Protein chemistry, proteomics & epigenetic signaling (PPES)

Address

Keywords

epigenetics, cancer-inflammation, phytochemical, cardiovascular, neuroendocrinology

Models

cell models (breast cancer, colon, myeloma, neuroblastoma, endothelial), songbird brain imaging models, zebrafish models, mouse cancer models, Alzheimer disease mouse models

Techniques

CpG pyrosequencing, Illumina array, Illumina 450 K array, RNAseq, ChIP, Pamgene peptide array kinase profiling, cell signaling assays, hdac assays, reportergene assays (NFkB, GR), peptide array hormone receptor cofactor profiling

Collaborations outside COST

MC member COST action "Interindividual variation in response to consumption of plant food bioactives and determinants involved (POSITIVe)" http://www.cost.eu/COST_Actions/fa/FA1403 http://www6.inra.fr/cost-positive

Short description of ongoing research projects

- Epigenetic reprogramming of glucocorticoid therapy resistance in multiple myeloma - Epigenetic reprogramming of triple negative breast cancer by phytochemicals (steroidal withanolides, xanthones, polyphenols) - Image guided characterisation of epigenetic plasticity during brain development in the zebrafinch songbird - Evaluation of epigenetic biomarkers associated with cardiometabolic health following pesticide exposure

Publications

1. From inflammaging to healthy aging by dietary lifestyle choices: is epigenetics the key to personalized nutrition? Szarc vel Szic K, Declerck K, Vidaković M, Vanden Berghe W. Clin Epigenetics. 2015 Mar 25;7(1):33. doi: 10.1186/s13148-015-0068-2.
2. SNP-guided identification of monoallelic DNA-methylation events from enrichment-based sequencing data. Steyaert S, Van Criekinge W, De Paepe A, Denil S, Mensaert K, Vandepitte K, Vanden Berghe W, Trooskens G, De Meyer T. Nucleic Acids Res. 2014 Nov 10;42(20):e157. doi: 10.1093/nar/gku847.
3. Pharmacological levels of Withaferin A (Withania somnifera) trigger clinically relevant anticancer effects specific to triple negative breast cancer cells. Szarc vel Szic K, Op de Beeck K, Ratman D, Wouters A, Beck IM, Declerck K, Heyninck K, Fransen E, Bracke M, De Bosscher K, Lardon F, Van Camp G, Vanden Berghe W. PLoS One. 2014 Feb 3;9(2):e87850
4. Epigenetic impact of dietary polyphenols in cancer chemoprevention: lifelong remodeling of our epigenomes. Vanden Berghe W. Pharmacol Res. 2012 Jun;65(6):565-76.
5. Dietary flavanols modulate the transcription of genes associated with cardiovascular pathology without changes in their DNA methylation state. Milenkovic D, Vanden Berghe W, Boby C, Leroux C, Declerck K, Szarc vel Szic K, Heyninck K, Laukens K, Bizet M, Defrance M, Dedeurwaerder S, Calonne E, Fuks F, Haegeman G, Haenen GR, Bast A, Weseler AR. PLoS One. 2014 Apr 24;9(4):e95527

Other activities of potential interest to others

Collaboration with drug development center (CIDEM) - University Havana-Cuba https://www.researchgate.net/institution/Centro_de_Investigacion_y_Desarrollo_de_Medicamentos_CIDEM Collaboration with Center for Marine Bioproducts, CEBIMAR, Havana-Cuba https://www.researchgate.net/institution/Centro_De_Bioproductos_Marinos_CEBIMAR UA link with Antwerp Drug Discovery Network (ADDN) https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/rg/antwerp-drug-discovery-network/ UA links with bioimaging network https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/rg/egami/