis, into monogenic subphenotypes and mapping, identification and characterization of the disease genes. 3. Somatic gene therapy of atherosclerosis.
The primary focus is on:
1. Identification of monogenic subphenotype genes, mapped by microsatellite DNA markers. 2. Downsizing the cFHC strain for the use by interventional cardiologists for the study of restenosis. 3. Evaluation of immunodeficient piglets for the effectiveness in somatic gene transfer of human apolipoprotein AI recombinant gene (apoAImilano).
Using specific genetic strains of swine as animal models, developed in this laboratory during the last three decades, the research interests center on: 1. Identification and characterization of mutant genes and their corresponding polymorphic protein products associated with: a) hypercholesterolemia, dyslipidemia, lipid metabolism, concentration of plasma cholesterol and other plasma lipids and their defective transport and specific receptor uptake b) development of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease c) susceptibility and resistance to the most severe form of infectious diarrhea and resistance to infections in general. 2. Attempts, by experimental breeding, to dissect the identified complex polygenic hypercholesterolemia phenotype (c-FHC), associated with human-like severe atherosclerosis, into monogenic subphenotypes and mapping, identification and characterization of the disease genes. 3. Somatic gene therapy of atherosclerosis. The primary focus is on: 1. Identification of monogenic subphenotype genes, mapped by microsatellite DNA markers. 2. Downsizing the cFHC strain for the use by interventional cardiologists for the study of restenosis. 3. Evaluation of immunodeficient piglets for the effectiveness in somatic gene transfer of human apolipoprotein AI recombinant gene (apoAImilano).
