Esther Lutgens MD, PhD

Dr. Esther Lutgens studied Medicine at the University of Maastricht and did a PhD in Experimental Vascular Pathology during her studies, resulting in an MD-PhD degree in 2001. In 2001, she obtained the TALENT stipend from NWO, which enabled her to do her post-doctoral fellowships at Harvard University in Boston, MA, and at Dartmouth University in Hanover, NH, USA (2002-2004). After her return at the University of Maastricht, she obtained a VENI-grant (NWO), a Dr. E. Dekker fellowship (DHF) then a VIDI grant (NWO), which allowed her to set up her own laboratory on Experimental Vascular Immuno-pathology. Focus of her research is the role of immune-modulation in atherosclerosis.

Her publications are as follows;
Chatzigeorgiou A, Seijkens T, Zarzycka B, Engel D, Poggi M, van den Berg S, van den Berg S, Soehnlein O, Winkels H, Beckers L, Lievens D, Driessen A, Kusters P, Biessen E, Garcia-Martin R, Klotzsche-von Ameln A, Gijbels M, Noelle R, Boon L, Hackeng T, Schulte K, Xu A, Vriend G, Nabuurs S, Chung KJ, Willems van Dijk K, Rensen PCN, Gerdes N, de Winther M, Block NL, Schally AV, Weber C, Bornstein SR, Nicolaes G, Chavakis T, Lutgens E, Blocking CD40-TRAF6 signaling is a therapeutic target in obesity-associated insulin resistance. P NATL ACAD SCI USA 2014;111 (7):2686-2691.
Lievens D, Habets KL, Robertson AK, Laouar Y, Winkels H, Rademakers T, Beckers L, Wijnands E, Boon L, Mosaheb M, Ait-Oufella H, Mallat Z, Flavell RA, Rudling M, Binder CJ, Gerdes N, Biessen EAL, Weber C, Daemen MJAP, Kuiper J, Lutgens E, Abrogated transforming growth factor beta receptor II (TGF?RII) signalling in dendritic cells promotes immune reactivity of T cells resulting in enhanced atherosclerosis. EUR HEART J 2013;34 (48):3717-3727.
Lutgens E, Lievens D, Beckers L, Wijnands E, Soehnlein O, Zernecke A, Seijkens T, Engel D, Cleutjens J, Keller AM, Naik SH, Boon L, Oufella HA, Mallat Z, Ahonen CL, Noelle RJ, de Winther MP, Daemen MJ, Biessen EA, Weber C, Deficient CD40-TRAF6 signaling in leukocytes prevents atherosclerosis by skewing the immune response toward an antiinflammatory profile. J EXP MED 2010;207 (2):391-404.
Lievens D, Zernecke A, Seijkens T, Soehnlein O, Beckers L, Munnix ICA, Wijnands E, Goossens P, van Kruchten R, Thevissen L, Boon L, Flavell RA, Noelle RJ, Gerdes N, Biessen EA, Daemen MJAP, Heemskerk JWM, Weber C, Lutgens E, Platelet CD40L mediates thrombotic and inflammatory processes in atherosclerosis. BLOOD 2010;116 (20):4317-4327.
Donners MMPC, Beckers L, Lievens D, Munnix I, Heemskerk J, Janssen BJ, Wijnands E, Cleutjens J, Zernecke A, Weber C, Ahonen CL, Benbow U, Newby AC, Noelle RJ, Daemen MJAP, Lutgens E, The CD40-TRAF6 axis is the key regulator of the CD40/CD40L system in neointima formation and arterial remodeling. BLOOD 2008;111 (9):4596-4604.