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ERC Advanced Grant awarded to Prof. Andy Baker

ERC Advanced Grant awarded to Prof. Andy Baker

15 April 2024

Prof. Andy Baker (Dept of Pathology) has been awarded a European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant of €2,5M for his research project PolymiRize: Poly-miRNA targeting to prevent and reverse complex tissue remodelling after acute cardiovascular events'.

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Longer and better lives for patients with atrial fibrillation

Longer and better lives for patients with atrial fibrillation

15 April 2024

An international panel of experts published recommendations to improve management of atrial fibrillation (AF).

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Carim Maastricht
Carim Maastricht

Frans van Nieuwenhoven

Assistant Professor

Dr Frans van Nieuwenhoven received his PhD in 1996 at Maastricht University on a thesis about the biological significance of fatty acid-binding proteins (FABP) in cardiac fatty acid uptake and on the use of FABP as plasma marker for myocardial tissue damage. From 1996-2005, he was post-doc in Maastricht and Utrecht studying myocardial metabolism and the role of growth factors in long term renal and cardiac complications of diabetes mellitus. During this period he was trained in physiology, and he was registered as Medical Physiologist by the Dutch Committee for Medical-Biological Research Training (SMBWO) in 2001. In 2005, he was appointed as Assistant Professor at the Department of Physiology at Maastricht University, investigating cardiomyocyte-fibroblast interaction and the role of paracrine growth factor signalling in cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure.

An important focus of the research is the effect of electro-mechanical stimulation on the heart and on the isolated cardiac cell types: cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts. Aside from neurohumoral and local paracrine factors, it is becoming increasingly evident that electrical and mechanical signaling significantly determine cardiac structure and function both in health and in disease. Currently, the possible beneficial effect of electromechanical stimulation of the heart to improve myocardial infarct healing is studied. The effects of electromechanical stimulation are explored both in vivo and in vitro. Cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts are isolated from adult hearts and cultured separately and in co-culture, and the influence of electrical and mechanical stimulation is determined. Finally, 3D-cultures of cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts in engineered heart matrix are used to study the cellular function in a more physiological environment.

Frans-van-nieuwenhoven

Department of Physiology
Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht
PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht

