Roel Spätjens

Technical staff

Roel Spätjens studied Biochemistry at the Hogeschool Zuyd in Sittard. In 1996, he joined the Department of Cardiology, where electrophysiology became his main area of research. He has attended many reknown conferences in this field, where he presented scientific posters and is (co-)author on many publications. In 2014, Roel was awarded the UM award: an annual award given to staff members who have served the university with special merit, be it on an academic, managerial or service level.

At this moment, Roel is one of the lab managers in the Department of Cardiology where he still focusses on patch-clamp electrophysiology in expression systems (CHO/HEK cells), primary cells and iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. He is greatly involved in the introduction of new techniques and systems in the lab.

Furthermore, he is the department’s Occupational health, safety and environment contact (ARMICO) as well as UM Emergency Assistance Team member (BHV-er).

 

 

Department of Cardiology
Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht
PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht
Room number: G3.224
T: +31(0)43 388 29 51

  • 2021
    • Schwartz, P. J., Moreno, C., Kotta, M.-C., Pedrazzini, M., Crotti, L., Dagradi, F., Castelletti, S., Haugaa, K. H., Denjoy, I., Shkolnikova, M. A., Brink, P. A., Heradien, M. J., Seyen, S. R. M., Spätjens, R. L. H., Spazzolini, C., & Volders, P. G. A. (2021). Mutation location and I-Ks requlation in the arrhythmic risk of long QT syndrome type 1: the importance of the KCNQ1 S6 region. European Heart Journal, 42(46), 4743-4755. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehab582
  • 2020
    • Altrocchi, C., de Korte, T., Bernardi, J., Spätjens, R. L. H., Braam, S. R., Heijman, J., Zaza, A., & Volders, P. G. A. (2020). Repolarization instability and arrhythmia by I-Kr block in single human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and 2D monolayers. EP Europace, 22(9), 1431-1441. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euaa111
  • 2014
    • Spätjens, R. L. H., Bebarova, M., Seyen, S. R. M., Lentink, V., Jongbloed, R. J., Arens, Y. H. J. M., Heijman, J., & Volders, P. G. A. (2014). Long-QT mutation p.K557E-Kv7.1: dominant-negative suppression of I-Ks, but preserved cAMP-dependent up-regulation. Cardiovascular Research, 104(1), 216-225. https://doi.org/10.1093/cvr/cvu191
    • Molina, C. E., Johnson, D. M., Mehel, H., Spätjens, R. L. H., Mika, D., Algalarrondo, V., Slimane, Z. H., Lechene, P., Abi-Gerges, N., van der Linde, H. J., Leroy, J., Volders, P. G. A., Fischmeister, R., & Vandecasteele, G. (2014). Interventricular Differences in beta-Adrenergic Responses in the Canine Heart: Role of Phosphodiesterases. Journal of the American Heart Association, 3(3), Article e000858. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.114.000858
  • 2012
    • Heijman, J., Spätjens, R. L. H., Seyen, S. R. M., Lentink, V., Kuijpers, H. J. H., Boulet, I. R., de Windt, L. J., David, M., & Volders, P. G. A. (2012). Dominant-Negative Control of cAMP-Dependent I-Ks Upregulation in Human Long-QT Syndrome Type 1. Circulation Research, 110(2), 211–219. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.111.249482
  • 2007
    • Donker, D. W., Maessen, J. G., Spätjens, R. L. H., van der Nagel, T., de Jong, M. M., Ramaekers, F. C., Crijns, H. J. G. M., Vos, M. A., & Volders, P. G. A. (2007). Serial left-ventricular biopsy sampling using a minimally invasive trans-thoracic approach in adult dogs. Pflugers Archiv-European Journal of Physiology, 454(6), 1043-1051. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00424-007-0261-z
    • Donker, D. W., Maessen, J. G., Verheyen, F., Ramaekers, F., Spätjens, R. L. H., Kuijpers, R., Rarnakers, C., Schiffers, P. M. H., Vos, M. A., Crijns, H. J. G. M., & Volders, P. G. A. (2007). Impact of acute and enduring volume overload on mechanotransduction and cytoskeletal integrity of canine left ventricular myocardium. American Journal of Physiology-heart and Circulatory Physiology, 292(5), H2324-H2332. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpheart.00392.2006
  • 2006
    • Stengl, M., Ramakers, C., Donker, D. W., Nabar, A., Rybin, A. V., Spätjens, R. L. H., van der Nagel, T., Wodzig, W., Sipido, K. R., Antoons, G., Moorman, A. F. M., Vos, M. A., & Volders, P. G. A. (2006). Temporal patterns of electrical remodeling in canine ventricular hypertrophy: Focus on I-Ks downregulation and blunted beta-adrenergic activation. Cardiovascular Research, 72(1), 90-100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cardiores.2006.07.015
  • 2005
    • Donker, D. W., Volders, PGA., Arts, T., Bekkers, BBACM., Hofstra, L., Spätjens, R. L. H., Beekman, J. D. M., Borgers, M., Crijns, HJGM., & Vos, MA. (2005). End-diastolic myofiber stress and ejection strain increase with ventricular volume overload. Basic Research in Cardiology, 100(4), 372-382. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00395-005-0525-8
    • Ramakers, C., Stengl, M., Spätjens, R. L. H., Moorman, A. F. M., & Vos, MA. (2005). Molecular and electrical characterization of the canine cardiac ventricular septum. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, 38(1), 153-161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yjmcc.2004.10.011
  • 2004
    • Verduijn, S., Jungschleger, JGM., Stengl, M., Spätjens, R. L. H., Beekman, J. D. M., & Vos, MA. (2004). Electrophysiological and proarrhythmic parameters in transmural canine left-ventricular needle biopsies. Pflugers Archiv-European Journal of Physiology, 449(1), 115-122. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00424-004-1306-1
  • 2003
    • Thomsen, M. B., Volders, PGA., Stengl, M., Spätjens, R. L. H., Beekman, J. D. M., Bischoff, U., Kall, MA., Frederiksen, K., Matz, J., & Vos, MA. (2003). Electrophysiological safety of sertindole in dogs with normal and remodeled hearts. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 307(2), 776-784. https://doi.org/10.1124/jpet.103.052753
    • Stengl, M., Volders, PGA., Thomsen, M. B., Spätjens, R. L. H., Sipido, K. R., & Vos, MA. (2003). Accumulation of slowly activating delayed rectifier potassium current(I-Ks) canine ventricular myocytes. Journal of Physiology, 551(3), 777-786. https://doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.2003.044040
    • Volders, PGA., Stengl, M., van Opstal, JM., Gerlach, U., Spätjens, R. L. H., Beekman, J. D. M., Sipido, K. R., & Vos, MA. (2003). Probing the contribution of I-Ks to canine ventricular repolarization - Key role for beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation. Circulation, 107(21), 2753-2760. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.0000068344.54010.B3
  • 1999
    • Volders, PGA., Sipido, K. R., Vos, MA., Spätjens, R. L. H., Leunissen, JDM., Carmeliet, E., & Wellens, HJJ. (1999). Downregulation of delayed rectifier K+ currents in dogs with chronic complete atrioventricular block and acquired torsades de pointes. Circulation, 100(24), 2455-2461. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.100.24.2455
    • Volders, PGA., Sipido, K. R., Carmeliet, E., Spätjens, R. L. H., Wellens, HJJ., & Vos, MA. (1999). Repolarizing K+ currents I-TO1 and I-Ks are larger in right than left canine ventricular midmyocardium. Circulation, 99(2), 206-210. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.99.2.206