Prof. Søren K. Moestrup, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark

Host: Sirpa Jalkanen (sirpa.jalkanen@utu.fi)

Prof. Moestrup’s group has developed a new antibody-based drug therapy targeting macrophages and with profound effect in experimental inflammation. The lecture will describe the drug development from the early molecular identification of the macrophage target (the hemoglobin-scavenger receptor CD163) to the development of drug conjugates and tests in animal models of inflammation. A special emphasis will be given on treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) that in humans is  an epidemic disease closely linked to obesity and lifestyle.

Selected publications

Kristiansen M., Graversen J., Jacobsen C., Sonne O., Hoffman H.J., Law S.K.A. & Moestrup S.K. Identification of the hemoglobin scavenger receptor.

Nature 409:198-201 (2001)

Graversen J.H., Svendsen P., Dagnæs-Hansen F., Dal J., Anton G.,  Etzerodt A., Petersen M.D.,  Christensen P.A., Møller H.J. & Moestrup S.K. (2012)Targeting the hemoglobin scavenger receptor CD163 in macrophages highly increases the anti-inflammatory potency of dexamethasone. J. Mol. Ther. 20:1550-8

Etzerodt A. & Moestrup S.K. (2013) CD163 and inflammation: Biological, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects. Antiox. Redox Signal. (review). 18: 2352-63

Svendsen, P., Graversen, J.H., Etzerodt, A., Hager, H. Grønbæk, H., Christensen, E.I., Møller, H.J., Vilstrup, H.V.A, Moestrup, S.K. (2017) Antibody-directed glucocorticoid targeting to CD163 in M2-type macrophages attenuates fructose-induced liver inflammatory changes. Mol Therapy – Meth. Clin. Dev. 4: 50-61