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Klaus Ley Lab

 

Who We Are

The Ley lab studies atherosclerosis, the pathomechanism underlying most cardiovascular disease. We focus on the adaptive immune system. We work on the autoimmune aspect of atherosclerosis, mainly on the CD4 and CD8 T cell responses.


Dr. Klaus Ley

 

 

Klaus Ley, M.D.

Founding Co-Director, Immunology Center of Georgia (IMMCG)
Georgia Research Alliance Bradley Turner Eminent Scholar in Immunology
Professor, Department of Physiology
Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University

 

 

What We Study

The lab uses human samples from patients with the disease we study: cardiovascular disease including coronary artery disease. Major methods we use:

  • Human blood leukocytes: single cell RNA sequencing with surface phenotype by CITE-Seq
  • Spectral flow cytometry
  • Bioinformatics: noise reduction methods, gene signatures
  • T cell receptor sequencing
  • Epitope identification
  • Cell type discovery
  • Lineage tracker mice
  • Reporter mice
  • Knockout and knockin mice
  • Intravital microscopy

Contact Us

Immunology Center of Georgia (IMMCG)

 Health Sciences Campus

Georgia Cancer Center - M. Bert Storey Research Building

1410 Laney Walker Blvd, CN2119

kley@augusta.edu

706-446-0296

Research Team

photo of Anusha Bellapu

Anusha Bellapu

  • Bioinformatician 2

India flag

 India

photo of Michael Nakama, MS

Michael Nakama, MS

  • Research Manager

United States of America flag

United States of America

photo of Pei Xiong Liew, PhD

Pei Xiong Liew, PhD

  • Senior Research Scientist

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Singapore

photo of Mikhail Fomin, MSc

Mikhail Fomin, MSc

  • Research Associate

United States of America flag

United States of America

photo of Qingkang Lyu, PhD

Qingkang Lyu, PhD

  • Postdoc

Chinese Flag

China

photo of Smriti Parashar, PhD

Smriti Parashar, PhD

  • Postdoc

India flag

 India

photo of Sunil Kumar, Ph.D.

Sunil Kumar, Ph.D.

  • Postdoc

India flag

 India

photo of Yan Wang, PhD

Yan Wang, PhD

  • Postdoc

Chinese Flag

China

photo of Megh Mehta

Megh Mehta

  • Graduate Research Assistant

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United States of America

photo of Aderonke Fakayode

Aderonke Fakayode

  • Graduate Research Assistant

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Current Research Interests

  • High-dimensional data generated by single-cell RNA sequencing
  • Integrin activation in immune cells
  • Autoimmune response to ApoB and the potential to apply this to develop a vaccine for atherosclerosis
  • Understanding a newly discovered type of olfactory receptors in macrophages and their role in atherosclerosis
  • Understanding differences in the immune response of diverse populations to atherosclerosis

 

Publication
​

Nanoscopy reveals integrin clustering reliant on kindlin-3 but not talin-1

Wu, Y., Cao, Z., Liu, W., Cahoon, J. G., Wang, K., Wang, P., Hu, L., Chen, Y., Moser, M., Vella, A. T., Ley, K., Wen, L. & Fan, Z., Dec 2025, In: Cell Communication and Signaling. 23, 1, 12.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

PD-1 and CD73 on naive CD4+ T cells synergistically limit responses to self

Nettersheim, F. S., Brunel, S., Sinkovits, R. S., Armstrong, S. S., Roy, P., Billitti, M., Kobiyama, K., Alimadadi, A., Bombin, S., Lu, L., Zoccheddu, M., Oliaeimotlagh, M., Benedict, C. A., Sette, A. & Ley, K., Jan 2025, In: Nature Immunology. 26, 1, p. 105-115 11 p., 812769.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Olfr2-positive macrophages originate from monocytes proliferate in situ and present a pro-inflammatory foamy-like phenotype

Suthahar, S. S. A., Nettersheim, F. S., Alimadadi, A., Wang, E., Billitti, M., Resto-Trujillo, N., Roy, P., Hedrick, C., Ley, K. & Orecchioni, M., Sep 1 2024, In: Cardiovascular Research. 120, 13, p. 1577-1589 13 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Editorial: Adaptive immunity in atherosclerosis

