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Biophysical Society

American Heart Association : Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology Council

American Heart Association : Council on Basic Cardiovascular Sciences

American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) : Elected Fellow

American Association of Immunologists : Member

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

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

Sex-specific and immune-cell-specific contributions of beta2 integrins in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury

Klaus Ley, MD, is the Georgia Research Alliance Bradley Turner Eminent Scholar in Immunology, co-director of the Immunology Center of Georgia, and a professor in the Department of Physiology at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University.

Ley is exploring the role our immune response plays in atherosclerosis, and his aim is to develop a vaccine and drugs that leverage human immunity to tackle the disease.

For more than two decades, Ley has applied his knowledge of immunology to understand the role that immune cells play in atherosclerosis. White blood cells swim in the blood, helping to protect the body from infection. To do their job, they must adhere to the blood vessel wall. In a chronic disease like atherosclerosis, this happens over and over again, eventually making the lumen narrower and the wall harder. So, instead of helping to solve a problem, the immune cells turn against the body — they actually hasten the atherosclerosis process.

It is this autoimmune reaction – and how to prevent it or reverse it – that Ley thinks is key in reducing the risk of atherosclerosis beyond what current drugs and lifestyle changes can achieve.

Unlike a vaccine for COVID-19 or measles, which prime the body against an external pathogen, Ley is working on what is called a “tolerogenic” vaccine for atherosclerosis. The aim of a tolerogenic vaccine is to prevent or reverse an autoimmune reaction. His team has already shown, in model systems, that a pathway exists for this vaccine to guard against atherosclerosis. They now need to identify the exact equivalent component that will have the same success in humans, who have a much more complex immune system.  

Ley believes a discovery by his team may well lead to new drug treatments for atherosclerosis in the next few years. In a 2022 paper published in Science, he describes a new class of olfactory (smell) receptors, some of which are important in atherosclerosis. They found that some of the same smell receptors in our noses are also present in immune cells inside the lining of our arteries. These immune cells, called macrophages, can use these receptors to detect the presence of a chemical called octanal that is generated when fats and cholesterol accumulate in the arteries. 

Octanal – which, incidentally, is what causes foods to smell rancid when left out in the heat – can start an inflammatory response in the macrophages. When this happens, the researchers found, atherosclerosis worsens.

T lymphocytes

Immunology

Vaccines

atherosclerosis

Integrins

Autoimmune Diseases

Klaus Ley Lab Website

Medical College of Georgia Website

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Founding Director

 As cold and flu season approaches, it’s time to take proactive steps to ensure the health and well-being of everyone. Getting a flu vaccination is be the best defense in staying healthy this time of year.

Klaus Ley, MD, founding co-director of the Immunology Center of Georgia, part of the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, emphasizes the significance of getting vaccinated against the flu.

“The flu can have serious consequences and by getting vaccinated, you protect yourself and those around you,” Ley said. “It’s a simple yet effective way to prevent the spread of this contagious virus.”   Flu vaccination is not only a responsible choice but also a crucial step in maintaining public health. The World Health Organization records about 1 billion cases of influenza each year. Severe cases often result in hospitalizations, contributing to up to 650,000 respiratory-related deaths globally. 

Worried about potential side effects from the vaccine? Ley said that’s a minor concern compared to the effects of the full-blown flu. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, life-threatening allergic reactions to flu shots are very rare. While severe reactions are uncommon, it’s important to let your health care provider know if you have a history of allergy or severe reaction to vaccines before getting a flu shot.

“Common side effects from a flu shot could include soreness or swelling at the site of the injection, headache, low-grade fever, nausea, muscle aches or fatigue. Those minor side effects are an indication your immune system is responding as it should to the vaccination. You will experience much more severe fever, aches and other symptoms if you catch the flu without being vaccinated against it,” said Ley.   Klaus Ley, MD, is the Georgia Research Alliance Bradley Turner Eminent Scholar in Immunology, founding co-director of the Immunology Center of Georgia, and a professor in the Department of Physiology at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University.

He's available to speak with media regarding flu season and vaccinations - simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.


Ask Our Expert: Why it’s important to get a flu vaccination 

Klaus Ley, M.D., and his team study inflammation in health and disease. One part of the lab focuses on the very basic mechanisms by which immune cells reach sites of inflammation. Another part focuses on atherosclerosis, the disease of arteries that causes heart attacks, strokes and other problems. Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease of the artery wall with an autoimmune component. Autoimmune means that cells of the body attack tissues of the body itself. In people without atherosclerosis, many immune cells dampen inflammation. In people with atherosclerosis, they make the disease worse. On the flipside of this, the immune system can, in principle, be modified by vaccination. Dr. Ley’s team is working on developing a vaccine against atherosclerosis. They have developed a vaccine that is effective in mice and are now aiming at translating this to a vaccine for humans. One key technology to understand the immune response in people is single cell RNA sequencing in immune cells from patients and healthy controls.

https://www.lji.org/labs/ley/

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Scientist Stories: Klaus Ley, Translating an Atherosclerosis Vaccine to Clinical Trials

Klaus Ley (La Jolla Institute for Immunology) delivers a talk at the Human Vaccines Project's 2018 conference, the Future of Vaccine Development, June 27, 2019, at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Calif.

Klaus Ley - Translating an Atherosclerosis Vaccine to Clinical Trials

Dr. Klaus Ley discusses the latest advances in his research on a vaccine for heart disease.

Klaus Ley, Ph.D. on San Diego 6 XETV

In our 2nd Cardiovascular Research Discoveries webinar, Prof. Klaus Ley (La Jolla Institute) and Dr Clément Cochain (Comprehensive Heart Failure Center Würzburg) discuss leukocyte diversity in cardiovascular disease.

Visit the following page to view past and upcoming webinars for this monthly series: https://academic.oup.com/cardiovascres/pages/webinars

Cardiovascular Research Discoveries - February 2021 (Klaus Ley and Clément Cochain)

Klaus Ley, MD, ATVB/PVD 2017 Distinguished Lecturer, talks about his research into the potential for exploiting protective autoimmunity to develop a vaccine against atherosclerosis and the importance of the American Heart Association to scientific research efforts.

Klaus Ley, Distinguished Lecturer ATVB|PVD 2017

Supporting your immune system takes a multifaceted approach involving a healthy lifestyle, balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management, quality sleep, and preventive measures like vaccinations. 

Klaus Ley, MD, founding co-director of the Immunology Center of Georgia, explains how incorporating these practices can help keep your immune system strong and resilient. 



Keys to immune system health with Klaus Ley, MD

By understanding how vaccines function and adhering to vaccination recommendations, you can contribute to the collective effort in combatting infectious diseases and protecting vulnerable populations. Vaccination is a cornerstone of preventive medicine, offering a pathway to healthier and safer communities. 

Klaus Ley, MD, founding co-director of the Immunology Center of Georgia, explores the mechanisms behind vaccines and their role in protecting against infectious diseases.  



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