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Malin Levin
Professor
Institute of MedicineAbout Malin Levin
Malin Levin is an Associate Professor with an overall research interest in lipid accumulation and storage in the heart. In specifics, her group is interested in elucidating the function of lipid droplet-associated proteins in the heart and their relevance for intracellular lipid accumulation, mitochondrial function and impact on outcome of myocardial ischemia.
Main research
Pathological conditions, e.g. obesity, diabetes and myocardial ischemia, are associated with increased lipid accumulation in the heart. Elevated levels of myocardial lipids are associated with cellular and tissue dysfunction, and are believed to contribute to reduced heart function. Intracellular lipids are stored in lipid droplets, with a core of neutral lipids and a complex surface containing membrane lipids and associated proteins. Lipid droplet-associated proteins contribute to the regulation of lipid droplet size and stability and mediate coupling between lipid droplets and mitochondria. Stable lipid droplet storage and efficient coupling to mitochondria most likely protect the cell from toxic lipid metabolites causing cellular dysfunction.
Our lab studies the myocardial metabolic derangements in the ischemic heart and we aim to identify key regulators of importance for improving heart function after a myocardial infarction. We use human myocardial biopsies to investigate if chronic ischemia in the human heart is associated with increased lipid accumulation and alterations in expression of genes linked to lipid metabolism and other pathways implicated in cellular dysfunction.
Through our screens on human tissue material, we have the opportunity to identify new molecular regulators, and seek targeting strategies to suppress or activate their function using genetically engineered mice to elucidate how these molecules may affect cardiac function and outcome after ischemia in the heart.
Group members
- Linda Andersson, PhD
- Ismena Mardani, PhD student
- Azra Miljanovic, research associate
- Mathieu Cinato, postdoc
Key Publications
- Mardani I, Tomas Dalen K, Drevinge C, Miljanovic A, Ståhlman M, Klevstig M, Scharin Täng M, Fogelstrand P, Levin M, Ekstrand M, Nair S, Redfors B, Omerovic E, Andersson L, Kimmel AR, Borén J, Levin MC. Plin2-deficiency reduces lipophagy and results in increased lipid accumulation in the heart. Sci Rep. 2019 May 6;9(1):6909. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-43335-y.
- Andersson L, Drevinge C, Mardani I, Dalen KT, Ståhlman M, Klevstig M, Lundqvist A, Haugen F, Adiels M, Fogelstrand P, Asin-Cayuela J, Hultén LM, Levin M, Ehrenborg E, Lee YK, Kimmel AR, Borén J, Levin MC. Deficiency in perilipin 5 reduces mitochondrial function and membrane depolarization in mouse hearts. Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2017 Oct;91(Pt A):9-13.
- Drevinge C, Dalen KT, Nastase Mannila M, Scharin Täng M, Ståhlman M, Klevstig M, Lundqvist A, Wramstedt A, Haugen F, Fogelstrand P, Adiels M, Asin-Cayuela J, Ekestam C, Gådin JR, Lee YK, Nebb H, Svedlund S, Romeo S, Redfors B, Omerovic E, Levin M, Valen G, Gan LM, Eriksson P, Andersson L, Ehrenborg E, Kimmel A, Borén J, Levin MC. Perilipin 5 Is Protective in the Ischemic Heart. Int J Cardiol. 15;219:446-54 (2016).
- Klevstig M, Ståhlman M, Lundqvist A, Scharin Täng M, Fogelstrand P, Adiels M, Andersson L, Kolesnick R, Jeppsson A, Borén J, Levin MC. Targeting acid sphingomyelinase reduces cardiac ceramide accumulation in the post-ischemic heart. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 28;93:69-72 (2016).
- Andersson L, Scharin Täng M, Lundqvist A, Lindbom M, Mardani I, Fogelstrand P, Shahrouki P, Redfors B, Omerovic E, Levin M, Borén J, Levin MC. Rip2 modifies VEGF-induced signalling and vascular permeability in myocardial ischaemia. Cardiovasc Res. 1;107(4):478-86 (2015).
