Thijs Sluiter, BSc
After obtaining a bachelor degree Medicine at Leiden University in 2019, Thijs Sluiter became a research fellow studying vascular biology in the lab of prof. C.K. Ozaki at Harvard University. In 2020, he started his PhD in the lab of prof. Paul Quax under the direct supervision of dr. M.R. de Vries at Leiden University. During this PhD, the team aims to understand the mechanisms underlying vascular remodeling to improve outcomes of venous bypass surgery, with a specific focus on delineating immune cell function and migration into the vessel wall. To this end, the team makes use of state-of-the-art imaging tools, such as ultrasound (VEVO3100) and intra-vital multiphoton imaging.
Most recent publications
Basic Vascular Science 2024 Meeting
Sluiter TJ, Cruddas L, Ninno F, Schmitz-Rixen T, Tsui J and de Vries MR
The Basic Vascular Science (BVS) meeting was set up to provide a forum for researchers and clinicians in the field to exchange knowledge and ideas and to foster cross-disciplinary collaborations. The BVS 2024 meeting was held in Berlin. Attended by vascular surgeons and physicians, interventional radiologists, basic science researchers, and engineers, the meeting continues to successfully attract both early career researchers and established clinician-scientists. Here, we report on the scientific sessions encompassing keynote lectures and oral presentations.
Short-Term Pre-Operative Protein Caloric Restriction in Elective Vascular Surgery Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Kip P, Sluiter TJ, Moore JK, Hart A, Ruske J, O'Leary J, Jung J, Tao M, MacArthur MR, Heindel P, de Jong A, de Vries MR, Burak MF, Mitchell SJ, Mitchell JR and Ozaki CK
(1) Background: Vascular surgery operations are hampered by high failure rates and frequent occurrence of peri-operative cardiovascular complications. In pre-clinical studies, pre-operative restriction of proteins and/or calories (PCR) has been shown to limit ischemia-reperfusion damage, slow intimal hyperplasia, and improve metabolic fitness. However, whether these dietary regimens are feasible and safe in the vascular surgery patient population remains unknown. (2) Methods: We performed a randomized controlled trial in patients scheduled for any elective open vascular procedure. Participants were randomized in a 3:2 ratio to either four days of outpatient pre-operative PCR (30% calorie, 70% protein restriction) or their regular ad-libitum diet. Blood was drawn at baseline, pre-operative, and post-operative day 1 timepoints. A leukocyte subset flow cytometry panel was performed at these timepoints. Subcutaneous/perivascular adipose tissue was sampled and analyzed. Follow-up was one year post-op. (3) Results: 19 patients were enrolled, of whom 11 completed the study. No diet-related reasons for non-completion were reported, and there was no intervention group crossover. The PCR diet induced weight loss and BMI decrease without malnutrition. Insulin sensitivity was improved after four days of PCR ( = 0.05). Between diet groups, there were similar rates of re-intervention, wound infection, and cardiovascular complications. Leukocyte populations were maintained after four days of PCR. (4) Conclusions: Pre-operative PCR is safe and feasible in elective vascular surgery patients.
Phosphorylcholine Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Decreases Intraplaque Angiogenesis and Intraplaque Hemorrhage in Murine Vein Grafts
Baganha F, Sluiter TJ, de Jong RCM, van Alst LA, Peters HAB, Jukema JW, Delibegovic M, Pettersson K, Quax PHA and de Vries MR
Phosphorylcholine (PC) is one of the main oxLDL epitopes playing a central role in atherosclerosis, due to its atherogenic and proinflammatory effects. PC can be cleared by natural IgM antibodies and low levels of these antibodies have been associated with human vein graft (VG) failure. Although PC antibodies are recognized for their anti-inflammatory properties, their effect on intraplaque angiogenesis (IPA) and intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH)-interdependent processes contributing to plaque rupture-are unknown. We hypothesized that new IgG phosphorylcholine antibodies (PC-mAb) could decrease vulnerable lesions in murine VGs.Therefore, hypercholesterolemic male ApoE3*Leiden mice received a (donor) caval vein interposition in the carotid artery and weekly IP injections of (5 mg/kg) PCmAb (n = 11) or vehicle (n = 12) until sacrifice at day 28. We found that PCmAb significantly decreased vein graft media (13%), intima lesion (25%), and increased lumen with 32% compared to controls. PCmAb increased collagen content (18%) and decreased macrophages presence (31%). PCmAb resulted in 23% decreased CD163+ macrophages content in vein grafts whereas CD163 expression was decreased in Hb:Hp macrophages. PCmAb significantly lowered neovessel density (34%), EC proliferation and migration with/out oxLDL stimulation. Moreover, PCmAb enhanced intraplaque angiogenic vessels maturation by increasing neovessel pericyte coverage in vivo (31%). Together, this resulted in a 62% decrease in IPH. PCmAb effectively inhibits murine atherosclerotic lesion formation in vein grafts by reducing IPA and IPH via decreased neovessel density and macrophages influx and increased neovessel maturation. PC-mAb therefore holds promise as a new therapeutic approach to prevent vein graft disease.
Short-term Pre-operative Methionine Restriction Induces Browning of Perivascular Adipose Tissue and Improves Vein Graft Remodeling in Mice
Kip P, Sluiter TJ, MacArthur MR, Tao M, Jung J, Mitchell SJ, Kooijman S, Kruit N, Gorham J, Seidman JG, Quax PHA, Aikawa M, Ozaki CK, Mitchell JR and de Vries MR
Short-term preoperative methionine restriction (MetR) shows promise as a translatable strategy to modulate the body's response to surgical injury. Its application, however, to improve post-interventional vascular remodeling remains underexplored. Here, we find that MetR protects from arterial intimal hyperplasia in a focal stenosis model and adverse vascular remodeling after vein graft surgery. RNA sequencing reveals that MetR enhances the brown adipose tissue phenotype in arterial perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) and induces it in venous PVAT. Specifically, PPAR-α was highly upregulated in PVAT-adipocytes. Furthermore, MetR dampens the post-operative pro-inflammatory response to surgery in PVAT-macrophages and . This study shows for the first time that the detrimental effects of dysfunctional PVAT on vascular remodeling can be reversed by MetR, and identifies pathways involved in browning of PVAT. Furthermore, we demonstrate the potential of short-term pre-operative MetR as a simple intervention to ameliorate vascular remodeling after vascular surgery.
Myeloid PHD2 Conditional Knockout Improves Intraplaque Angiogenesis and Vascular Remodeling in a Murine Model of Venous Bypass Grafting
Sluiter TJ, Tillie RJHA, de Jong A, de Bruijn JBG, Peters HAB, van de Leijgraaf R, Halawani R, Westmaas M, Starink LIW, Quax PHA, Sluimer JC and de Vries MR
Intraplaque angiogenesis occurs in response to atherosclerotic plaque hypoxia, which is driven mainly by highly metabolically active macrophages. Improving plaque oxygenation by increasing macrophage hypoxic signaling, thus stimulating intraplaque angiogenesis, could restore cellular function and neovessel maturation, and decrease plaque formation. Prolyl hydroxylases (PHDs) regulate cellular responses to hypoxia. We therefore aimed to elucidate the role of myeloid PHD2, the dominant PHD isoform, on intraplaque angiogenesis in a murine model for venous bypass grafting.