Publications by authors named "K van Kuijk"

Article Synopsis
  • Atherosclerotic plaques' destabilization is linked to the presence of specific microvessels, which might be leaky, although evidence is still needed.
  • This study aimed to find key molecular drivers of dysfunction in these vessels by analyzing transcriptome data from human atherosclerotic lesions and identifying crucial genes related to microvascular density and inflammation.
  • The research highlighted Spectrin Beta Non-Erythrocytic 1 (sptbn1) as a central gene that, when silenced, increased vascular permeability and inflammation, suggesting it plays a significant role in regulating the leaky characteristics of plaque microvessels related to cardiovascular disease.
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Background: The metabolic alterations occurring within the arterial architecture during atherosclerosis development remain poorly understood, let alone those particular to each arterial tunica. We aimed first to identify, in a spatially resolved manner, the specific metabolic changes in plaque, media, adventitia, and cardiac tissue between control and atherosclerotic murine aortas. Second, we assessed their translatability to human tissue and plasma for cardiovascular risk estimation.

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Aims: Specific fibroblast markers and in-depth heterogeneity analysis are currently lacking, hindering functional studies in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Here, we established cell-type markers and heterogeneity in murine and human arteries and studied the adventitial fibroblast response to CVD and its risk factors hypercholesterolaemia and ageing.

Methods And Results: Murine aorta single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis of adventitial mesenchymal cells identified fibroblast-specific markers.

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Purpose: Little is known about risk factors for sustaining a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) rupture. Identifying risk factors is the first step in preventing a PCL rupture from occurring. The morphology of the knee in patients who ruptured their PCL may differ from that of control patients.

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Chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) contributes to regulation of energy homeostasis by timely degradation of enzymes involved in glucose and lipid metabolism. Here, we report reduced CMA activity in vascular smooth muscle cells and macrophages in murine and human arteries in response to atherosclerotic challenges. We show that in vivo genetic blockage of CMA worsens atherosclerotic pathology through both systemic and cell-autonomous changes in vascular smooth muscle cells and macrophages, the two main cell types involved in atherogenesis.

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