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Role of Perilipins in Oxidative Stress-Implications for Cardiovascular
Disease
Mathieu Cinato, Linda Andersson, Azra Miljanovic, Marion Laudette, Oksana Kunduzova, Jan Borén, Malin Levin
ANTIOXIDANTS - 2024 -
Alpha 7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Agonist PHA 568487 Reduces Acute Inflammation but Does Not Affect Cardiac Function or Myocardial Infarct Size in the Permanent Occlusion
Model
Filip Mjörnstedt, Azra Miljanovic, Rebecka Wilhelmsson, Malin Levin, Maria E I Johansson
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES - 2024 -
Cardiomyocytes, sphingolipids and cardio
myotoxicity
Malin Levin, Linda Andersson, Jan Borén
Current Opinion in Lipidology - 2023 -
Cardiomyocyte-specific PCSK9 deficiency compromises mitochondrial bioenergetics and heart
function.
Marion Laudette, Malin Lindbom, Muhammad Arif, Mathieu Cinato, Mario Ruiz, Stephen Doran, Azra Miljanovic, Mikael Rutberg, Linda Andersson, Martina Klevstig, Marcus Henricsson, Per-Olof Bergh, Entela Bollano, Nay Aung, J. Gustav Smith, Marc Pilon, Tuulia Hyötyläinen, Matej Orešič, Rosie Perkins, Adil Mardinoglu, Malin Levin, Jan Borén
Cardiovascular research - 2023 -
Cardiac Plin5 interacts with SERCA2 and promotes calcium handling and cardiomyocyte
contractility
Mathieu Cinato, Ismena Mardani, Azra Miljanovic, Christina Drevinge, Marion Laudette, Entela Bollano, Marcus Henricsson, Johan Tolö, Marco Bauzá-Thorbrügge, Max Levin, Malin Lindbom, M. Arif, P. Pacher, Linda Andersson, Charlotta S Olofsson, Jan Borén, Malin Levin
Life Science Alliance - 2023 -
The red blood cell as a mediator of endothelial dysfunction in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia and
dyslipidemia
A. Mahdi, T. Wodaje, O. Kovamees, J. Tengbom, A. Zhao, T. Jiao, Marcus Henricsson, J. N. Yang, Z. C. Zhou, A. I. Nieminen, Malin Levin, A. Collado, J. Brinck, J. Pernow
Journal of Internal Medicine - 2023 -
Castration of Male Mice Induces Metabolic Remodeling of the
Heart
Elin Svedlund Eriksson, Inger Johansson, Anna K. F. Mårtensson, Marta Lantero Rodriguez, M. Schilperoort, J. Kroon, S. Kooijman, Elmir Omerovic, Linda Andersson, Malin Levin, P. C. N. Rensen, Åsa Tivesten
Journal of the Endocrine Society - 2022 -
pH-Dependent Protonation of Histidine Residues Is Critical for Electrostatic Binding of Low-Density Lipoproteins to Human Coronary
Arteries
Lars Glise, Mikael Rutberg, Liliana Håversen, Malin Levin, Max Levin, Anders Jeppsson, Jan Borén, Per Fogelstrand
Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology - 2022 -
Glucosylceramide synthase deficiency in the heart compromises β1-adrenergic receptor
trafficking.
Linda Andersson, Mathieu Cinato, Ismena Mardani, Azra Miljanovic, Arif Mohammed, Ara Koh, Malin Lindbom, Marion Laudette, Entela Bollano, Elmir Omerovic, Martina Klevstig, Marcus Henricsson, Per Fogelstrand, Karl Swärd, Matias Ekstrand, Max Levin, Johannes Wikström, Stephen Doran, Tuulia Hyötyläinen, Lisanna Sinisalu, Matej Oresic, Åsa Tivesten, Martin Adiels, Martin O Bergo, Richard Proia, Adil Mardinoglu, Anders Jeppsson, Jan Borén, Malin Levin
European heart journal - 2021 -
Testosterone reduces metabolic brown fat activity in male
mice
Marta Lantero Rodriguez, M. Schilperoort, Inger Johansson, Elin Svedlund Eriksson, Vilborg Palsdottir, J. Kroon, Marcus Henricsson, S. Kooijman, Mia Ericson, Jan Borén, Claes Ohlsson, John-Olov Jansson, Malin Levin, P. C. N. Rensen, Åsa Tivesten
Journal of Endocrinology - 2021 -
Intussusceptive angiogenesis in human metastatic malignant
melanoma.
