Projects
Functional validation of miRNA variants related to mature miRNA expression levels. University of Antwerp
Functions of NIPP1 in keratinocyte biology and cutaneous wound repair. KU Leuven
The skin forms a protective barrier over the body. The outer skin layer or epidermis mainly consists of keratinocytes that originate from stem cells in the basal layer or the hair shaft bulge. Keratinocytes gradually move up to the surface of the skin, a process that is accompanied by a step-wise differentiation and eventually apoptosis. When damaged, the skin shows a remarkable ability to heal. An important step of the wound healing process ...
Unraveling the role of Neuropilin 1 in tumor-associated macrophages : implications for therapy. KU Leuven
Over the last years the benefit of anti-angiogenic strategies in the treatment of cancer has remained far beyond the initial expectations, so that new therapeutic options or improved efficacy of current anti-angiogenic drugs are urgently needed. Cancer still remains one of the leading causes of death in economically developed countries. Hypoxia is a characteristic phenomenon of solid tumors and correlated with a more aggressive phenotype as ...
IAP Antagonists Synergise with IFNy to Activate Novel RIPK1 and Caspase Mediated Death Pathways in Cancer Cell Lines Ghent University
RIPK1 is a master adapter/kinase downstream of many cellular stress pathways
activated by infection, cell death and cellular damage. It plays a crucial role in
survival and inflammation as well as in necrotic and apoptotic cell death signaling.
Activities of RIPK1 are tightly controlled by both post-translational modifications
(PTM; ubiquitylation, phosphorylation and proteolytic cleavage) and ...
Damage-associated molecular patterns: are they bona fide immunogenic signals or do they simply assist/augment the antigenicity or cancer cells? Ghent University
A limited set of anticancer treatments (like some chemotherapeutics, gamma irradiation and photodynamic therapy) induce an immunogenic cel death (ICD) associated with emission of 'Dammage-Associated Molecular Patterns' (DAMPS). We want to fully understand the role of calreticulin and ATP in ICD, to identify (new) immunomodulators associated with this cell death subroutine and to analyze the receptors that sese these immunological effectors
Exploiting necroptosis targeting in cancer therapy: High content screening and validation Ghent University
The balance determines life or death between cell death and cell growth. Cancer occurs when this balance is disturbed. Cancer cells exhibit different levels of resistance to cell death, which cancer cells continue to survive and the tumor can spread. Often, cancer cells also acquire resistance to therapeutic treatment. Recently, it was next to apoptosis (spontaneous cell death) identified a new form of programmed cell death, viz. Necroptosis. ...
Study of resistance mechanisms in multiple myeloma Vrije Universiteit Brussel
The role of Ca2+ signaling for cyst formation in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease KU Leuven
Mutations in the genes encoding the polycystin-1 and -2 proteins lead to autosomal polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), the most common inherited nephropathy leading to renal failure. The molecular mechanisms underlying the formation of renal cysts are poorly characterized, although better knowledge of these mechanisms could have important therapeutic consequences. Loss-of-function of polycystin-1 and -2 result in the activation of several ...
Study of the modulatory role of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) on cell death and the microbiome in enteritis: towards a new therapeutic for inflammatory bowel diseases? Ghent University
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic inflammatory disorders affecting the intestinal mucosa. An important hallmark of IBD is increased epithelial cell death causing intestinal barrier disruption that leads to uncontrolled antigen influx and sustained inflammatory responses. Increasing evidence points to a central role for an aberrant unfolded protein response (UPR), which is the adaptive cellular response following stress to the ...