1. Cardiovascular Pathology & Atherosclerosis
Prof. dr. M.J.A.P. Daemen
In the CVON Heart-Brain Connection (HBC1) program we have established a national interdisciplinary collaborative network to study, diagnose and identify potential treatment options of cognitive impairments in cardiac patients (see for instance Ciccarelli et al Cardiovasc Res 2021). The aim or our research program in the follow up HBCx program (see hart-brein) is to identify endothelial-derived circulating biomarkers for chronic cerebral hypoperfusion and relate these to cognition. One example of that research is a study in which we successfully performed RNA sequencing on human post-mortem intra- and extracranial ECs to identify their differential molecular regulation and selected in silico 59 genes involved in HD (Hermkens et al, Acta Neuropath Communic 2019). Another part of our research focusses on the specific features atherosclerosis in intracranial arteries and relate these to MRI and clinical features (van Hespen et al, Hypertension 2021).
Head of the team Mat Daemen is Full Professor of the Pathology of Atherosclerosis at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and clinical pathologist at the Department of Pathology of Amsterdam UMC. He is vice-dean of research of Amsterdam UMC, chair of the Amsterdam Research Board and chair of Research Support of Amsterdam UMC. His research focuses on the vascular effects of cognitive impairments with a special interest in the pathological- and molecular features of intracranial atherosclerosis. He is leading a national research program on this topic, the Heart Brain Connection. He has published more than 330 papers (h-index 84). As chair of the Research&ICT steering committee of Amsterdam UMC, leader of the Health program in the Amsterdam AI technology for people initiative and hub coordinator of the Health program in the national AI coalition he promotes and supports the local and national initiatives on data science and AI in the health domain.
Team members
- Sanny Scheffer, PhD Student
- Ingeborg Waas, Technician
- Nerissa Denswil, Guest Researcher - Focus: intracranial atherosclerosis, novel circulating biomarkers of vascular cognitive impairment
Key publications pure.amc.nl
1. Ritz K, Denswil NP, Stam OC, van Lieshout JJ, Daemen MJ. Cause and mechanisms of intercranial atherosclerosis. Circulation. 2014 Oct 14;130(16):1407-14.
2. Christ A, Temmerman L, Legein B, Daemen MJ, Biessen EA. Dendritic cells in cardiovascular diseas. Circulation. 2013 Dec 17;128(24):2603-13.
3. Huveneers S, Daemen MJ, Hordijk PL. Between Rho(k) and a hard place: the relation between vessel wall stiffness, endothelial contractility, and cardiovascular disease. Circ Res. 2015 Feb 27;116(5):895-908.
4. Scheffer S, Hermkens DMA, van der Weerd L, de Vries HE, Daemen MJAP.Vascular Hypothesis of Alzheimer Disease: Topical Review of Mouse Models. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2021 Apr;41(4):1265-1283.
5. van Hespen KM, Mackaaij C, Waas ISE, de Bree MP, Zwanenburg JJM, Kuijf HJ, Daemen MJAP, Hendrikse J, Hermkens DMA. Arterial Remodeling of the Intracranial Arteries in Patients With Hypertension and Controls: A Postmortem Study. Hypertension. 2021 Jan;77(1):135-146.
6. Daemen MJ, Ferguson MS, Gijsen FJ, Hippe DS, Kooi ME, Demarco K, van der Wal AC, Yuan C, Hatsukami TS. Carotid plaque fissure: An underestimated source of intraplaque hemorrhage. Atherosclerosis. 2016 Nov;254:102-108.
Contact: Mat Daemen 020-566 4937 Secretariaat: Christa Neering 020-566 7519
2. Cardiovascular Inflammation
Prof. dr. J.W.M. Niessen Dr. P.A.J. Krijnen
Inflammation and immunity induce and propagate heart and vessel disease and hence are key players in cardiovascular disease, in addition to infection and tissue damage. Our research group aims to identify and unravel inflammatory processes that underlie, dysfunction of the heart in myocardial infarction and myocarditis, as well as in burned skin. We are studying the pathogenic role of these processes both in the myocardium as well as the (micro)vasculature of the heart, brain and skin. Furthermore, we try to develop biomarkers that improve the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. Lastly, we study the efficacy of different anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory therapies, including mesenchymal stem cell therapy, to prevent or to improve the outcome of cardiovascular disease and burn wound trauma. We thereby hope to contribute to an improved diagnosis and treatment for people with cardiovascular disease and burn trauma and to improve their quality of life.
