Publications

Abstract Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by fibrosis. Alport syndrome, a common monogenic form of CKD caused by collagen type IV variants, leads to basement membrane defects and progressive fibrosis. Understanding extracellular matrix dynamics is crucial for identifying disease-specific biomarkers and optimizing therapeutic timing. We applied a discovery approach combining stable C-lysine metabolic labeling […]

Abstract BACKGROUND Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection remains a global health burden, contributing to the risk of long-term complications such as progressive fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, particularly in undiagnosed or untreated individuals. Novel biomarkers for the assessment of disease progression and prognosis are required for fibroinflammatory chronic liver disease. Our study population from the […]

Abstract BACKGROUND Molecular endotyping may facilitate the successful development of personalized treatments of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). The aim of this exploratory and hypothesis-generating study was to develop a clinically actionable tool for predicting molecular endotypes of KOA using blood-based biomarkers, and to explore the potential for differential treatment effects across biomarker-based endotypes in prior phase […]

Abstract In Crohn’s disease, extracellular matrix (ECM) dysfunction and loss of tissue integrity are key pathological features. Fibril-associated collagens with interrupted triple helices (FACIT) are known to regulate ECM assembly and mediate biophysical cues in their microenvironment but remain largely understudied. This study aimed to investigate a novel biomarker reflecting remodelling of the FACIT collagen […]

Abstract BACKGROUND Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by an increase in proteolytic enzymes, including matrix metalloproteinases that degrade the extracellular matrix and markers of localized inflammation. Protein fragments (neoepitopes) are detectable in the circulation. RESEARCH QUESTION Can short-term trajectories of neoepitopes after initiation of antifibrotic treatment predict therapy-related outcomes, including mortality, in patients with […]

Abstract BACKGROUND & AIMS Alcohol is a key driver of liver-related mortality, and phosphatidylethanol (PEth) is a direct biomarker of alcohol intake. We investigated the prognostic performance of PEth with noninvasive liver fibrosis tests (NITs) for predicting hepatic decompensation in an alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) at-risk population. METHODS Prospective cohort study with 411 at risk […]

Abstract BACKGROUND Noninvasive fibrosis testing is crucial for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) management. This study evaluated a marker of activated mesenchymal fibrogenic cells, circulating fibroblast activation protein (cFAP), in a novel diagnostic algorithm, FAP Index, for patients with MASLD. METHODS Two retrospective cohorts recruited from tertiary hepatology clinics were studied as training (n = 160) […]

Abstract Endotrophin is a matrikine released from the C-terminus of the alpha-3 chain of type VI collagen, gaining increasing attention both as a biomarker and as a therapeutic target in the cardiometabolic space. So far, it has been quantified in circulation by the PRO-C6 assay, which detects different-sized proteolytic fragments of the C-terminus, including endotrophin. […]

Abstract BACKGROUND Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling in advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD) is characterised by hepatic fibrosis and (sinusoidal) basement membrane development contributing to portal hypertension (PH) and clinical complications. METHODS Patients with stable ACLD (n = 232) undergoing hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurement were included. Blood biomarkers reflecting fibrosis formation (PRO-C3, PRO-C6, PRO-C4 and PRO-C18L) […]

Abstract Endotrophin, a biologically active fragment derived from the α3 chain of collagen type VI, has emerged as both a risk biomarker and a potential pathogenic factor in cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome. Over the past decade, research has shed light on its role in various noncommunicable diseases, emphasizing its signaling properties and diagnostic potential. Despite these […]