Publications

Abstract Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition. One of the unmet medical needs in PD, are tools for better diagnosis, prognosis, and efficacy of treatment, which reflects the disease course of the individual patient. Alpha-Synuclein (α-Synuclein) is a hallmark of synucleinopathies such as PD, where α-Synuclein aggregates are deposited. Calpain-1 is an enzyme, […]

Abstract BACKGROUND Ulcerative colitis (UC) is characterized by recurrent inflammation and challenging disease monitoring, with invasive endoscopy as the primary diagnostic tool despite the inadequacy of standard noninvasive biomarkers. This study evaluates serum extracellular matrix (ECM) fragments, which reflect the remodeling of mucosa and submucosa, as potential indicators of disease burden and treatment efficacy. We […]

Abstract INTRODUCTION The pathogenesis of sarcoidosis involves tissue remodelling mediated by the accumulation of abnormal extracellular matrix, which is partly the result of an imbalance in collagen synthesis, cross-linking and degradation. During this process, collagen fragments or neoepitopes, are released into the circulation. The significance of these circulating collagen neoepitopes in sarcoidosis remains unknown. METHODS […]

Abstract Understanding the tumor microenvironment (TME) and extracellular matrix (ECM) is crucial in cancer research due to their impact on tumor progression. Collagens, major ECM components, regulate cell signaling and behavior. Of the 28 reported collagens, type XII collagen is known to be vital for ECM organization. Over-produced by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), its upregulation correlates […]

Abstract BACKGROUND Previous studies have indicated the utility of the ADAM10-generated fragment of tau, Tau-A, as marker of neuronal damage. However, the sensitivity of the ELISA-based system was limited. OBJECTIVES We utilized the extensive dynamic range of electrochemiluminescence compared to colorimetric assessment to improve the sensitivity of the Tau-A assay and investigate Tau-A levels after […]

Abstract BACKGROUND & AIMS The development of accurate non-invasive tests to detect and measure the extent of fibrosis and disease activity in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) – the progressive phenotype of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) – is of great clinical importance. Herein, we aimed to validate the performance of PRO-C3 and ADAPT for […]

Abstract BACKGROUND Remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is a central mechanism in the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and remodeling of type VI collagen has been suggested to be associated with disease progression. Biomarkers that reflect and predict the progression of IPF would provide valuable information for clinicians when treating IPF patients. METHODS […]

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 Impaired intestinal epithelial barrier is highly affected in inflammatory bowel disease. Transmembrane collagens connecting the epithelial cells to the extracellular matrix have an important role in epithelial cell homeostasis. Thus, we sought to determine whether the transmembrane type 23 collagen could serve as a surrogate marker for disease activity in patients with Crohn’s […]

Abstract Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic musculoskeletal inflammatory disease found in up to 30% of psoriasis patients. Prolargin-an extracellular matrix (ECM) protein present in cartilage and tendon-has been previously shown elevated in serum of patients with psoriasis. ECM protein fragments can reflect tissue turnover and pathological changes; thus, this study aimed to develop, validate […]