Remco Megens

Guest scientist

Dr Remco Megens combines his PI position at IPEK/LMU (Munich) with a position as visiting scientist at CARIM Department of Biomedical Engineering. His major research focus is the development and application of advanced microscopic methods and novel labeling strategies for atherosclerosis research. Advanced microscopic techniques have been extensively used to study various aspects of atherosclerosis in various experimental models. Application of two-photon laser scanning microscopy (TPLSM) for our research has a strong emphasis on its utilisation in the cardiovascular field. Novel TPLSM methods and labeling strategies have been developed that enable specific imaging of morphological and functional aspects of large arteries and leukocyte recruitment both in vivo and ex vivo. Besides imaging of samples at a microscopic resolution, Remco utilises and develops novel applications and staining strategies for multicolor superresolution (utilizing STED) to study atherosclerosis in 3D at a nanoscopic level.

Department of Biomedical engineering
Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht
PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht

  • 2014
    • Schober, A., Nazari-Jahantigh, M., Wei, Y., Bidzhekov, K., Gremse, F., Grommes, J., Megens, R. T. A., Heyll, K., Noels, H., Hristov, M., Wang, S., Kiessling, F., Olson, E. N., & Weber, C. (2014). MicroRNA-126-5p promotes endothelial proliferation and limits atherosclerosis by suppressing Dlk1. Nature Medicine, 20(4), 368–376. https://doi.org/10.1038/nm.3487
    • Doering, Y., Noels, H., Mandl, M., Kramp, B., Neideck, C., Lievens, D., Drechsler, M., Megens, R. T. A., Tilstam, P. V., Langer, M., Hartwig, H., Theelen, W., Marth, J. D., Sperandio, M., Soehnlein, O., & Weber, C. (2014). Deficiency of the Sialyltransferase St3Gal4 Reduces-Ccl5Mediated Myeloid Cell Recruitment and Arrest. Circulation Research, 114(6), 976-981. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.114.302426
    • Chevre, R., Maria Gonzalez-Granado, J., Megens, R. T. A., Sreeramkumar, V., Silvestre-Roig, C., Molina-Sanchez, P., Weber, C., Soehnlein, O., Hidalgo, A., & Andres, V. (2014). High-Resolution Imaging of Intravascular Atherogenic Inflammation in Live Mice. Circulation Research, 114(5), 770-779. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.114.302590
    • Aoqui, C., Chmielewski, S., Scherer, E., Eissler, R., Sollinger, D., Heid, I., Braren, R., Schmaderer, C., Megens, R. T. A., Weber, C., Heemann, U., Tschoep, M., & Baumann, M. (2014). Microvascular dysfunction in the course of metabolic syndrome induced by high-fat diet. Cardiovascular Diabetology, 13(1), Article 31. https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2840-13-31
    • Campos, D. F. D., Vogt, M., Lindner, M., Kirsten, A., Weber, M., Megens, R. T. A., Pyta, J., Zenke, M., Van Zandvoort, M., & Fischer, H. (2014). Two-Photon Laser Scanning Microscopy as a Useful Tool for Imaging and Evaluating Macrophage-, IL-4 Activated Macrophage-and Osteoclast-based In Vitro Degradation of Beta-Tricalcium Phosphate Bone Substitute Material. Microscopy Research and Technique, 77(2), 143-152. https://doi.org/10.1002/jemt.22321
    • Schmitt, M. M. N., Megens, R. T. A., Zernecke, A., Bidzhekov, K., van den Akker, N. M., Rademakers, T., van Zandvoort, M. A., Hackeng, T. M., Koenen, R. R., & Weber, C. (2014). Endothelial Junctional Adhesion Molecule-A Guides Monocytes Into Flow-Dependent Predilection Sites of Atherosclerosis. Circulation, 129(1), 66–76. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.113.004149
    • Spronck, B., Megens, R. T. A., Reesink, K. D., & Delhaas, T. (2014). Three-dimensional vascular smooth muscle orientation as quantitatively assessed by multiphoton microscopy: mouse carotid arteries do show a helix. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, 2014, 202-5. https://doi.org/10.1109/EMBC.2014.6943564
  • 2013
    • Kramp, B. K., Megens, R. T. A., Sarabi, A., Winkler, S., Projahn, D., Weber, C., Koenen, R. R., & von Hundelshausen, P. (2013). Exchange of extracellular domains of CCR1 and CCR5 reveals confined functions in CCL5-mediated cell recruitment. Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 110(4), 795-806. https://doi.org/10.1160/TH13-05-0420
    • Wantha, S., Alard, J.-E., Megens, R. T. A., van der Does, A. M., Doering, Y., Drechsler, M., Pham, C. T. N., Wang, M.-W., Wang, J.-M., Gallo, R. L., von Hundelshausen, P., Lindbom, L., Hackeng, T., Weber, C., & Soehnlein, O. (2013). Neutrophil-Derived Cathelicidin Promotes Adhesion of Classical Monocytes. Circulation Research, 112(5), 792-801. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.112.300666
  • 2012
    • Doering, Y., Manthey, H. D., Drechsler, M., Lievens, D., Megens, R. T. A., Soehnlein, O., Busch, M., Manca, M., Koenen, R. R., Pelisek, J., Daemen, M. J., Lutgens, E., Zenke, M., Binder, C. J., Weber, C., & Zernecke, A. (2012). Auto-Antigenic Protein-DNA Complexes Stimulate Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells to Promote Atherosclerosis. Circulation, 125(13), 1673-U190. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.111.046755
