Koen Dekkers | 16-01-2025 | Effects of lipids on DNA methylation and gene expression of immune cells implicated in atherosclerosis Cardiovascular diseases, the leading cause of death worldwide, are often the result of atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory disease where lipids and immune cells accumulate in blood vessel walls. While LDL cholesterol has long been [...]
Pia Todtenhaupt | 18-12-2024 | Unravelling the developmental origins of disease: the power of mesenchymal stromal cells and monochorionic twins This thesis explores the mechanisms linking adverse intrauterine environments to long-term health risks. Therefore, the Twinlife study was established. This study includes monochorionic (MC) twins discordant for birthweight to investigate how prenatal nutrition affects growth, [...]
Nathalie Reilly | 30-10-2024 | The effects of triglycerides and fatty acids on T cells: role in atherosclerosis Atherosclerosis, a leading cause of cardiovascular disease, is characterized by lipid accumulation in blood vessel walls. This chronic inflammation leads to plaque formation, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. While traditionally linked to cholesterol [...]
Roderik Slieker | 09-02-2017 | Charting the dynamic methylome across the human lifespan In this thesis we aimed to get insight in how the methylome is established during development and subsequently degenerates during ageing using an integrative approach to the analysis of DNA methylation in conjunction with other levels of genomics data. The first [...]
Jenny van Dongen | 16-04-2015 | (Epi)genetics and twins The research described in this thesis was characterized by two major themes: the first was related to the question to which extent variation between individuals in inflammation biomarkers and metabolic syndrome traits are caused by the impact of genetic and environmental differences between people. The [...]
Rudolf Talens | 08-01-2015 |Studies into epigenetic variation and its contribution to cardiovascular disease Epigenetic mechanisms regulate cellular gene expression potential without changing the genetic code. Like the genetic sequence, epigenetic marks are faithfully transmitted during mitosis and are generally stable in differentiated cells, but in contrast with the static genome, the epigenome retains [...]
Elmar Tobi | 29-10-2013 | Epigenetic differences after prenatal adversity: The Dutch Hunger Winter This thesis is a study on the link between early development and adult health. Studies in animal models indicate that so-called epigenetic marks may be influenced by nutrition during development, changing the expression of genes implicated in disease. Epigenetics may [...]