Ankur Pandita, Matias Ekstrand, Sara Bjursten, Zhiyuan Zhao, Per Fogelstrand, Kristell Le Gal, Lars Ny, Martin O Bergo, Joakim Karlsson, Jonas A Nilsson, Levent Akyürek, Malin Levin, Jan Borén, Andrew J Ewald, Keith E Mostov, Max Levin
The American Journal of Pathology - 2021 -
Sacubitril/valsartan decreases mortality in the rat model of the isoprenaline-induced takotsubo-like
syndrome
Anwar Ali Gasim Elsied, Björn Redfors, Jessica Alkhoury, Jonatan Oras, Marcus Henricsson, Jan Borén, Elias Björnson, Aaron Shekka Espinosa, Malin Levin, Li-Ming Gan, Elmir Omerovic
ESC Heart Failure - 2021 -
Early rise in brain damage markers and high ICOS expression in CD4+and CD8+T cells during checkpoint inhibitor-induced
encephalomyelitis
Sara Bjursten, Ankur Pandita, Zhiyuan Zhao, C. Frojd, Lars Ny, C. Jensen, T. Ullerstam, Henrik Jespersen, Jan Borén, Malin Levin, Henrik Zetterberg, Anna Rudin, Max Levin
Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer - 2021 -
Integrative transcriptomic analysis of tissue-specific metabolic crosstalk after myocardial
infarction
M. Arif, Martina Klevstig, R. Benfeitas, S. Doran, H. Turkez, M. Uhlen, M. Clausen, J. Wikstrom, D. Etal, C. Zhang, Malin Levin, A. Mardinoglu, Jan Borén
Elife - 2021 -
Multimodal MALDI Imaging Mass Spectrometry Reveals Spatially Correlated Lipid and Protein Changes in Mouse Heart with Acute Myocardial
Infarction
Ibrahim Kaya, Sanna Sämfors, Malin Levin, Jan Borén, John S. Fletcher
Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry - 2020 -
Lipid profiling of human diabetic myocardium reveals differences in triglyceride fatty acyl chain length and degree of
saturation.
Elias Björnson, Ylva Östlund, Marcus Ståhlman, Martin Adiels, Elmir Omerovic, Anders Jeppsson, Jan Borén, Malin Levin
International journal of cardiology - 2020 -
Suppressed Vascular Leakage and Myocardial Edema Improve Outcome From Myocardial
Infarction.
Xiujuan Li, Björn Redfors, Miguel Sáinz-Jaspeado, Shujing Shi, Pernilla Martinsson, Narendra Padhan, Margareta Scharin Täng, Jan Borén, Malin Levin, Lena Claesson-Welsh
Frontiers in physiology - 2020 -
Endothelial repair is dependent on CD11c(+) leukocytes to establish regrowing endothelial sheets with high cellular
density
Ulf Yrlid, Maricris Holm, Malin Levin, Samuel Alsén, Malin Lindbom, Lars Glise, Niklas Bergh, Jan Borén, Per Fogelstrand
Journal of Leukocyte Biology - 2019 -
Cardiac expression of the microsomal triglyceride transport protein protects the heart function during
ischemia
Martina Klevstig, M. Arif, M. Mannila, S. Svedlund, Ismena Mardani, Marcus Ståhlman, Linda Andersson, Malin Lindbom, Azra Miljanovic, A. Franco-Cereceda, P. Eriksson, Anders Jeppsson, Li-Ming Gan, Malin Levin, A. Mardinoglu, E. Ehrenborg, Jan Borén
Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology - 2019 -
Plin2-deficiency reduces lipophagy and results in increased lipid accumulation in the
heart.
