Saskia C.A. de Jager & Suzanne J.A. Korporaal

Autoimmunity at the crossroad of coagulation and inflammation in Atrial Fibrillation

Saskia C.A. de Jager & Suzanne J.A. Korporaal

There is mounting evidence that, in addition to hypercoagulability, inflammation is an important contributor to atrial remodeling and AF development. Apart from that AF includes endothelial damage, which is reflected by the presence of autoantibodies directed against endothelial cells. Anti-endothelial cell autoantibodies can form immune-complexes, bind to damaged endothelium and induce platelet aggregation and subsequent thrombus formation.

Beyond their prominent role in hemostasis and thrombosis, platelets are increasingly recognized as being key players in several other biological disease processes, like fibrosis and immune regulation. Platelets interplay with damaged endothelium, interact with immune cells, provide the surface for activation of the coagulation system, and are the storage site of bioactive molecules involved in tissue injury and remodeling. Thus, plateletsmay be the key connecting inflammation with the progression of AF.

We hypothesize that the presence of chronic inflammation triggers auto-immune responses targeting the dysfunctional endothelium, thereby providing a substrate for platelet activation, culminating in an active contribution to the onset and progression of AF.

With this research grant, we will be able to create the fundament of our collaborative research line on the crossroad of autoimmunity and platelet-dependent responses in cardiovascular disease, which hopefully will create opportunities to generate additional funding.

Saskia C.A. de Jager
Assistant Professor and staff member in the Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology which is part of the Circulatory Health Program at the University Medical Center Utrecht and University of Utrecht. Specialized in cardiovascular immunology and experimental disease models. Over the last years I have focused on inflammatory mediators and circulating cells as biomarkers and causal players in cardiovascular disease, including atherosclerosis, myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury and heart failure. The ultimate aim of my research is to identify novel immunomodulatory therapeutic targets for the treatment of CAD and Heart failure.
Suzanne J.A. Korporaal
Assistant Professor and staff member in the Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology at the University Medical Center Utrecht and University of Utrecht. My research is part of the Circulatory Health Program. I am specialized in platelet biology in relation to cardiovascular disease, and platelet function diagnostics. Over the last years, my research focused on developing and standardizing a diagnostic platelet function test to determine platelet reactivity in relation to bleeding. At present, my research focuses on the development of atherosclerotic plaque erosion in women, with emphasis on the interaction of circulating cells with cells within the vasculature of the heart. Additionally, I aim to look for women-specific substances or abnormalities in the vessel wall and blood that are specific to the disease process. The ultimate aim of my research is to reveal the role of platelets in cardiac disease development and to develop tools for early identification of patients at risk of CAD, taking gender differences into account.