Major contributions of Alain Tedgui in physiology, biology and vascular medicine:
1. Highlighting of the role of NO and MMPs in the remodelling of vessels in response to a rise in blood flow.
2. Demonstration of the presence of procoagulant apoptotic microparticles in the lipid core of the plaques and in the circulating blood of coronary patients, and elucidation of the role of endothelial cell apoptosis in plaque erosion.
3. Identification of IL-18 as a pro-atherogenic cytokine.
4. Demonstration of the anti-atherogenic activities of the anti-inflammatory cytokines, IL-10 and TGFbeta, and use of regulatory T cells producing large quantities of IL-10 as an innovative strategy of cell therapy to limit atherosclerosis
5. Identification of naturally arising regulatory CD4+CD25+ T cells as potent inhibitors of atherosclerosis, a new target for the modulation of atherosclerosis and the development of vaccination against atherosclerosis.