  • 2023
    • van Nieuwenhoven, F. A., Schroen, B., Barile, L., van Middendorp, L., Prinzen, F. W., & Auricchio, A. (2023). Plasma Extracellular Vesicles as Liquid Biopsy to Unravel the Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiac Reverse Remodeling Following Resynchronization Therapy?Journal of Clinical Medicine, 12(2), Article 665. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12020665
  • 2022
    • Ploeg, M. C., Munts, C., Seddiqi, T., ten Brink, T. J. L., Breemhaar, J., Moroni, L., Prinzen, F. W., & van Nieuwenhoven, F. A. (2022). Culturing of Cardiac Fibroblasts in Engineered Heart Matrix Reduces Myofibroblast Differentiation but Maintains Their Response to Cyclic Stretch and Transforming Growth Factor beta 1. Bioengineering, 9(10), Article 551. https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering9100551
    • D'Alessandro, E., Winters, J., van Nieuwenhoven, F. A., Schotten, U., & Verheule, S. (2022). The Complex Relation between Atrial Cardiomyopathy and Thrombogenesis. Cells, 11(19), Article 2963. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11192963
    • Bouwmeester, S., van Loon, T., Ploeg, M., Mast, T. P., Verzaal, N. J., van Middendorp, L. B., Strik, M., van Nieuwenhoven, F. A., Dekker, L. R., Prinzen, F. W., Lumens, J., & Houthuizen, P. (2022). Left atrial remodeling in mitral regurgitation: A combined experimental-computational study. PLOS ONE, 17(7), Article e0271588. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0271588
    • Koopsen, T., Van Osta, N., Van Loon, T., Van Nieuwenhoven, F. A., Prinzen, F. W., Van Klarenbosch, B. R., Kirkels, F. P., Teske, A. J., Vernooy, K., Delhaas, T., & Lumens, J. (2022). A Lumped Two-Compartment Model for Simulation of Ventricular Pump and Tissue Mechanics in Ischemic Heart Disease. Frontiers in physiology, 13, Article 782592. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2022.782592
  • 2021
    • D'Alessandro, E., Scaf, B., van Oerle, R., van Nieuwenhoven, F. A., van Hunnik, A., Verheule, S., Schotten, U., Ten Cate, H., & Spronk, H. M. H. (2021). Thrombin generation by calibrated automated thrombography in goat plasma: Optimization of an assay. Research and practice in thrombosis and haemostasis, 5(8), Article e12620. https://doi.org/10.1002/rth2.12620
    • D'Alessandro, E., Scaf, B., Munts, C., van Hunnik, A., Trevelyan, C. J., Verheule, S., Spronk, H. M. H., Turner, N. A., ten Cate, H., Schotten, U., & van Nieuwenhoven, F. A. (2021). Coagulation Factor Xa Induces Proinflammatory Responses in Cardiac Fibroblasts via Activation of Protease-Activated Receptor-1. Cells, 10(11), Article 2958. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10112958
    • Wang, S. J., Schianchi, F., Neumann, D., Wong, L. Y., Sun, A. M., van Nieuwenhoven, F. A., Zeegers, M. P., Strzelecka, A., Col, U., Glatz, J. F. C., Nabben, M., & Luiken, J. J. F. P. (2021). Specific amino acid supplementation rescues the heart from lipid overload-induced insulin resistance and contractile dysfunction by targeting the endosomal mTOR-v-ATPase axis. Molecular Metabolism, 53, Article 101293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molmet.2021.101293
    • Ploeg, M. C., Munts, C., Prinzen, F. W., Turner, N. A., van Bilsen, M., & van Nieuwenhoven, F. A. (2021). Piezo1 Mechanosensitive Ion Channel Mediates Stretch-Induced Nppb Expression in Adult Rat Cardiac Fibroblasts. Cells, 10(7), Article 1745. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10071745
  • 2019
    • Blythe, N. M., Muraki, K., Ludlow, M. J., Stylianidis, V., Gilbert, H. T. J., Evans, E. L., Cuthbertson, K., Foster, R., Swift, J., Li, J., Drinkhill, M. J., van Nieuwenhoven, F. A., Porter, K. E., Beech, D. J., & Turner, N. A. (2019). Mechanically activated Piezo1 channels of cardiac fibroblasts stimulate p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activity and interleukin-6 secretion. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 294(46), 17395-17408. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.RA119.009167
  • 2018
    • Chau Nguyen, U., Verzaal, N. J., van Nieuwenhoven, F. A., Vernooy, K., & Prinzen, F. (2018). Pathobiology of cardiac dyssynchrony and resynchronization therapy. EP Europace, 20(12), 1898-1909. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euy035
    • Verjans, R., Peters, T., Beaumont, F., van Leeuwen, R., van Herwaarden, T., Verhesen, W., Munts, C., Bijnen, M., Henkens, M., Diez, J., de Windt, L. J., van Nieuwenhoven, F. A., van Bilsen, M., Goumans, M. J., Heymans, S., Gonzalez, A., & Schroen, B. (2018). MicroRNA-221/222 Family Counteracts Myocardial Fibrosis in Pressure Overload-Induced Heart Failure. Hypertension, 71(2), 280-288. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.117.10094
