The paper identifies gene signatures of endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition in human atherosclerotic tissue using combined in vitro and single-cell transcriptomic data.

Vascular Pharmacology · May 1, 2025Peer-reviewedMolecular Biology

Female gene networks are expressed in myofibroblast-like smooth muscle cells in vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques.

Ernest Diez Benavente, Santosh Karnewar, Michele F. Buono, Eloi Mili, Robin J. G. Hartman, Daniek Kapteijn, Lotte Slenders, Mark Daniels, Rédouane Aherrahrou, Tobias Reinberger, Barend M. Mol, Gert Jan de Borst, Dominique P.V. de Kleijn, Koen H.M. Prange, Marie A.C. Depuydt, , Hester M. den Ruijter

The paper identifies sex-stratified gene regulatory networks in atherosclerotic plaques, showing female plaques are enriched with myofibroblast-like smooth muscle cell networks.

Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology · Aug 17, 2023Peer-reviewedBioinformatics

Sex-dependent gene regulation of human atherosclerotic plaques by DNA methylation and transcriptome integration points to smooth muscle cell involvement in women.

Robin J. G. Hartman, Marten Antoon Siemelink, Saskia Haitjema, Koen F. Dekkers, Lotte Slenders, Arjan Boltjes, Michal Mokrý, Nathalie Timmerman, Gert Jan de Borst, Bas T. Heijmans, Folkert Wouter Asselbergs, Gerard Pasterkamp, Sander W. van der Laan, Hester M. den Ruijter

Atherosclerosis · Aug 1, 2021Peer-reviewedGenomics

Exploring the Causal Effects of Shear Stress Associated DNA Methylation on Cardiovascular Risk

Ruben Methorst, Gert Jan de Borst, Gerard Pasterkamp, Sander W. van der Laan

This study investigates the causal relationship between DNA methylation of shear stress-associated genes in carotid plaques and cardiovascular disease risk using Mendelian randomisation, finding no significant association.

Atherosclerosis · Apr 6, 2021Peer-reviewedGenetics

Common variants associated with OSMR expression contribute to carotid plaque vulnerability, but not to cardiovascular disease in humans

D. van Keulen, Ian D. van Koeverden, Arjan Boltjes, H.M.G. Princen, A.J. van Gool, Gert Jan de Borst, Folkert Wouter Asselbergs, Dennie Tempel, Gerard Pasterkamp, Sander W. van der Laan

The paper identifies a genetic variant associated with increased carotid plaque vulnerability but not with cardiovascular disease risk in humans.

bioRxiv · Mar 2, 2021 · PreprintGenetics

Family history and polygenic risk of cardiovascular disease: independent factors associated with secondary cardiovascular manifestations in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy

Nathalie Timmerman, Dominique P.V. de Kleijn, Gert Jan de Borst, Hester M. den Ruijter, Folkert Wouter Asselbergs, Gerard Pasterkamp, Saskia Haitjema, Sander W. van der Laan

This study examines the association between family history and polygenic risk scores with secondary cardiovascular events in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy, finding both factors independently increase risk.

Atherosclerosis · May 3, 2020Peer-reviewedGenetic & Genomic Medicine

Polygenic Susceptibility of Aortic Aneurysms Associates to the Diameter of the Aneurysm Sac: the Aneurysm-Express Biobank Cohort.

Constance J.H.C.M. van Laarhoven, Jessica van Setten, Joost A. van Herwaarden, Gerard Pasterkamp, Dominique P.V. de Kleijn, Gert Jan de Borst, Sander W. van der Laan

The paper investigates the association between genetic risk variants and clinical features of abdominal aortic aneurysms using a biobank cohort, finding a weak polygenic correlation with aneurysm diameter but no clear individual variant associations.

Scientific Reports · Dec 27, 2019Peer-reviewedGenetics