Patrik Schelemei - CMMC Junior Faculty Member - honored with Abstract Award of the Segnitz-Ackermann Foundation

Patrik Schelemei, a medical doctoral candidate in the Experimental Cardiology Research Group of Prof Dr Holger Winkels at the Heart Center of the University Hospital of Cologne, has received the Segnitz-Ackermann Foundation´s Award at the opening ceremony of the German Cardiac Societies’Heart Conference at the end of September. The Segnitz-Ackermann Prize is awarded for the best abstract submission to the Basic Science Meeting at the conference and is chosen by a board of trustees. The prize is sponsored by the German Heart Foundation and is endowed with 3000 euros. 

The Segnitz-Ackermann Foundation´s Award is financed from the proceeds of an endowment fund established by Marie-Luise Segnitz in 2002 under the umbrella of the German Heart Foundation to promote research into the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Patrik Schelemei was awarded in recognition for his outstanding research on how olfactory receptor 2 drives abdominal aortic aneurysm by promoting CX3CR1-mediated monocyte recruitment based on the abstract Olfactory receptor 2 drives abdominal aortic aneurysm by promoting CX3CR1-mediated monocyte recruitment (Patrik Schelemei, F. S. R. Picard, H. Nemade, D. Mehrkens, Y. Park, S. Grimm, K. Tinaz, M. Orecchioni, J. Roy, M. L. Liljeqvist, M. Wagenhäuser, H. Schelzig, S. Baldus, M. Mollenhauer, H. Winkels - Köln, Düsseldorf; Augusta, US; Solna, SE).

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a chronic disease characterized by pathological enlargement of the aorta, driven by processes such as smooth muscle cell loss, fibrosis and inflammation. Macrophages play a crucial role in the progression of AAA, although the mechanisms involved remain poorly understood. This study identifies the olfactory receptor 2 (Olfr2), or its human equivalent OR6A2, as a key factor in macrophage-mediated inflammation and AAA development. While traditionally associated with mediating the sense of smell, Olfr2 is shown to have a novel role in vascular disease.

This award-winning study shows that OR6A2 expression was significantly increased in human AAA tissue and  localized to macrophages in the aortic aneurysm wall of humans and mice .

From a mechanistic perspective, Olfr2 on macrophages plays a crucial role in the inflammatory response within the vascular wall and increased migration of monocytes, the precursor cells of vascular macrophages, from the circulation into the developing AAA.

Pharmacological modulation of Olfr2 further confirms its role in AAA progression. Genetic Olfr2 deficiency or blockade of Olfr2 with an antagonist reduced aortic inflammation and macrophage content.

This study highlights a novel mechanism by which Olfr2 drives the progression of AAA by facilitating macrophage recruitment and inflammation. The findings reveal significant therapeutic potential, as targeting Olfr2 with specific antagonists could serve as a promising approach to mitigate AAA development. 

Beyond its implications for AAA, this study broadens the understanding of nontraditional roles for sensory receptors like Olfr2 in chronic inflammatory diseases, paving the way for innovative research and therapeutic strategies.

Prof. Holger Winkels, Patrik Schelemei´s mentor, recieves support as Principal Investigator from the Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC) of the University of Cologne for his research on Olfr2-mediated macrophage activation in the context of obesity.


This news is based on a news by press and communications team of the University Hospital Cologne and has been modified by the CMMC. 
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