Projects
Cell death activity regulation in inflammation and cancer Ghent University
The project aims at a global and integrated approach of the 4 major types of cell death (apoptosis, necrosis, autophagic cell death, pyroptosis) on four levels: the biochemistry of caspases and RIP kinases, the intracellular signal transduction, the intercellular communication and its role in experimental diseaese models using transgenic animals. We will use global approaches involving shRNA, siRNA and miRNA screenings, interactomics, ...
Beckman Coulter Gallios flowcytometer. KU Leuven
Within the research of the beta cell and immune system, it is essential to use flow cytometry technology. This is located at different levels. First and foremost, there is a need for translation of findings from the RNA and even proteomics area, in which general directional findings pave the way. The flow cytometry equipment allows to confirm or refute findings at protein level. It also offers the great added value that one can locate the ...
Damage-associated Molecular Patterns: revealing the molecular communication between dying cancer cells and the immune system KU Leuven
Role and mechanism of caspase-3/7 as checkpoint for intestinal inflammation and regeneration Ghent University
Apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) is widely recognized to play an indispensable role in maintaining gut homeostasis at steady state. Aberrant apoptosis of IEC has been documented in multiple diseases like infection, inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer. In many model organisms apoptosis is also involved in regenerative processes following damage. We have developed Casp3/7ΔIEC mice that are deficient for apoptosis in ...
Mechanisms and regulation of inflammasome-associated programmed cell death Ghent University
Programmed cell death is essential for homeostasis, and its deregulation contributes to human disease. Inflammasome-induced pyroptosis of infected macrophages contributes to host defense against infections, but the concomitant release of inflammatory danger signals and leaderless cytokines is detrimental in chronic inflammatory diseases. The central hypothesis of the PyroPop ERC Consolidator project is that inflammasomes are cytosolic ...
Regulation of intracellular Ca2+ signalling by the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2-family members. KU Leuven
Immunogenicity of cancer cells undergoing regulated necrosis in three-dimensional microenvironment Ghent University
Inducing immunogenic (immunostimulatory) apoptotic cell death in cancerous cells is very beneficial
because it induces a host anti-tumour immune response. However, often tumors develop apoptosis
resistance and induction of immunogenic apoptosis is not any more an option. In order to overcome
apoptosis resistance, it is of great importance to find other ways to kill tumor cells by triggering cell
...
Damage-associated molecular patterns; are they bona fide immunogenic signals or do they simply assist/augment the antigenicity of cancer cells? KU Leuven
Physiological cell death, called apoptosis, typically does not induce an immune response –but it rather represses it- and is therefore non-immunogenic. While most chemotherapeutics kill cancer cells by inducing nonimmunogenic apoptosis, recently, a limited set of anticancer-drugs (like anthracyclines, oxaliplatin) was shown to induce an apoptotic cell death subroutine associated with emission of ‘Damage-Associated Molecular Patterns’ (DAMPs). ...
The crosstalk between cell signaling and cell resistance in Triple Negative Breast Cancer KU Leuven
Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is the most lethal molecular subtype of breast cancer according to a huge heterogeneity, aggressive behavior, and lack of selective treatment strategies. Chemotherapy is the only option available to treat this type of disease, and, unfortunately, chemoresistance is an early and frequent phenomenon in a process that is still largely unknown. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays a major role in cell ...