Projects
Local and systemic immune interactions in malignant gliomas KU Leuven
Glioblastoma (GBM), the most frequent primary intrinsic brain tumor, is without any doubt one of the most devastating diseases known to mankind. GBM are currently being treated with neurosurgical resection followed by radio- and chemotherapy. However, despite this treatment, prognosis for these patients is grim with a median survival of only 15 months and less than 20% 3-year survival rates. Already at diagnosis, GBM cells are infiltrating ...
Activation of endocrine and innate immune responses by tastants in the human gut epithelium: impact of obesity KU Leuven
Activation of endocrine and innate immune responses by tastants in the human gut epithelium: impact of obesity
The expression of taste receptors similar to those in the lingual system has been demonstrated in several cell types with distinct functions in the gastrointestinal tract. In obesity, the expression of these receptors in the gut is altered, which may affect their functional response to tastants. We aimed to unravel the role of ...
Unleashing the full potential of cDC-based immunotherapies Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Neuro-immune interaction in postoperative ileus: new targets for treatment KU Leuven
ERC connect funding: CLIP-EX: Countering chronic Low-grade Inflammation by Physical Exercise: unraveling muscle–to-immune-cell communication Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Chronic inflammation is present in the elderly population, and is involved in many tissue and cellular dysfunctions with ageing, including the immune system, the skeletal muscle (sarcopenia) or more generally tissue-repair.
Counteracting this chronic inflammation will be beneficial for those age-related dysfunctions, and thus for the general well-being of the aged population.
AIMS
The CLIP-EX project aims at ...
Molecular and Cellular Basis for Beta Cell Therapy in Diabetes Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Downstream targets of the metabolic stress sensor SnRK1 - One kinase to rule them all KU Leuven
The evolutionarily conserved SnRK1 (SNF1-related kinase 1) protein kinase (the ortholog of yeast SNF1 and mammalian AMPK) is a major metabolic sensor, allowing acclimatization and energy homeostasis upon changes in energy availability, thereby ensuring plant survival. SnRK1 is activated by low energy stress and repressed by high photosynthetic sugar levels, with the allosteric inhibitor trehalose-6-P acting as a proxy for sucrose supply. To ...
MALARIA PARASITES IN COMBINATION WITH INTERFERON-Γ INDUCE GLUCOCORTICOID RESISTANCE IN PULMONARY ENDOTHELIUM KU Leuven
Due to their anti-inflammatory properties endogenous glucocorticoids (GCs) contribute to the control of the immune system. Exogenous GCs are used as anti-inflammatory therapeutics in patients suffering from a broad spectrum of inflammatory diseases. However, treatment failure due to GC resistance is frequently reported. Preliminary data show prominent GC resistance in a model of malaria-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome ...