• The Alternative Complement Pathway Is Activated Without a Corresponding Terminal Pathway Activation in Patients With Heart Failure 

      Shahini, Negar; Bjørkelund, Elisabeth; Bendz, Christina; Massey, Richard J; Schjalm, Camilla; Halvorsen, Bente; Broch, Kaspar; Ueland, Thor; Gullestad, Lars; Nilsson, Per H.; Aukrust, Pål; Mollnes, Tom Eirik; Louwe, Maria Cornelia; Holt, Margrethe Flesvig; Michelsen, Annika E. (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2021-12-24)
      Objective: Dysregulation of the complement system has been described in patients with heart failure (HF). However, data on the alternative pathway are scarce and it is unknown if levels of factor B (FB) and the C3 convertase C3bBbP are elevated in these patients. We hypothesized that plasma levels of FB and C3bBbP would be associated with disease severity and survival in patients with ...
    • Markers of extracellular matrix remodeling and systemic inflammation in patients with heritable thoracic aortic diseases 

      Seim, Bjørn Edvard; Holt, Margrethe Flesvig; Ratajska, Aleksandra; Michelsen, Annika Elisabet; Ringseth, Monica Myklebust; Halvorsen, Bente; Skjelland, Mona; Kvitting, John-Peder; Lundblad, Runar; Krohg-Sørensen, Kirsten; Osnes, Liv T. N.; Aukrust, Pål; Paus, Benedicte; Ueland, Thor (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2022-12-20)
      Background: In approximately 20% of patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms or dissections a heritable thoracic aortic disease (HTAD) is suspected. Several monogenic connective tissue diseases imply high risk of aortic disease, including both non-syndromic and syndromic forms. There are some studies assessing inflammation and extracellular matrix remodeling in patients with non-hereditary aortic ...
    • Selective and marked decrease of complement receptor C5aR2 in human thoracic aortic aneurysms: A dysregulation with potential inflammatory effects 

      Holt, Margrethe Flesvig; Seim, Bjørn Edvard; Øgaard, Jonas; Olsen, Maria Belland; Woldbæk, Per R; Kvitting, John Peder Escobar; Aukrust, Pål; Yndestad, Arne; Mollnes, Tom Eirik; Nilsson, Per; Louwe, Maria Cornelia; Ranheim, Trine (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2019-11-10)
      <i>Objective</i> - The aetiology of thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is largely unknown, but inflammation is likely to play a central role in the pathogenesis. In this present study, we aim to investigate the complement receptors in TAA.<p> <p><i>Methods</i> - Aortic tissue and blood from 31 patients with non-syndromic TAA undergoing thoracic aortic repair surgery were collected. Aortic tissue and ...