A5051450048- T-cell and B-cell Immunology
- Immunotherapy and Immune Responses
- Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies
- Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Immune Cell Function and Interaction
- Cytokine Signaling Pathways and Interactions
- Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Immune Response and Inflammation
- MicroRNA in disease regulation
- Reproductive System and Pregnancy
- Immune cells in cancer
- Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Atherosclerosis and Cardiovascular Diseases
- Mesenchymal stem cell research
- Phosphodiesterase function and regulation
- Spinal Cord Injury Research
- Cytomegalovirus and herpesvirus research
- Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research
- Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors
- Nerve injury and regeneration
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Research
- Extracellular vesicles in disease
- vaccines and immunoinformatics approaches
Hasselt University
2015-2024
National MS Center Melsbroek
2021-2024
University of Würzburg
2022
Zero to Three
2022
Creative Commons
2022
Maastricht University
2022
Biomedical Research Institute
2016-2020
Transnational University Limburg
2002-2017
Janssen (Belgium)
1997-2015
Transnational University Limburg
2006-2013
Summary CD4 + CD25 high regulatory T cells (Tregs) of patients with relapsing‐remitting (RR) multiple sclerosis (MS), in contrast to those secondary progressive (SP) MS, show a reduced suppressive function. In this study, we analysed forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) at the single‐cell level MS and controls (healthy individuals other neurological diseases) by means intracellular flow cytometry. Our data revealed number peripheral blood FOXP3 lower protein expression per cell RR‐MS than SP‐MS control...
Substantial evidence indicates an association between clinical depression and altered immune function. Systemic administration of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is commonly used to study inflammation-associated behavioral changes in rodents. In these experiments, we tested the hypothesis that peripheral activation leads neuroinflammation depressive-like behavior mice. We report systemic LPS induced astrocyte transgenic GFAP-luc mice increased immunoreactivity against microglial marker...
Abstract Patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RR-MS) show a suboptimal CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cell (Treg) function, whereas no Treg alterations are observed in secondary progressive MS (SP-MS) patients. To clarify the difference activity between early and chronic disease stages MS, we analyzed functional capacity homeostatic parameters of naive CD4+CD25+CD127lowCD45RA+ Tregs (nTregs) their memory counterparts CD4+CD25+CD127lowCD45RO+ (mTregs) untreated patients healthy...
Abstract Accumulating evidence indicates an immunosuppressive role for CD4 + CD25 regulatory T cells (Tregs) in autoimmune diseases. Although impaired Treg function patients with relapsing‐remitting multiple sclerosis (RR‐MS) has been reported recently, no information is available so far about the progressive stage of disease. In present study, phenotypic and functional characteristics isolated from peripheral blood RR‐MS secondary (SP‐MS) were investigated. No significant quantitative or...
Abstract To determine the role of expanded CD4+CD28null T cells in multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis pathology, these were phenotypically characterized their Ag reactivity was studied. FACS analysis confirmed that are terminally differentiated effector memory cells. In addition, they express phenotypic markers indicate capacity to infiltrate into tissues cause tissue damage. Whereas no candidate autoantigens myelin basic protein collagen type II observed within cell subset, CMV...
Immune aging occurs in the elderly and autoimmune diseases. Recently, IgD-CD27- (double negative, DN) CD21-CD11c+ (CD21low) B cells were described as age-associated with proinflammatory characteristics. This study investigated prevalence functional characteristics of DN CD21low multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Using flow cytometry, we demonstrated a higher proportion MS patients younger than 60 y peripheral expansions (8/41) (9/41) compared age-matched healthy donors (1/33 2/33,...
Abstract Follicular regulatory T cells (TFR) have been extensively characterized in mice and participate germinal center responses by regulating the maturation of B production (auto)antibodies. We report that circulating TFR are phenotypically distinct from tonsil-derived humans. They a lower expression follicular markers, display memory phenotype lack high cell lymphoma 6 ICOS. However, suppressive function, FOXP3 methylation status blood is comparable with TFR. Moreover, we show...
Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem with immunosuppressive and trophic support functions. While MSCs from different sources frequently display a similar appearance in culture, they often show differences their surface marker gene expression profiles. Although bone marrow is considered the "gold standard" tissue to isolate classical (BM-MSC), MSC-like currently also derived more easily accessible extra-embryonic tissues such as umbilical cord. In this study, we defined best...
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by focal inflammatory lesions and prominent demyelination. Even though currently available therapies are effective in treating initial stages disease, they unable to halt or reverse progression into progressive stage. Thus far, no repair-inducing treatments for MS patients. Hence, there an urgent need development new therapeutic strategies either targeting destructive immunological...
The imbalance between pathogenic and protective T cell subsets is a cardinal feature of autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Emerging evidence indicates that endogenous dietary-induced changes in fatty acid metabolism have major impact on both fate autoimmunity. To date, however, the molecular mechanisms underlie physiology autoimmunity remain poorly understood. Here, we report stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1), an enzyme essential for desaturation acids highly regulated by...
Importance Ambient air pollution is a worldwide problem, not only related to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases but also neurodegenerative disorders. Different pathways on how pollutants could affect the brain are already known, direct evidence of presence ambient particles (or nanoparticles) in human adult limited. Objective To examine whether black carbon can translocate observe their biodistribution within different regions. Design, Setting, Participants In this case series...
Myelin proteins, including myelin basic protein (MBP), proteolipid (PLP) and oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) are candidate autoantigens in MS. It is not clear whether MS patients show a predominant reactivity to one or several antigens. We evaluated the IFN-γ production induced by MBP MOG selected MBP-, MOG- PLP-peptides healthy controls using ELISPOT assay. Most showed heterogeneous anti-myelin T-cell reactivity. Interestingly positive correlation was found between anti-MOG anti-MBP...
Background and objective The long term effects of fingolimod, an oral treatment for relapsing-remitting (RR) multiple sclerosis (MS), on blood circulating B T cell subtypes in MS patients are not completely understood. This study describes the first time longitudinal fingolimod subtypes. Furthermore, expression surface molecules involved antigen presentation costimulation during assessed a 12 month follow-up study. Methods Using flow cytometry, subtypes, their presentation, migration markers...
Umbilical cord matrix or Wharton's jelly-derived stromal cells (WJ-MSCs) are an easily accessible source of mesenchymal-like stem cells. Recent studies describe a hypoimmunogenic phenotype, multipotent differentiation potential, and trophic support function for WJ-MSCs, with variable clinical benefit in degenerative disease models such as stroke, myocardial infarction, Parkinson's disease. It remains unclear whether WJ-MSCs have therapeutic value multiple sclerosis (MS), where...
Abstract Background Foamy macrophages, containing myelin degradation products, are abundantly found in active multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions. Recent studies have described an altered phenotype of macrophages after internalization. However, mechanisms by which affects the and how this influences lesion progression remain unclear. Results We demonstrate that as well phosphatidylserine (PS), a phospholipid myelin, reduce nitric oxide production through activation peroxisome...