Publications by authors named "M Verhaar"
Tubuloids are advanced in vitro models obtained from adult human or mouse kidney cells with great potential for modelling kidney function in health and disease. Here, we developed a polarized human and mouse tubuloid epithelium on cell culture inserts, namely Transwell™ filters, as a model of the distal nephron with an accessible apical and basolateral side that allow for characterization of epithelial properties such as leak-tightness and epithelial resistance. Tubuloids formed a leak-tight and confluent epithelium on Transwells™ and the human tubuloids were differentiated towards the distal part of the nephron.
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- Nuclear receptors (NRs) are important transcription factors in the small intestine that respond to various signals and influence multiple biological processes such as nutrient absorption and drug metabolism.
- This study examines the activation of six different NRs using small molecule agonists in human intestinal organoids, highlighting their roles in lipid, glucose, and amino acid absorption, as well as electrolyte balance.
- Unique target genes associated with specific NRs were identified, providing valuable insights that could lead to enhanced pharmacological and therapeutic applications.
Background: Impaired cognition, poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and depressive symptoms are common in older patients with kidney failure. Understanding what influences HRQoL is important, as older patients regard HRQoL as a health priority. This study examines whether cognitive functioning is associated with HRQoL and whether depressive symptoms mediate this effect in older patients with kidney failure.
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- - This study aimed to create a realistic 3D model of human atherosclerosis by coculturing different cell types, including smooth muscle cells and foam cells, to mimic a diseased blood vessel and study immune cell interactions under flow conditions.
- - Researchers developed a specialized coculture protocol using fluorescently labeled human cells and examined how these cells behaved in normal vs. atherosclerotic vessel environments over 24 hours of perfusion.
- - Results showed the model formed early atherosclerotic lesions, with distinct layers and foam cell accumulation, while circulating immune cells (THP-1 monocytes) exhibited movement into the vessel walls and responded to atherosclerosis-related signals.
Article Synopsis
- - The study examines the relationship between kidney function and echocardiography findings related to left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) in patients from a university hospital, categorizing them by levels of kidney function based on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).
- - Among 4,022 patients, those with increasingly decreased kidney function showed higher odds of having abnormal echocardiographic parameters, including the E/e' ratio and left ventricular mass index (LVMI), indicating a clear connection between deteriorating kidney health and worsening cardiac function.
- - The findings reveal that even mildly decreased kidney function is associated with signs of LVDD, suggesting that as kidney function declines, the risk of echocardiographic abnormalities in