Projects
Molecular mode of action of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3: from chromatin to protein. KU Leuven
Relation between residual beta cell function and glycemic variability in (pre)type 1 diabetes. KU Leuven
Role of CD36 in adipogenesis and adipose tissue development. KU Leuven
Relation between residual beta cell function and glycemic variability in (pre)type 1 diabetes. University of Antwerp
Characterization of the regulated secretory pathway in neurons of a mouse model for autism. KU Leuven
Autism is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder. It belongs to a group of pervasive developmental disorders with a prevalence of 0,7%. Autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed purely on clinical grounds by impairment in social interactions and communication and repetitive, stereotyped patterns of behaviour and interests. Twin and family studies indicate a strong genetic contribution to the aetiology of autism, although environmental causes are ...
The vitamin D system in autoimmune diabetes: unraveling the basis for protection. KU Leuven
Evidence for a role of vitamin D and its metabolites in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes (T1D) is accumulating. My promoter, Prof. C. Mathieu, has shown that high doses of active vitamin D, 1,25- dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3), prevent T1D in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, a mouse model for human T1D. In order to come to an effective prevention or treatment for T1D, it is of paramount importance to unravel the molecular pathways ...
Study of androgen effects on skeletal muscle by inactivating the androgen receptor in muscle-progenitor cells. KU Leuven
Androgens are steroid hormones which are, in men, secreted predominantly by the testes. The major gonadal androgen is testosterone (T). In peripheral tissues, T can be converted by 5α-reductase enzymes into the more potent androgen 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which, like T, activates the androgen receptor (AR). In addition, the aromatase enzyme complex can convert T into 17β-estradiol (E2), which activates the estrogen receptors α and β ...
The role of the gastrointestinal tract in the generation of hunger peaks. KU Leuven
The vagus nerve as modulator of intestinal immune homeostasis. KU Leuven
The gastrointestinal (GI) tract constitutes the largest mucosal surface that is continually exposed to a wide range of antigens and potential immune stimuli including various dietary antigens and commensal bacteria. For this reason, the intestinal mucosal tissue contains the largest number of immune cells participating to an elaborate network of cells and effector molecules to defend the host from the external milieu. In order to maintain ...