Publications

Abstract Neutrophils play a significant role in sustaining chronic inflammation in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. The intestinal basement membrane acts as a barrier for immunological homeostasis, where the α3 and α4 chains of type IV collagen are expressed on the mucosal surface. We wanted to develop a biomarker reflecting early tissue injury, providing an opportunity for […]

Abstract OBJECTIVES To assess basement membrane remodelling in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by studying serum levels of type IV collagen (C4M) and laminin (LG1M) fragments and their association with disease profile. METHODS One hundred and six SLE patients without and 20 with previous cardiovascular events were included. One hundred and twenty male and female blood […]

Abstract Biliary tract cancer (BTC) is characterized by a desmoplastic extracellular matrix (ECM). We tested the diagnostic and prognostic use of seven circulating biomarkers of ECM remodeling: pro-peptides of type III collagen (PRO-C3), VI (PRO-C6) and XI (PRO-C11), matrix metalloprotease (MMP) degraded type III collagen (C3M) and type IV collagen (C4M) fragments, granzyme B degraded […]

Abstract BACKGROUND Increased collagen remodelling is a key pathophysiological component underlying intestinal stricture and fistula development in Crohn’s disease (CD). AIMS To investigate associations between serological biomarkers of collagen turnover and disease behaviour according to the Montreal classification in patients with CD. METHODS Serological biomarkers of type III/IV collagen formation (PRO-C3, PRO-C4) and matrix metalloproteinase […]

Abstract BACKGROUND Asthma is a heterogeneous syndrome substantiating the urgent requirement for endotype-specific biomarkers. Dysbalance of fibrosis and fibrolysis in asthmatic lung tissue leads to reduced levels of the inflammation-protective collagen 4 (COL4A3). OBJECTIVE To delineate the degradation of COL4A3 in allergic airway inflammation and evaluate the resultant product as a biomarker for anti-IgE therapy […]

Abstract Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a complex disease which is incompletely accounted for. Basement membrane (BM) Collagen IV (COL4A1/A2) is abundant in the artery wall, and several lines of evidence indicate a protective role of baseline COL4A1/A2 in AAA development. Using Col4a1/a2 hemizygous knockout mice (Col4a1/a2, 129Svj background) we show that partial Col4a1/a2 deficiency […]

Abstract BACKGROUND Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by abnormal epithelial repair resulting in a hypercoagulable state with intra-alveolar accumulation of fibrin and alveolar basement membrane destruction. This study aimed to investigate if the combination of two serological biomarkers evaluating these pathological processes could improve the prediction of mortality risk compared to single biomarkers. […]

Abstract INTRODUCTION Anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy is effective in inducing remission in Crohn’s disease in 60% of patients. No serological biomarkers are available, which can predict response to anti-TNF. We aimed to investigate serological markers of collagen turnover reflecting tissue inflammation as predictors of response to anti-TNF. METHODS In 2 retrospective observational cohorts, markers […]

Abstract BACKGROUND Chronic intestinal inflammation results in tissue damage partly caused by an increase in matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) activity causing degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. We studied intestinal tissue remodeling by quantifying ECM protein fragments in serum in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis, to investigate ECM protein fragments as serological biomarkers of intestinal tissue […]

Abstract Local inflammation in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) leads to the release of collagen metabolites from the disease-affected tissue. We investigated whether collagen metabolites were associated with disease activity and could distinguish non-radiographic(nr)-axSpA from ankylosing spondylitis (AS). A total of 193 axSpA patients (nr-axSpA, n = 121 and AS, n = 72) and asymptomatic controls (n = 100) were included. Serum levels […]