  • 2017
    • van Nieuwenhoven, F. A., Munts, C., op't Veld, R. C., Gonzalez, A., Diez, J., Heymans, S., Schroen, B., & van Bilsen, M. (2017). Cartilage intermediate layer protein 1 (CILP1): A novel mediator of cardiac extracellular matrix remodelling. Scientific Reports, 7, Article 16042. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-16201-y
    • van Middendorp, L. B., Kuiper, M., Munts, C., Wouters, P., Maessen, J. G., van Nieuwenhoven, F. A., & Prinzen, F. W. (2017). Local microRNA-133a downregulation is associated with hypertrophy in the dyssynchronous heart. Esc heart failure, 4(3), 241-251. https://doi.org/10.1002/ehf2.12154
  • 2014
    • van Bilsen, M., Daniels, A., Brouwers, O., Janssen, B. J. A., Derks, W. J. A., Brouns, A. E., Munts, C., Schalkwijk, C. G., van der Vusse, G. J., & van Nieuwenhoven, F. A. (2014). Hypertension Is a Conditional Factor for the Development of Cardiac Hypertrophy in Type 2 Diabetic Mice. PLOS ONE, 9(1), Article e85078. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0085078
  • 2013
    • Van Neerven, S. G. A., Pannaye, P., Bozkurt, A., Van Nieuwenhoven, F., Joosten, E., Hermans, E., Taccola, G., & Deumens, R. (2013). SCHWANN CELL MIGRATION AND NEURITE OUTGROWTH ARE INFLUENCED BY MEDIA CONDITIONED BY EPINEURIAL FIBROBLASTS. Neuroscience, 252, 144-153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.08.009
    • Blaauw, E., Lorenzen-Schmidt, I., Babiker, F. A., Munts, C., Prinzen, F. W., Snoeckx, L. H., van Bilsen, M., van der Vusse, G. J., & van Nieuwenhoven, F. A. (2013). Stretch-Induced Upregulation of Connective Tissue Growth Factor in Rabbit Cardiomyocytes. Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research, 6(5), 861-869. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12265-013-9489-5
    • Hall-Glenn, F., Aivazi, A., Akopyan, L., Ong, J. R., Baxter, R. R., Benya, P. D., Goldschmeding, R., van Nieuwenhoven, F. A., Hunziker, E. B., & Lyons, K. M. (2013). CCN2/CTGF is required for matrix organization and to protect growth plate chondrocytes from cellular stress. Journal of Cell Communication and Signaling, 7(3), 219-30. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12079-013-0201-y
    • Brouwers, O., de Vos-Houben, J. M., Niessen, P. M., Miyata, T., van Nieuwenhoven, F., Janssen, B. J., Hageman, G., Stehouwer, C. D., & Schalkwijk, C. G. (2013). Mild oxidative damage in the diabetic rat heart is attenuated by glyoxalase-1 overexpression. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 14(8), 15724-15739. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms140815724
    • van Nieuwenhoven, F. A., & Turner, N. A. (2013). The role of cardiac fibroblasts in the transition from inflammation to fibrosis following myocardial infarction. Vascular Pharmacology, 58(3), 182-188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vph.2012.07.003
    • van Nieuwenhoven, F. A., Hemmings, K. E., Porter, K. E., & Turner, N. A. (2013). Combined effects of interleukin-1 alpha and transforming growth factor-beta 1 on modulation of human cardiac fibroblast function. Matrix Biology, 32(7-8), 399-406. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matbio.2013.03.008
  • 2012
    • Daniels, A., Linz, D., van Bilsen, M., Ruetten, H., Sadowski, T., Ruf, S., Juretschke, H.-P., Neumann-Haefelin, C., Munts, C., van der Vusse, G. J., & van Nieuwenhoven, F. A. (2012). Long-term severe diabetes only leads to mild cardiac diastolic dysfunction in Zucker diabetic fatty rats. European journal of heart failure, 14(2), 193-201. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjhf/hfr166
  • 2010
    • van Bilsen, M., & van Nieuwenhoven, F. A. (2010). PPARs as therapeutic targets in cardiovascular disease. Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets, 14(10), 1029-1045. https://doi.org/10.1517/14728222.2010.512917
    • Daniels, A., van Bilsen, M., Janssen, B. J. A., Brouns, A. E., Cleutjens, J. P. M., Roemen, T. H., Schaart, G., van der Velden, J., van der Vusse, G. J., & van Nieuwenhoven, F. A. (2010). Impaired cardiac functional reserve in type 2 diabetic db/db mice is associated with metabolic, but not structural, remodelling. Acta Physiologica, 200(1), 11-22. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-1716.2010.02102.x
    • Blaauw, E., van Nieuwenhoven, F. A., Willemsen, P., Delhaas, T., Prinzen, F. W., Snoeckx, L. H., van Bilsen, M., & van der Vusse, G. J. (2010). Stretch-induced hypertrophy of isolated adult rabbit cardiomyocytes. American Journal of Physiology-heart and Circulatory Physiology, 299(3), H780-H787. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpheart.00822.2009
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