Slütter, B. & Ley, K., 2024, In: Frontiers in immunology. 15, 1440283.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › peer-review

​

Mild Hypoxia Accelerates Cerebral Cavernous Malformation Disease Through CX3CR1-CX3CL1 Signaling

Frias-Anaya, E., Gallego-Gutierrez, H., Gongol, B., Weinsheimer, S., Lai, C. C., Orecchioni, M., Sriram, A., Bui, C. M., Nelsen, B., Hale, P., Pham, A., Shenkar, R., Debiasse, D., Lightle, R., Girard, R., Li, Y., Srinath, A., Daneman, R., Nudleman, E. & Sun, H. & 8 others, Guma, M., Dubrac, A., Mesarwi, O. A., Ley, K., Kim, H., Awad, I. A., Ginsberg, M. H. & Lopez-Ramirez, M. A., Jun 1 2024, In: Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology. 44, 6, p. 1246-1264 19 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Identification of apolipoprotein B–reactive CDR3 motifs allows tracking of atherosclerosis-related memory CD4+T cells in multiple donors

Roy, P., Suthahar, S. S. A., Makings, J. & Ley, K., 2024, In: Frontiers in immunology. 15, 1302031.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Immunotherapy for atherosclerosis by targeting pro-inflammatory T cells

Khan, A. & Ley, K., Jul 2024, In: Cell Research. 34, 7, p. 467-468 2 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Dysregulated cellular metabolism in atherosclerosis: mediators and therapeutic opportunities

Stroope, C., Nettersheim, F. S., Coon, B., Finney, A. C., Schwartz, M. A., Ley, K., Rom, O. & Yurdagul, A., Apr 2024, In: Nature Metabolism. 6, 4, p. 617-638 22 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

​

Immune profiling and tracking of two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides in cells and tissues

Gazzi, A., Fusco, L., Orecchioni, M., Keshavan, S., Shin, Y., Grivel, J. C., Rinchai, D., Ahmed, E. I., Elhanani, O., Furesi, G., Rauner, M., Keren, L., Ley, K., Casiraghi, C., Bedognetti, D., Fadeel, B. & Delogu, L. G., Feb 2024, In: Nano Today. 54, 102084.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Single Cell High Dimensional Analysis of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Reveals Unique Intermediate Monocyte Subsets Associated with Sex Differences in Coronary Artery Disease

Chatterjee, N., Komaravolu, R. K., Durant, C. P., Wu, R., McSkimming, C., Drago, F., Kumar, S., Valentin-Guillama, G., Miller, Y. I., McNamara, C. A., Ley, K., Taylor, A., Alimadadi, A. & Hedrick, C. C., Mar 2024, In: International journal of molecular sciences. 25, 5, 2894.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Breaking tolerance: the autoimmune aspect of atherosclerosis

Khan, A., Roy, P. & Ley, K., Sep 2024, In: Nature Reviews Immunology. 24, 9, p. 670-679 10 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Single-cell profiling of CD11c+ B cells in atherosclerosis

Pattarabanjird, T., Srikakulapu, P., Ransegnola, B., Marshall, M. A., Ghosheh, Y., Gulati, R., Durant, C., Drago, F., Taylor, A. M., Ley, K. & McNamara, C. A., 2023, In: Frontiers in immunology. 14, 1296668.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Single cell transcriptomics reveals recent CD8T cell receptor signaling in patients with coronary artery disease

Iqneibi, S., Saigusa, R., Khan, A., Oliaeimotlagh, M., Armstrong Suthahar, S. S., Kumar, S., Alimadadi, A., Durant, C. P., Ghosheh, Y., McNamara, C. A., Hedrick, C. C. & Ley, K., 2023, In: Frontiers in immunology. 14, 1239148.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Cell-autonomous regulation of complement C3 by factor H limits macrophage efferocytosis and exacerbates atherosclerosis