Ismena Mardani, Dalen Knut Tomas, Christina Drevinge, Azra Miljanovic, Marcus Ståhlman, Martina Klevstig, Margareta Scharin Täng, Per Fogelstrand, Max Levin, Matias Ekstrand, Syam Nair, Björn Redfors, Elmir Omerovic, Linda Andersson, Kimmel Alan R, Jan Borén, Malin Levin
Scientific reports - 2019 -
Disturbed Laminar Blood Flow Causes Impaired Fibrinolysis and Endothelial Fibrin Deposition In
Vivo.
Lars Glise, Pia Larsson, Sverker Jern, Jan Borén, Malin Levin, Tor Ny, Per Fogelstrand, Niklas Bergh
Thrombosis and haemostasis - 2019 -
Vimentin deficiency in macrophages induces increased oxidative stress and vascular inflammation but attenuates atherosclerosis in
mice
Liliana Håversen, J. P. Sundelin, A. Mardinoglu, Mikael Rutberg, Marcus Ståhlman, Ulrika Wilhelmsson, Lillemor Mattsson Hultén, Milos Pekny, Per Fogelstrand, J. F. Bentzon, Malin Levin, Jan Borén
Scientific Reports - 2018 -
Glucosylceramide modifies the LPS-induced inflammatory response in macrophages and the orientation of the LPS/TLR4 complex in
silico
E. Mobarak, Liliana Håversen, M. Manna, Mikael Rutberg, Malin Levin, Rosie Perkins, T. Rog, I. Vattulainen, Jan Borén
Scientific Reports - 2018 -
Deficiency in perilipin 5 reduces mitochondrial function and membrane depolarization in mouse
hearts.
Linda Andersson, Christina Drevinge, Ismena Mardani, Knut T Dalen, Marcus Ståhlman, Martina Klevstig, Annika Lundqvist, Fred Haugen, Martin Adiels, Per Fogelstrand, Jorge Asin-Cayuela, Lillemor Mattsson Hultén, Max Levin, Ewa Ehrenborg, Yun K Lee, Alan R Kimmel, Jan Borén, Malin Levin
The international journal of biochemistry & cell biology - 2017 -
Intimal hyperplasia induced by vascular intervention causes lipoprotein retention and accelerated
atherosclerosis
Siavash Kijani, A. M. Vazquez, Malin Levin, Jan Borén, Per Fogelstrand
Physiological Reports - 2017 -
Depletion of ATP and glucose in advanced human atherosclerotic
plaques
Matias Ekstrand, Emma Widell, Anna Hammar, Levent Akyürek, Martin Johansson, Björn Fagerberg, Göran Bergström, Malin Levin, Per Fogelstrand, Jan Borén, Max Levin
PLoS One - 2017 -
Perilipin 5 is protective in the ischemic
heart
Christina Drevinge, K. T. Dalen, M. N. Mannila, Margareta Scharin Täng, Marcus Ståhlman, Martina Klevstig, Annika Lundqvist, Ismena Mardani, F. Haugen, Per Fogelstrand, Martin Adiels, Jorge Asin-Cayuela, C. Ekestam, J. R. Gadin, Y. K. Lee, H. Nebb, Sara Svedlund, Bengt R Johansson, Lillemor Mattsson Hultén, Stefano Romeo, Björn Redfors, Elmir Omerovic, Max Levin, Li-Ming Gan, P. Eriksson, Linda Andersson, E. Ehrenborg, A. R. Kimmel, Jan Borén, Malin Levin
International Journal of Cardiology - 2016 -
Targeting acid sphingomyelinase reduces cardiac ceramide accumulation in the post-ischemic
heart
Martina Klevstig, Marcus Ståhlman, Annika Lundqvist, Margareta Scharin Täng, Per Fogelstrand, Martin Adiels, Linda Andersson, R. Kolesnick, Anders Jeppsson, Jan Borén, Malin Levin
Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology - 2016 -
Increased diet-induced fatty streak formation in female mice with deficiency of liver-derived insulin-like growth
factor-I.
Johan Svensson, Klara Sjögren, Malin Levin, Jan Borén, Åsa Tivesten, Claes Ohlsson
Endocrine - 2016 -
ARAP2 promotes GLUT1-mediated basal glucose uptake through regulation of sphingolipid
metabolism
Aditi Chaudhari, Liliana Håversen, Reza Mobini, Linda Andersson, Marcus Ståhlman, Emma Lu, Mikael Rutberg, Per Fogelstrand, Kim Ekroos, Adil Mardinoglu, Malin Levin, Rosie Perkins, Jan Borén
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids - 2016 -
The androgen receptor confers protection against diet-induced atherosclerosis, obesity, and dyslipidemia in female
mice.
