Projects
Perianal fistulas in Crohn’s disease: new insights on pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment. KU Leuven
Introduction Perianal fistulizing Crohn’s disease (pCD) develops in 20% and recurs in 30% of Crohn’s disease (CD) patients and typically follows a relapsing and remitting course. (1) The natural course of the disease is highly unpredictable. Most data are derived from outdated population-based studies and historical series. (2-5) After a mean duration of 10 years, 51% of patients with pCD are in stable remission, 9% have persistent drainage ...
Unravelling the molecular mechanism of animal adhesive secretions to widen the horizons for new bio-inspired materials. Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Novel and enhanced approaches of leukocyte- and platelet-rich fibrin in periodontal and implant surgery KU Leuven
Biomaterials have been introduced in oral surgery many years ago. The most accepted definition is from 1982 and is as follows: “any substance (other than a drug) or combination of substances, synthetic or natural in origin, which can be used for any period of time, as a whole or as a part of a system which treats, augments, or replaces any tissue, organ, or function of the body”. As also described in the definition, biomaterials can be of ...
Study of the role of GLUT10 in cellular metabolism and growth factor signaling underlying developmental defects. Ghent University
Growth factor signaling dramatically changes cellular behavior, and requires commensurate
alterations in cellular metabolism. Disturbed growth factor signaling is a well-known mechanism underlying heritable diseases of the connective tissue - the tissue that provides structural support and a medium for cellular communication - that present with structural anomalies of the cardiovascular system. Among those, the arterial tortuosity ...
Metabolism without GLUT4, UCP1 and leptin: mRNA expression analysis in chicken. KU Leuven
When analysing gene expression of >20 tissues in mice, we discovered the phenomenon of “disallowed” genes (financially supported by FWO - G067212N). Last year, we started analysis of evolutionary conservation of “disallowed genes” by defining a core set of mRNA encoding genes that are commonly present in the genomes of humans, chickens, lizards and coelacanth, representing 4 major classes of vertebrate life. Taking human genes as reference ...
Macrophage metabolic reprogramming as a therapeutic approach for cancer and muscular dystrophy KU Leuven
Macrophages have been implicated in the pathogenesis of cancer and chronic degenerative diseases, such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). In the last years, metabolic reprogramming of macrophages has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach to treat diseases with high macrophage infiltration, as alterations in their metabolism have been shown to reshape their immune function and phenotype. In the context of cancer, several ...
Tackling psoroptic mange susceptibility in Belgian Blue cattle by a genomic approach KU Leuven
Genomic tools, such as single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping arrays, are nowadays commonly used in animal breeding and research. As they have become widely available and affordable, these SNP arrays allow the collection of genomic information from (breeding) animals to obtain better characterizations of our local livestock breeds. This PhD research covers three aspects of the use of SNP genotyping arrays in these local breeds: the ...
The endothelium as a glucose sensor KU Leuven
Maintenance of optimal blood glucose concentration to support optimal functioning of all tissues in the human body is a vital metabolic featureof the organism. Glucose levels that are too high lead to insulin resistance (Saltiel and Kahn, 2001), whereas hypoglycemia threatens brain function and can induce loss of consciousness (Mergenthaler et al., 2013). Regulation of glycemia is dependent on the secretion of hormones, mainlyinsulin and ...
Sensing of prebiotic carbohyddrates in the gut via taste receptors: role in the control of food intake. KU Leuven
The obesity rates continue to rise worldwide and are associated with adverse health problems, including increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Excessive weight gain is often considered to be the result of excessive food intake and/or insufficient physical activity. In addition, the food landscape has shifted dramatically over the past several decades and the increased consumption of soft drinks and other sugar-sweetened beverages is considered as ...