Kiss, M. G., Papac-Miličević, N., Porsch, F., Tsiantoulas, D., Hendrikx, T., Takaoka, M., Dinh, H. Q., Narzt, M. S., Göderle, L., Ozsvár-Kozma, M., Schuster, M., Fortelny, N., Hladik, A., Knapp, S., Gruber, F., Pickering, M. C., Bock, C., Swirski, F. K., Ley, K. & Zernecke, A. & 4 others, Cochain, C., Kemper, C., Mallat, Z. & Binder, C. J., Aug 8 2023, In: Immunity. 56, 8, p. 1809-1824.e10

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Single-cell profiling reveals inflammatory polarization of human carotid versus femoral plaque leukocytes

Slysz, J., Sinha, A., DeBerge, M., Singh, S., Avgousti, H., Lee, I., Glinton, K., Nagasaka, R., Dalal, P., Alexandria, S., Wai, C. M., Tellez, R., Vescovo, M., Sunderraj, A., Wang, X., Schipma, M., Sisk, R., Gulati, R., Vallejo, J. & Saigusa, R. & 8 others, Lloyd-Jones, D. M., Lomasney, J., Weinberg, S., Ho, K., Ley, K., Giannarelli, C., Thorp, E. B. & Feinstein, M. J., 2023, In: JCI Insight. 8, 17, e171359.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Mast cells must stick

Lyu, Q., Wang, Y. & Ley, K., Aug 2023, In: Journal of Leukocyte Biology. 114, 2, p. 109-110 2 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › peer-review

​

Author Correction: Human circulating CD24hi marginal zone B cells produce IgM targeting atherogenic antigens and confer protection from vascular disease (Nature Cardiovascular Research, (2023), 2, 11, (1003-1014), 10.1038/s44161-023-00356-1)

Pattarabanjird, T., Nguyen, A. T., McSkimming, C., Dinh, H. Q., Marshall, M. A., Ghosheh, Y., Gulati, R., Durant, C., Vallejo, J., Saigusa, R., Drago, F., Guy, T. V., Premo, K., Taylor, A. M., Paul, S., Kundu, B., Berr, S., Gonen, A., Tsimikas, S. & Miller, Y. & 4 others, Pillai, S., Ley, K., Hedrick, C. C. & McNamara, C. A., Dec 2023, In: Nature Cardiovascular Research. 2, 12, p. 1328 1 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review

​

Chemokine Receptor Activation Enhances Memory B Cell Class Switching Linked to IgE Sensitization to Alpha Gal and Cardiovascular Disease

Pattarabanjird, T., Wilson, J. M., Erickson, L. D., Workman, L. J., Qiao, H., Ghosheh, Y., Gulati, R., Durant, C., Vallejo, J., Saigusa, R., Platts-Mills, T. A. E., Taylor, A. M., Ley, K. & McNamara, C. A., 2021, In: Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine. 8, 791028.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Autoimmune Regulator (AIRE) Deficiency Does Not Affect Atherosclerosis and CD4 T Cell Immune Tolerance to Apolipoprotein B

Nettersheim, F. S., Braumann, S., Kobiyama, K., Orecchioni, M., Vassallo, M., Miller, J., Ali, A., Roy, P., Saigusa, R., Wolf, D., Ley, K. & Winkels, H., 2021, In: Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine. 8, 812769.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Human circulating CD24hi marginal zone B cells produce IgM targeting atherogenic antigens and confer protection from vascular disease

Pattarabanjird, T., Nguyen, A. T., McSkimming, C., Dinh, H. Q., Marshall, M. A., Ghosheh, Y., Gulati, R., Durant, C., Vallejo, J., Saigusa, R., Drago, F., Guy, T. V., Premo, K., Taylor, A. M., Paul, S., Kundu, B., Berr, S., Gonen, A., Tsimikas, S. & Miller, Y. & 4 others, Pillai, S., Ley, K., Hedrick, C. C. & McNamara, C. A., Nov 2023, In: Nature Cardiovascular Research. 2, 11, p. 1003-1014 12 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Identification of human exTreg cells as CD16+CD56+ cytotoxic CD4+ T cells

Freuchet, A., Roy, P., Armstrong, S. S., Oliaeimotlagh, M., Kumar, S., Orecchioni, M., Ali, A. J., Khan, A., Makings, J., Lyu, Q., Winkels, H., Wang, E., Durant, C., Ghosheh, Y., Gulati, R., Nettersheim, F. & Ley, K., Oct 2023, In: Nature Immunology. 24, 10, p. 1748-1761 14 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Single cell transcriptomics and TCR reconstruction reveal CD4 T cell response to MHC-II-restricted APOB epitope in human cardiovascular disease

