Projects
Joint Action on Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes (JACARDI). University of Antwerp
Neutrophils: neglected as potential players in autoimmune type 1 diabetes initiation, progression, and perpetuation KU Leuven
While the role of innate immune cells such macrophages and dendritic cells in the initiation and perpetuation of autoimmune type 1 diabetes (T1D) have been well documented, the particular actions of neutrophils remain unfairly overlooked in the etiology of this chronic disease. As neutrophils can influence cells of the innate and adaptive immune system, a better characterization of the neutrophil population during disease development is ...
Preventing pulmonary arterial hypertension in patients with type 2 diabetes with exercise training Hasselt University
Smart diabetes assistent Karel De Grote Hogeschool
The Belgian Diabetes in pregnancy follow-up study KU Leuven
Gestational diabetes (GDM) is a form of diabetes that develops during pregnancy. GDM is associated with increased risks for pregnancy complications such as big baby’s and preterm birth. Women with a history of GDM have a high risk to develop a type 2 diabetes (T2DM) within the next ten years after delivery. The children are also at increased risk of developing obesity and T2DM later in life. Studies are needed to find more accurate predictors ...
Glucose-induced cell signaling in pancreatic ß cells during pregnancy: mechanisms of adaptation and implication for gestational diabetes KU Leuven
Glucose homeostasis in the body is determined by insulin secretion by pancreatic ß cells and glucose uptake in response to insulin. Pregnancy is a profound challenge for glucose homeostasis of the female body. Though a large amount of data indicates that pregnancy hormones change properties and gene expression of insulin secreting pancreatic ß cells, hardly any data describes the adaptations in glucose induced cell signalling in the ß cell ...
Single cell RNA and small non-coding RNA sequencing to identify biomarkers for pathogenesis and therapy response in type 1 diabetes. KU Leuven
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease resulting from T-cell mediated destruction of the pancreatic beta-cells causing blood glucose dysregulation. We devised a unique method for tolerance restoration in autoimmune diabetic mice using gut delivery of bacteria genetically altered to secrete proinsulin along with the immunoregulatory cytokine IL10. To facilitate clinical translation, profound insights in the mode of action and the ...
Assessing the relevance of a target organ specific microRNA signature in type 1 diabetes KU Leuven
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that results from T cell-mediated destruction due to a breach in immune tolerance toward the insulin-producing β-cells, leading to an absolute insulin deficiency. T1D clinical presentation does not occur until 80–90% of the β-cells have been destroyed, and there is a marked gap between the onset of autoimmunity and the onset of disease. Therefore, new biomarkers are urgently needed in order to ...
The role of the post-translational modification citrullination in type 1 diabetes KU Leuven
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system destroys insulin-producing pancreatic beta-cells, leading to a lack of insulin. Recently, we and others provided evidence that citrullination plays a role in T1D by identifying citrullinated glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and glutamic acid decarboxylase 65kDa (GAD65) as autoantigens in murine and human T1D, respectively. Citrullination is a post-translational ...