Projects
Research of the interaction between VWF and 'neutrophil extracellular traps' in trombotic microangiopathies. 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 ...
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 ...
Neutrophil extracellular traps: novel targets for neuroprotection in stroke. KU Leuven
Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Strikingly, the paramount medical relevance of ischemic stroke is in strong contrast to the limited treatment options. Indeed, only one pharmacological strategy is currently approved for acute stroke treatment: rapid thrombolysis of the occluding thrombus using tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA). However, use of t-PA has many serious limitations, including risk of ...
Neutrophil extracellular traps: a novel target in acute ischemic stroke? KU Leuven
Stroke is one of the leading causes of death sustained disability worldwide. Despite ongoing advances in stroke imaging and treatment, ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke continue to debilitate patients with devastating outcomes at both the personal and societal levels. Ischemic stroke is caused by a thrombotic obstruction in one major or multiple smaller arteries impairing blood flow to the brain. This results in irreversible damage of brain ...
Neutrophil extracellular traps: a novel thrombo-inflammatory mediator of stroke pathology? KU Leuven
Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and sustained disability worldwide. Despite ongoing advances in stroke imaging and treatment, ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke continue to debilitate patients with devastating outcomes at both the personal and societal levels. Strikingly, the paramount medical relevance of ischemic stroke is in strong contrast to the limited treatment options that are currently available in the stroke clinic. ...
Neutrophils and post-translationally modified beta-cell proteins: a driving force behind type 1 diabetes? KU Leuven
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by the selective destruction of the pancreatic insulin-producing beta cells by infiltrating immune cells, leading to an absolute insulin deficiency. The prevalence of T1D is increasing worldwide and the concern regarding the number of new T1D cases relates in part to the development of chronic complications, either microvascular (i.e., retinopathy, neuropathy, and ...
Casting NETs in the fibrotic heart(FIBRONETx) KU Leuven
Neutrophil hyperactivation has detrimental effects on healthy bystander tissue and thus neutrophils are implicated in many inflammatory disease pathologies.The discovery of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) described a novel antibacterial function of neutrophils. NETs are extracellular DNA strands also containing histones and granular enzymes such as neutrophil elastase, with an ability to physically trap and kill both bacteria and fungi. ...
Casting NETs in the failing heart 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. One of the ways that white blood cells try to fight infection is by sending out neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), ejecting their DNA lined with proteins that can kill bacteria. These same proteins also damage healthy blood vessels and cause them to ...
Role of MMP-9 in systemic lupus erythematosus. KU Leuven
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by a general immune response against intracellular antigens. Autoantigens (aAg) are released from apoptotic cells and assemble with autoantibodies (aAb) into immune complexes (IC). In SLE patients, aberrant cell apoptosis and defects in the clearance of dead cells and IC are observed. Although MMP-9 levels are higher in serum of SLE patients, no correlation ...