Saigusa, R., Roy, P., Freuchet, A., Gulati, R., Ghosheh, Y., Armstrong Suthahar, S. S., Durant, C. P., Hanna, D. B., Kiosses, W. B., Orecchioni, M., Wen, L., Wu, R., Kuniholm, M. H., Landay, A. L., Anastos, K., Tien, P. C., Gange, S. J., Kassaye, S., Vallejo, J. & Hedrick, C. C. & 5 others, Kwok, W. W., Sette, A., Hodis, H. N., Kaplan, R. C. & Ley, K., May 2022, In: Nature Cardiovascular Research. 1, 5, p. 462-475 14 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Pairing of single-cell RNA analysis and T cell antigen receptor profiling indicates breakdown of T cell tolerance checkpoints in atherosclerosis

Wang, Z., Zhang, X., Lu, S., Zhang, C., Ma, Z., Su, R., Li, Y., Sun, T., Li, Y., Hong, M., Deng, X., Rafiee Monjezi, M., Hristov, M., Steffens, S., Santovito, D., Dornmair, K., Ley, K., Weber, C., Mohanta, S. K. & Habenicht, A. J. R. & 1 others, Yin, C., Mar 2023, In: Nature Cardiovascular Research. 2, 3, p. 290-306 17 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Integrated single-cell analysis-based classification of vascular mononuclear phagocytes in mouse and human atherosclerosis

Zernecke, A., Erhard, F., Weinberger, T., Schulz, C., Ley, K., Saliba, A. E. & Cochain, C., Jun 1 2023, In: Cardiovascular Research. 119, 8, p. 1676-1689 14 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

V4C3 MXene Immune Profiling and Modulation of T Cell-Dendritic Cell Function and Interaction

Fusco, L., Gazzi, A., Shuck, C. E., Orecchioni, M., Ahmed, E. I., Giro, L., Zavan, B., Yilmazer, A., Ley, K., Bedognetti, D., Gogotsi, Y. & Delogu, L. G., Aug 18 2023, In: Small Methods. 7, 8, 2300197.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

HIV infection and cardiovascular disease have both shared and distinct monocyte gene expression features: Women’s Interagency HIV study

Lin, J., Ehinger, E., Hanna, D. B., Qi, Q., Wang, T., Ghosheh, Y., Mueller, K., Anastos, K., Lazar, J. M., Mack, W. J., Tien, P. C., Berman, J. W., Cohen, M. H., Ofotokun, I., Gange, S., Liu, C., Heath, S. L., Tracy, R. P., Hodis, H. N. & Landay, A. L. & 2 others, Ley, K. & Kaplan, R. C., May 2023, In: PloS one. 18, 5 May, e0285926.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

How Lymphatic Endothelial Cells Destabilize Regulatory T Cells

Lyu, Q. & Ley, K., Feb 1 2023, In: Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology. 43, 2, p. 215-217 3 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › peer-review

​

Single-cell transcriptomes and T cell receptors of vaccine-expanded apolipoprotein B-specific T cells

Nettersheim, F. S., Ghosheh, Y., Winkels, H., Kobiyama, K., Durant, C., Armstrong, S. S., Brunel, S., Roy, P., Dileepan, T., Jenkins, M. K., Zajonc, D. M. & Ley, K., Jan 5 2023, In: Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine. 9, 1076808.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Kindlin2 enables EphB/ephrinB bi-directional signaling to support vascular development

Li, W., Wen, L., Rathod, B., Gingras, A. C., Ley, K. & Lee, H. S., Mar 1 2023, In: Life Science Alliance. 6, 3

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Deleting interleukin-10 from myeloid cells exacerbates atherosclerosis in Apoe −/− mice

Orecchioni, M., Wolf, D., Suryawanshi, V., Winkels, H., Kobiyama, K., Makings, J., Kiosses, W. B. & Ley, K., Jan 2023, In: Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. 80, 1, 10.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

View All Publications.

 

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