Managers: Prof Dr Erik Biessen (Pathology), Prof Dr Judith Sluimer (Pathology), Dr Pieter Goossens (Dr Adriaan Kraaijeveld (UMCU, access to clinical data)
Coordinator: Dr Marjo Donners, contact: marjo.donners@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Focus: Circulating cell marker search in coronary artery disease (CAD)
Study aim: Despite major efforts, the search for serum markers of (unstable) atherosclerotic plaque burden has so far been unsuccessful. As circulating cells play an active role in the pathogenesis of CVD and are a major source of secreted biomarkers, they may be better indicators of the actual cardiovascular disease state. The CTMM-funded multicenter CIRCULATING CELLS cohort was built to serve as resource for leukocyte-based biomarker discovery (see Hoefer et al., Clin Res Cardiol 2013 Nov;102(11):847-56).
Study setup: CAD patients were enrolled at four university medical centres (MUMC, UMCU, LUMC and CZE)
Cohort description: n=714, diagnosed unstable (UAP+STEMI) and stable angina pectoris, STEMI patients were excluded.
Exclusion criteria: STEMI, sepsis
Readouts: in-depth analysis of several circulating blood cell fractions at a protein, RNA and miRNA level with both clinical data and functional assays in CAD patients (see below scheme).
Blood sampling for CTMM CC cohort was done as follows:
Tissue available: plasma aliquots, PBMCs, platelets (Biochemistry)
Contact person: Dr Marjo Donners (email: marjo.donners@mumc.nl)