Projects
von Willebrand factor and ADAMTS13 in mouse models of severe malaria KU Leuven
Malaria remains a devastating global health problem, leading to half a million deaths per year. More than 90% of malaria cases and deaths occur in African regions, mainly in children aged under 5 years. Cerebral malaria (CM) is the most common complication and cause of death in severe Plasmodium falciparum infection. In addition to CM, malaria-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (MA-ARDS) is also common in adult patients, ...
Specific contribution of transgene plasma and platelet von Willebrand factor in haemostasis and thrombosis: from functional studies to gene therapy. KU Leuven
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 ...
Towards novel therapeutic strategies in ischemic stroke by targeting von Willebrand factor and promoting fibrinolysis KU Leuven
Ischemic stroke is worldwide the second most common cause of death and the leading cause of permanent disability. In order to improve therapeutic and prophylactic therapy, it is imperative to understand what causes ischemic stroke and how ischemic stroke brain damage progresses. Up until recently, little was known about the thrombi that cause ischemic stroke. Moreover, experimental and clinical data have demonstrated progression of ischemic ...
Neutrophil Extracellular Traps, von Willebrand factor and Extracellular DNA as mediators of Ischemic Stroke Pathogenesis KU Leuven
Ischemic stroke, caused by an occluding thrombus which hinders cerebral blood flow, is still one of the leading causes of death and sustained disability worldwide. Nowadays, ischemic stroke management relies on the rapid removal of the occluding thrombus, thereby allowing reperfusion of the ischemic territory. Pharmacological thrombolysis or mechanical thrombectomy, which are currently the only approved strategies to recanalize the occluded ...
State-of-the art tools for non-viral gene therapy: towards long-term correction for von Willebrand disease, KU Leuven
Von Willebrand disease (VWD) is the most common inherited bleeding disorder in man. It is caused by genetic defects in von Willebrand factor (VWF), a blood protein that is crucial for normal hemostasis. VWD type 3 is the most severe form, characterized by a complete absence of VWF protein. Direct administration of VWF/FVIII containing blood products is currently the only treatment option for VWD type 3. This treatment has however only a ...
Towards long-term correction of severe von Willebrand disease via non-viral Sleeping Beauty transposon gene therapy. KU Leuven
Von Willebrand disease (VWD) is the most common inherited bleeding disorder, caused by defects in the von Willebrand factor (VWF). Under normal conditions, this factor is present in blood where it functions as a ‘glue’ that sticks blood cells (platelets) to damaged blood vessels, thereby preventing excessive blood loss. For the most severely affected patients (complete absence of VWF), there is currently only one single treatment option: ...
Endothelium-targeted gene therapy for von Willebrand disease using a hybrid adeno-transposon strategy KU Leuven
Von Willebrand disease (VWD) is the most common inherited bleeding disorder in man and is caused by defects in the von Willebrand factor (VWF). Under normal conditions, this factor is present in blood where it functions as a ‘glue’ that sticks blood cells (platelets) to damaged blood vessels, thereby preventing excessive blood loss. For the most severely affected patients (complete absence of VWF), there is currently only one single treatment ...