Units

Laboratory of Experimental Medicine(CHU Charleroi-Hop Vesale)

Person in charge of the Unit : Oui

The Laboratory of Experimental Medicine is established in a community Hospital, affiliated to the Free University of Brussels; the team is formed by clinicians and researchers, in constant interactivity .The research domains are often choosen to solve observations or problems encountered in clinical practice.Research subjects concern the mechanisms of diseases(atherosclerosis and oxydative stress,sepsis,liver ischemia,cancer,thrombosis,sleep apnea syndrome,COPD,benign prostatic hypertrophy),diagnosis(cardio-vascular diseases),the therapeutic domein(coagulation,inflammation,cardio-vascular stents).The clinicians attached to our laboratory are also involved in clinical education,and want to translate in their clinical approach the lessons of the experimental approach they need in their laboratory work.

Projetcs

Cerebellum and Ataxias

Oxidatif stress and Cerebellum

Cyclic nucleotide phospho-diesterases and sepsis

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDE)regulate the intracellular levels of cAMP and cGMP and are ubiquitously distributed in mammalian tissues.An increasing number of studies have pointed out links between inflammation and PDE, providing a rationale for studying PDE inhibitors in the treatment of inflammatory conditions and particularly sepsis.

Study of salivary proteins of the tick ixodes ricinus

Tick salivary gland proteins have multiple properties:anti-inflammatory,anticoagulant...)

Adipocytokins and inflammation in the metabolic syndrome

Visceral obesity is associated with type II diabetes and with atheromatosis;the aim of this project is to explore the adipocytokines associated with visceral obesity,in comparison with diffuse obesity.

Diagnosis of cardio-vascular risk with multi-parametric blood tests

The reserch aims to develop rapid multi-parametric blood tests to assess the cardio-vascular risk,especially in connection with the inflammatory status of atherosclerosis in humans.

Early mechanisms of human atheromatosis

The aim is to understand the early mechanisms of the development of the human atheromatous process,studying interactions  between endothelial cells,coagulation(fibrinolysis),inflammatory triggers like MPO oxydised LDL and the immune system   ; the laboratory has developped an automated and reproducible method of fibriolysis measurement, a model of co-culture (endothelial cells - smooth muscle cells) is now being developped;the laboratory developps a model of endothelial cells  culture exposed to a pulsatile flux;recombinant MPO and antibodies to MPO oxydized  LDL are part of our tools.Owing to his position in a large general hospital,the laboratoty has access to large cohorts of patients,with their biological samples and clinical data, respecting the rules of the ethical commitees.

Study of the mechanisms of hyperplasic stenosis in intra-arterial stents.

The treatment of cardio-vascular diseases is surgical or medical,with stenting.Post-stenting re-stenosis is a frequent probleme.The aim of this project is to understand the role of shear-stress in the post-stenting re-stenosis.

Isolated liver ischemia-reperfusion:animal model

Study of cellular metabolism of the isolated liver exposed to ischemia and then reperfused