    • Megens, R. T. A., Vijayan, S., Lievens, D., Doering, Y., van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J., Grommes, J., Weber, C., & Soehnlein, O. (2012). Presence of luminal neutrophil extracellular traps in atherosclerosis. Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 107(3), 597-598. https://doi.org/10.1160/TH11-09-0650
  • 2011
    • Kuijpers, M. J. E., Megens, R. T. A., Nikookhesal, E., Feijge, M. A. H., De Mey, J. G. R., Egbrink, M. G. A. O., van Giezen, J. J. J., & Heemskerk, J. W. M. (2011). Role of newly formed platelets in thrombus formation in rat after clopidogrel treatment: comparison to the reversible binding P2Y(12) antagonist ticagrelor. Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 106(6), 1179-1188. https://doi.org/10.1160/TH11-04-0252
    • Reitsma, S., Egbrink, M. G. A. O., Heijnen, V. V. T., Megens, R. T. A., Engels, W., Vink, H., Slaaf, D. W., & van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J. (2011). Endothelial glycocalyx thickness and platelet-vessel wall interactions during atherogenesis. Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 106(5), 939-946. https://doi.org/10.1160/TH11-02-0133
    • Soehnlein, O., Wantha, S., Simsekyilmaz, S., Doering, Y., Megens, R. T. A., Mause, S. F., Drechsler, M., Smeets, R., Weinandy, S., Schreiber, F., Gries, T., Jockenhoevel, S., Moeller, M., Vijayan, S., van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J., Agerberth, B., Pham, C. C. T. N., Gallo, R. L., Hackeng, T. M., ... Weber, C. (2011). Neutrophil-Derived Cathelicidin Protects from Neointimal Hyperplasia. Science Translational Medicine, 3(103), 10. https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.3002531
    • Weber, C., Meiler, S., Doering, Y., Koch, M., Drechsler, M., Megens, R. T. A., Rowinska, Z., Bidzhekov, K., Fecher, C., Ribechini, E., van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J., Binder, C. J., Jelinek, I., Hristov, M., Boon, L., Jung, S., Korn, T., Lutz, M. B., Foerster, I., ... Zernecke, A. (2011). CCL17-expressing dendritic cells drive atherosclerosis by restraining regulatory T cell homeostasis in mice. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 121(7), 2898-2910. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI44925
    • Zhou, Z., Subramanian, P., Sevilmis, G., Globke, B., Soehnlein, O., Karshovska, E., Megens, R., Heyll, K., Chun, J., Saulnier-Blache, J. S., Reinholz, M., van Zandvoort, M., Weber, C., & Schobert, A. (2011). Lipoprotein-Derived Lysophosphatidic Acid Promotes Atherosclerosis by Releasing CXCL1 from the Endothelium. Cell Metabolism, 13(5), 592-600. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2011.02.016
    • Megens, R. T. A., Kemmerich, K., Pyta, J., Weber, C., & Soehnlein, O. (2011). Intravital imaging of phagocyte recruitment. Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 105(5), 802-810. https://doi.org/10.1160/TH10-11-0735
    • Douma, K., Megens, R. T. A., & van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J. (2011). Optical molecular imaging of atherosclerosis using nanoparticles: shedding new light on the darkness. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews-Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology, 3(4), 376-388. https://doi.org/10.1002/wnan.139
  • 2010
    • Drechsler, M., Megens, R. T. A., van Zandvoort, M., Weber, C., & Soehnlein, O. (2010). Hyperlipidemia-Triggered Neutrophilia Promotes Early Atherosclerosis. Circulation, 122(18), 1837–1845. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.110.961714
    • Subramanian, P., Karshovska, E., Reinhard, P., Megens, R. T. A., Zhou, Z., Akhtar, S., Schumann, U., Li, X., van Zandvoort, M., Ludin, C., Weber, C., & Schober, A. (2010). Lysophosphatidic Acid Receptors LPA1 and LPA3 Promote CXCL12-Mediated Smooth Muscle Progenitor Cell Recruitment in Neointima Formation. Circulation Research, 107(1), 96-U197. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.109.212647
    • van Triest, H. J. W., Megens, R. T. A., van Assen, H. C., Romeny, B. M. T. H., & van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J. (2010). Arterial radius estimation from microscopic data using a new algorithm for circle parameter estimation. Journal of Biomedical Optics, 15(2), 8. https://doi.org/10.1117/1.3368679
    • Megens, R. T. A., Reitsma, S., Prinzen, L., Egbrink, M. G. A. O., Engels, W., Leenders, P. J. A., Brunenberg, E. J. L., Reesink, K. D., Janssen, B. J. A., Romeny, B. M. T. H., Slaaf, D. W., & van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J. (2010). In vivo high-resolution structural imaging of large arteries in small rodents using two-photon laser scanning microscopy. Journal of Biomedical Optics, 15(1), 10. Article 011108. https://doi.org/10.1117/1.3281672