Heads of the team
Hans Niessen is a professor in Pathology with a specialized interest in cardiovascular pathology. He studies inflammatory processes and their role in heart and vessel pathology. In addition, he is studying the intricate relationship between inflammation and the progression of tissue damage as well as tissue healing in burned skin.
Paul Krijnen is a biologist who performed his PhD research on the roles of acute phase reactants in the adverse remodeling of the heart after myocardial infarction. Since, his research interests include the adverse roles of cellular immunity and (micro)vascular inflammation/thrombosis in myocardial infarction and myocarditis as well as in the burned skin.
Team members
- BSc Ingeborg Waas; Research analist
- MSc Linghe Wu; PhD student into cellular inflammation in myocarditis
- MSc Amber Korn; PhD student into atherosclerosis in diabetes
- MSc Mitchell D. Fiet; PhD student into stem cell therapy for atherosclerosis
- MSc Britt van der Leeden; PhD student into NETosis-induced coagulopathy in burn wounds
- MSc Jiang Zhu; PhD student into cardiac microvascular dysfunction after cancer therapy.
- MSc Madalena L.M.P. Gomes; PhD student into extracellular matrix formation after burn wounds.
Key publications
1) Wu L, Woudstra L, Dam TA, Germans T, van Rossum AC, Niessen HWM, Krijnen PAJ. Electrocardiographic changes are strongly correlated with the extent of cardiac inflammation in mice with Coxsackievirus B3-induced viral myocarditis. Cardiovasc Pathol. 2021;54:107367.
2) Korkmaz HI, Ulrich MMW, Wieringen WNV, Doǧan H, Vlig M, Emmens RW, Meyer KW, Sinnige P, Zeerleder S, Wouters D, Ham MSV, Zuijlen PPMV, Krijnen PAJ, Niessen HWM. C1 Inhibitor Administration Reduces Local Inflammation and Capillary Leakage, Without Affecting Long-term Wound Healing Parameters, in a Pig Burn Wound Model. Antiinflamm Antiallergy Agents Med Chem. 2021;20(2):150-160.
3) Wu L, Emmens RW, van Wezenbeek J, Stooker W, Allaart CP, Vonk ABA, van Rossum AC, Niessen HWM, Krijnen PAJ. Atrial inflammation in different atrial fibrillation subtypes and its relation with clinical risk factors. Clin Res Cardiol. 2020 Oct;109(10):1271-1281. 1)
4) Rieckmann M, Delgobo M, Gaal C, Büchner L, Steinau P, Reshef D, Gil-Cruz C, Horst ENT, Kircher M, Reiter T, Heinze KG, Niessen HW, Krijnen PA, van der Laan AM, Piek JJ, Koch C, Wester HJ, Lapa C, Bauer WR, Ludewig B, Friedman N, Frantz S, Hofmann U, Ramos GC. Myocardial infarction triggers cardioprotective antigen-specific T helper cell responses. J Clin Invest. 2019;129(11):4922-4936.
5) Ter Horst EN, Krijnen PAJ, Hakimzadeh N, Robbers LFHJ, Hirsch A, Nijveldt R, Lommerse I, Fontijn RD, Meinster E, Delewi R, van Royen N, Zijlstra F, van Rossum AC, van der Schoot CE, van der Pouw Kraan TCTM, Horrevoets AJ, van der Laan AM, Niessen HWM, Piek JJ. Elevated monocyte-specific type I interferon signaling correlates positively with cardiac healing in myocardial infarct patients but interferon alpha application deteriorates myocardial healing in rats. Basic Res Cardiol. 2018;114(1):1.
6) Woudstra L, Meinster E, VAN Haren L, Kay AM, Koopman M, Belien JAM, Morrison MC, VAN Rossum AC, Helder MN, Juffermans LJM, Niessen HWM, Krijnen PAJ. StemBell therapy stabilizes atherosclerotic plaques after myocardial infarction. Cytotherapy. 2018;20(9):1143-1154.
7) Korkmaz HI, Ulrich MMW, Vogels S, de Wit T, van Zuijlen PPM, Krijnen PAJ, Niessen HWM. Neutrophil extracellular traps coincide with a pro-coagulant status of microcirculatory endothelium in burn wounds. Wound Repair Regen. 2017;25(4):609-617.
Contact
Prof. dr. Hans W.M. Niessen; Email: jwm.niessen@amsterdamumc.nl
Dr. Paul A.J. Krijnen; Email: paj.krijnen@amsterdamumc.nl