Arno R. van der Slik
Research:
During my study Biochemistry I got interested in the emerging field of genetics and molecular biology. These techniques (for example genotyping using PCR and Taqman, Sanger sequencing, heteroduplex -and microsatellite fragment analysis) became the most prominent tool in the search for potential risk SNPs that play a role in the development towards Type 1 Diabetes. Genes that have been confirmed to be associated with Type 1 Diabetes include for example HLA genes, INS, CTLA4, PTPN22 and KIR genes. Subsequently, the question was raised through what mechanisms these candidate genes might contribute to Type 1 Diabetes development. Therefore, research focus has moved towards the transcriptional regulation of risk genes conferred by miRNAs, the effect of RNA editing of mRNA by RNA editing enzymes and ribosome footprinting in order to discover alternative ribosomal initiation sites.
Curriculum Vitae:
I obtained my degree in Biochemistry at the University of Applied Sciences Alkmaar in 1994, after completing an internship at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Free University Amsterdam, studying G protein subunits in a molluscan nervous system. After graduation I fulfilled my substitute military service at TNO Health and Prevention Leiden, studying angiogenesis. I joined the Department immunohematology and Bloodtransfusion at Leiden University Medical Center in 1996, studying genetic susceptibility towards the development of Type 1 Diabetes. The main focus of our research has shifted towards the transcriptional regulation of genes that might play a role in the pathogenesis of Type 1 Diabetes. This research is performed in strong collaboration with the Zaldumbide Group at the Department of Cell and Chemical Biology.
Publications
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Differential transcriptome of tolerogenic versus inflammatory dendritic cells points to modulated T1D genetic risk and enriched immune regulation
Nikolic T, Woittiez NJC, van der Slik A, Laban S, Joosten A, Gysemans C, Mathieu C, Zwaginga JJ1, Koeleman B, Roep BO
Genes Immun. 2017 Sep;18(3):176-183. doi: 10.1038/gene.2017.18. Epub 2017 Aug 10.
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Autoimmunity against a defective ribosomal insulin gene product in type 1 diabetes.
Kracht MJ, van Lummel M, Nikolic T, Joosten AM, Laban S, van der Slik AR, van Veelen PA, Carlotti F, de Koning EJ, Hoeben RC, Zaldumbide A, Roep BO
Nat Med. 2017 Apr;23(4):501-507. doi: 10.1038/nm.4289. Epub 2017 Feb 27.
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Survival of autoreactive T lymphocytes by microRNA-mediated regulation of apoptosis through TRAIL and Fas in type 1 diabetes.
de Jong VM, van der Slik AR, Laban S, van 't Slot R, Koeleman BP, Zaldumbide A, Roep BO
Genes Immun. 2016 Sep;17(6):342-8. doi: 10.1038/gene.2016.29. Epub 2016 Jul 28.
