Projects
Does angiopoietin-Tie signaling affect podocyte integrity in kidney glomeruli? Ghent University
We recently discovered TIE1 and TIE2 receptor signaling on kidney glomerular podocytes, which are important cells of the glomerular filtration barrier. To investigate if TIE-receptors regulate glomerular integrity, we will investigate the role of this signaling system on podocyte function, i.e. survival, migration, proliferation and permeability. In addition, we will investigate the downstream
signaling pathways regulated by ...
Mechanism of podocyte damage in the development of sickle cell nephropathy KU Leuven
Several factors including genetic ones such as APOL1 risk variants (G1 and G2) and HMOX1 GT repeats have been shown to influence the development of sickle cell nephropathy (SCN). We have previously shown that APOL1 high risk genotypes are associated with SCN in our steady-state sickle cell disease (SCD) paediatric population from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (unpublished data). However, data on associations between these genetic ...
Novel insights into the pathogenesis of cystinosis Podocyte dysfunction and zebrafish modeling KU Leuven
Cystinosis is a rare, incurable autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disease caused by mutations in the CTNS gene, which encodes the cystine transporter cystinosin, leading to lysosomal cystine accumulation in all cells of the body. Although cystinosis is a multi-systemic disorder, the kidneys are the first and the most severely affected organs. While cystinosis is an archetypal proximal tubular disorder, patients present with progressive ...
Cystinosis: New insights into pathophysiology and clinical implications KU Leuven
Nephropathic cystinosis is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disease characterized by the accumulation and crystallization of the amino acid cystine in the lysosomes of all body cells and tissues. The main pathogenic factor is homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in the CTNS gene (17p13.2), resulting in a defective function of the cystine transporter protein cystinosin. Although the genetic background of the disease ...
Epstein-Barr virus and multiple sclerosis risk: does imprinting of monocytes provide better explanations? Hasselt University
Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in the Flemish population: overview of epidemiological characteristics and pathophysiological analysis using single-cell and single-nucleus RNA-sequencing techniques. KU Leuven
Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a histopathological pattern of kidney injury defined by the microscopical appearance of scar tissue (‘sclerosis’) in segments of some (‘focal’) kidney glomeruli. Historically, FSGS was incorrectly defined as a separate disease entity, while it is now recognized that FSGS lesions may occur in a wide range of clinical conditions that are all characterized by severe podocyte injury and loss, called ...
Management of Kidney diseases in Sickle Cell children in Belgium and in the Democratic Republic of Congo KU Leuven
Sickle cell disease is one of the most common heritable genetic diseases in the world, caused by the mutation in the beta globin chain of the adult haemoglobin. Nephropathy is a serious complication of SCD and is associated with early mortality. Previous studies reported that renal complications occur in 5-18% of sickle cell children and adolescents and >9% of deaths in young adults were due to complications related to kidney disease. ...