Johan Bourghardt Fagman, Anna S K Wilhelmson, Benedetta Maria Motta, Carlo Pirazzi, Camilla Alexanderson, Karel De Gendt, Guido Verhoeven, Agneta Holmäng, Fredrik Anesten, John-Olov Jansson, Malin Levin, Jan Borén, Claes Ohlsson, Alexandra Krettek, Stefano Romeo, Åsa Tivesten
FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology - 2015 -
Rip2 modifies VEGF-induced signalling and vascular permeability in myocardial
ischemia
Linda Andersson, Margareta Scharin Täng, Annika Lundqvist, Malin Lindbom, Ismena Mardani, Per Fogelstrand, Puja Shahrouki, Björn Redfors, Elmir Omerovic, Max Levin, Jan Borén, Malin Levin
Cardiovascular Research - 2015 -
Filter-Dense Multicolor
Microscopy
Siavash Kijani, Ulf Yrlid, Maria Heyden, Malin Levin, Jan Borén, Per Fogelstrand
Plos One - 2015 -
Innate immune receptor NOD2 promotes vascular inflammation and formation of lipid-rich necrotic cores in hypercholesterolemic
mice
Maria E Johansson, X. Y. Zhang, K. Edfeldt, A. M. Lundberg, Malin Levin, Jan Borén, W. Li, X. M. Yuan, L. Folkersen, P. Eriksson, U. Hedin, H. Low, D. Sviridov, F. J. Rios, G. K. Hansson, Z. Q. Yan
European Journal of Immunology - 2014 -
PNPLA3 has retinyl-palmitate lipase activity in human hepatic stellate
cells
Carlo Pirazzi, L. Valenti, Benedetta Maria Motta, Piero Pingitore, Kristina Hedfalk, Rosellina Margherita Mancina, Maria Antonella Burza, C. Indiveri, Y. Ferro, T. Montalcini, Cristina Maglio, P. Dongiovanni, S. Fargion, R. Rametta, A. Pujia, Linda Andersson, Saswati Ghosal, Malin Levin, Olov Wiklund, M. Iacovino, Jan Borén, Stefano Romeo
Human Molecular Genetics - 2014 -
Adiponectin receptor 2 deficiency results in reduced atherosclerosis in the brachiocephalic artery in apolipoprotein e deficient
mice.
Anna Lindgren, Malin Levin, Sandra Rodrigo Blomqvist, Johannes Wikström, Andrea Ahnmark, Christina Mogensen, Gerhard Böttcher, Mohammad Bohlooly-Y, Jan Borén, Li-Ming Gan, Daniel Lindén
PloS one - 2013 -
Cholesteryl Esters Accumulate in the Heart in a Porcine Model of Ischemia and
Reperfusion
Christina Drevinge, Lars O Karlsson, Marcus Ståhlman, Thomas Larsson, Jeanna Perman Sundelin, Lars Grip, Linda Andersson, Jan Borén, Malin Levin
Plos One - 2013 -
Ectopic lipid storage and insulin resistance: a harmful
relationship
Jan Borén, M. R. Taskinen, Sven-Olof Olofsson, Malin Levin
Journal of Internal Medicine - 2013 -
ARF6 Regulates Neuron Differentiation through Glucosylceramide
Synthase
Lu Li, Marcus Ståhlman, Mikael Rutberg, Liliana Håversen, Per Fogelstrand, Linda Andersson, Malin Levin, Jan Borén
Plos One - 2013 -
Patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3 (PNPLA3) I148M (rs738409) affects hepatic VLDL secretion in humans and in
vitro
Carlo Pirazzi, Martin Adiels, Maria Antonella Burza, Rosellina Margherita Mancina, Malin Levin, Marcus Ståhlman, M. R. Taskinen, M. Orho-Melander, Jeanna Perman, A. Pujia, Linda Andersson, Cristina Maglio, T. Montalcini, Olov Wiklund, Jan Borén, Stefano Romeo
Journal of Hepatology - 2012 -
Evaluation of macrophage-specific promoters using lentiviral delivery in
mice.
