Projects
Investigating the interplay between VWF, platelets, and neutrophil extracellular traps inpathologies involving thrombosis of the microvasculature KU Leuven
Thrombosis is a complex process involving activation of endothelial cells, and their release of Weibel-Palade body contents such as von Willebrand factor (VWF) and P-selectin. This in turn recruits platelets which form aggregates, and leukocytes such as neutrophils. The recent discovery of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) described a novel antimicrobial function of neutrophils. NETs are extracellular chromatin strands containing ...
Blood platelet and endothelial Protease-Activated Receptor-1 in hemostasis and thrombosis. KU Leuven
Pin'ning down endothelial dysfunction and thrombosis in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension KU Leuven
Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a rare complication of pulmonary embolism (PE), characterized by fibro-thrombotic material obliterating large pulmonary arteries. The incidence of CTEPH after PE is about 3%, with patients presenting at advanced stages with compromised haemodynamic profile and limited exercise capacity. Treatment is complex, involving surgery, angioplasty and drugs. There is an urgent need to i) ...
Pin'ning down Endothelial dysfunction and Thrombosis in Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension KU Leuven
Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a rare complication of pulmonary embolism (PE), characterized by fibro-thrombotic material obliterating large pulmonary arteries. The incidence of CTEPH after PE is about 3%, with patients presenting at advanced stages with compromised haemodynamic profile and limited exercise capacity. Treatment is complex, involving surgery, angioplasty and drugs. There is an urgent need to i) ...
Thrombosis in COVID-19:dysregulation of the tromboinflammatory VWF/ADAMTS13 axis? KU Leuven
Despite COVID-19 principally being a respiratory disease, there is an increasing amount of concern about the hypercoagulability and prothrombotic state of COVID-19 patients, especially in those who are critically ill. The infection initiates a potent inflammatory response that can stimulate thrombosis. Von Willebrand factor (VWF) is a large multimeric protein that is involved in both inflammatory and thrombotic processes. We hypothesize that ...
The function of LRRC32 in thrombosis, haemostasis and regulatory T cell homeostasis KU Leuven
Defects in blood platelet receptors often give rise to severe pathologies such as myocardial infarction or bleeding disorders. Therefore, significant efforts are put in the identification of new platelet receptors, with the Leucine Rich Repeat-Containing protein 32 (LRRC32) recently emerging. Next, the function of these receptors has in platelet physiology and thrombosis to be identified and their potential as predictive marker and as target ...
Fibrosis, inflammation and thrombosis in Fontan failure: the Fontan INFINETx study. KU Leuven
The INFINETx study is an international, multicenter study involving UZ KU Leuven and UCL in Belgium, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Paris in France, and Newcastle Upon Tyne, Newcastle in the UK. It consists of translational research in patients born with a single ventricle palliated with a Fontan circulation. The approach will be multiscale, from lab research in collaboration with Prof. Kim Martinod to unravel pathways causing ...
Mechanical Circulatory Support in critically ill cardiogenic shock patients: a complex process of Thrombosis and Hemostasis. KU Leuven
The success of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) has greatly
increased due to improved oxygenators, better design of the heart
pumps and certainly due to better medical management.
Nevertheless mortality of patients undergoing MCS remains high
(50%) and complications are frequent. Paradoxically, the most
common complications are both (life-threatening) bleeding (40-50%)
ánd thrombosis as recently confirmed in ...
Investigating the interplay between von Willebrand factor, platelets, and neutrophil extracellular traps in pathologies involving thrombosis of the microvasculature KU Leuven
White blood cells are essential for fighting infection using specific killing mechanisms. However, when these processes get activated in the absence of infection, this can cause disease. Similarly, von Willebrand factor (VWF), which serves as a sort of glue during blood clotting by sticking platelets (small blood cells) to damaged blood vessels, can also lead to disease when it gets released without injury. One of the ways that white blood ...