Publications

Abstract BACKGROUND Renal fibrosis is the hallmark of progression to end-stage kidney disease. Non-invasive biomarkers of renal fibrosis could serve as specific end points in clinical trials and improve monitoring and stratification of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). To address this, we measured markers of collagen type III turnover in urine and serum of […]

Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIMS Progressive fibrosis increases hepatic resistance and causes portal hypertension with complications. During progressive fibrosis remodeling and deposition of collagens and elastin occur. Elastin remodeling is crucially involved in fibrosis progression in animal models and human data. This study investigated the association of circulating elastin with the clinical outcome in cirrhotic patients […]

Abstract OBJECTIVES Elastin is a signature protein of the lungs. Matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) is important in lung defence mechanisms and degrades elastin. However, MMP-7 activity in regard to elastin degradation has never been quantified serologically in patients with lung diseases. An assay for the quantification of MMP-7 generated elastin fragments (ELM7) was therefore developed to […]

Abstract Despite massive investments in the development of novel treatments for heterogeneous diseases such as COPD, the resources spent have only benefited a fraction of the population treated. Personalized health care to guide selection of a suitable patient population already in the clinical development of new compounds could offer a solution. This review discusses past […]

Abstract BACKGROUND Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) contribute significantly to disease progression. However, the effect on tissue structure and turnover is not well described. There is an urgent clinical need for biomarkers of disease activity associated with disease progression. Extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover reflects activity in tissues and consequently assessment of ECM turnover […]

Abstract BACKGROUND Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a progressive and inevitably fatal disorder, has a highly variable clinical course. Biomarkers that reflect disease activity are urgently needed to inform patient management and for use as biomarkers of therapeutic response (theragnostic biomarkers) in clinical trials. We aimed to determine whether dynamic change in markers of extracellular matrix (ECM) […]

Abstract Emerging evidence suggests that altered components and posttranslational modifications of proteins in the extracellular matrix (ECM) may both initiate and drive disease progression. The ECM is a complex grid consisting of multiple proteins, most of which play a vital role in containing the essential information needed for maintenance of a sophisticated structure anchoring the […]

Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIMS The hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) is an important but invasive diagnostic and prognostic marker in cirrhotic patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate a novel biochemical plasma marker of true type V collagen formation (Pro-C5) for describing HVPG. METHODS Ninety-four patients mainly with alcoholic cirrhosis and fourteen liver-healthy […]

Abstract OBJECTIVE Fibrotic diseases may be described as a disease of the extracellular matrix, where the balance between matrix formation and degradation has been shifted leading to an accumulation of matrix. Currently a fit for purpose model and readily available approach are adapted when doing cell cultures, which may not reflect physiology and pathophysiology optimally. […]

Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIM Detection of advanced fibrosis (Metavir F≥3) is important to identify patients with a high urgency of antiviral treatments vs. those whose treatment could be deferred (F≤2). The aim was to assess the diagnostic value of novel serological extracellular matrix protein fragments as potential biomarkers for clinically significant and advanced fibrosis. METHODS […]