Malin Levin, Ulf Lidberg, Pernilla Jirholt, Martin Adiels, Anna Wramstedt, K Gustafsson, D R Greaves, S Li, S Fazio, M F Linton, Sven-Olof Olofsson, Jan Borén, Inger Gjertsson
Gene therapy - 2012 -
The Importance of GLUT3 for De Novo Lipogenesis in Hypoxia-Induced Lipid Loading of Human
Macrophages
Lu Li, Bo Liu, Liliana Håversen, Emma Lu, Lisa U. Magnusson, Marcus Ståhlman, Jan Borén, Göran Bergström, Malin Levin, Lillemor Mattsson Hultén
Plos One - 2012 -
Rip2 deficiency leads to increased atherosclerosis despite decreased
inflammation.
Malin Levin, Pernilla Jirholt, Anna Wramstedt, Maria E Johansson, Anna M Lundberg, Maria Gustafsson Trajkovska, Marcus Ståhlman, Per Fogelstrand, Mikael Brisslert, Linda Fogelstrand, Zhong-Qun Yan, Göran K Hansson, Harry Björkbacka, Sven-Olof Olofsson, Jan Borén
Circulation research - 2011 -
ApoCIII-Enriched LDL in Type 2 Diabetes Displays Altered Lipid Composition, Increased Susceptibility for Sphingomyelinase and Increased binding to
Biglycan.
A Hiukka, Marcus Ståhlman, Camilla Pettersson, Malin Levin, Martin Adiels, Susann Teneberg, ES Leinonen, Lillemor Mattsson Hultén, Olov Wiklund, M Oresic, Sven-Olof Olofsson, MR Taskinen, K Ekroos, Jan Borén
Diabetes - 2009 -
ApoCIII-enriched LDL in type 2 diabetes displays altered lipid composition and increased susceptibility for
sphingomyelinase
Anne Hiukka, Marcus Ståhlman, Camilla Pettersson, Malin Levin, Martin Adiels, Susann Teneberg, Olov Wiklund, Matej Oresic, Sven-Olof Olofsson, Marja-Riitta Taskinen, Kim Ekroos, Jan Borén
CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS OF LIPIDS - 2008 -
Triglyceride containing lipid droplets and lipid droplet-associated
proteins.
Sven-Olof Olofsson, Pontus Boström, Linda Andersson, Mikael Rutberg, Malin Levin, Jeanna Perman, Jan Borén
Current opinion in lipidology - 2008 -
Retention of Low-Density Lipoprotein in Atherosclerotic Lesions of the Mouse. Evidence for a Role of Lipoprotein
Lipase
Maria Gustafsson, Malin Levin, Kristina Skålen, Jeanna Perman, Vincent Fridén, Pernilla Jirholt, Sven-Olof Olofsson, S. Fazio, M. F. Linton, C. F. Semenkovich, G. Olivecrona, Jan Borén
Circ Res - 2007 -
Ser49Gly of beta1-adrenergic receptor is associated with effective beta-blocker dose in dilated
cardiomyopathy.
Yvonne Magnusson, Malin Levin, Robert Eggertsen, Ernst Nyström, Reza Mobini, Maria Schaufelberger, Bert Andersson
Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics - 2005 -
ß-Adrenergic receptor gene polymorphism in dilated cardiomyopathy. Clinical and functional
relevance
Malin Levin
2002 -
The myocardium-protective Gly-49 variant of the beta 1-adrenergic receptor exhibits constitutive activity and increased desensitization and
down-regulation.
Malin Levin, Stefano Marullo, Olivier Muntaner, Bert Andersson, Yvonne Magnusson
The Journal of biological chemistry - 2002 -
A novel polymorphism in the gene coding for the beta(1)-adrenergic receptor associated with survival in patients with heart
failure.
Malin Levin, Yvonne Magnusson, Åke Hjalmarson, Bert Andersson
European heart journal - 2000