Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences

Next week, Vera Janssen will defend her PhD thesis, unveiling new discoveries about how blood vessels form, remodel, and sometimes malfunction. Her research not only advances our understanding of vascular development but also opens doors to potential treatments for vascular diseases.

Understanding Vascular Networks

Blood vessels are among the first structures to develop in the human embryo, forming a complex network essential for life. “The vascular system is a fascinating and complex network, one that we still don’t fully understand,” says Vera Janssen. Her research focuses on how endothelial cells, the cells lining blood vessels, move and adhere to each other to build this network.

The Role of Cell Adhesion

Janssen’s work highlights the importance of asymmetric adherens junctions (AAJs), specialized adhesive structures that guide the collective migration of endothelial cells. “I describe the 3D membrane structure of AAJs and map which proteins are involved,” she explains. Using advanced imaging techniques, she discovered that these junctions are crucial for coordinated cell movement. “When that goes wrong, cells move randomly which causes blood vessels to grow incorrectly,” Janssen notes.

Genetic Causes of Malformations

The thesis also explores what happens when blood vessel development goes awry, focusing on capillary malformations caused by mutations in the GNAQ gene. “By understanding how cells collaborate to form blood vessels, we also learn what can go wrong in disease,” Janssen says. Her research identified that the GNAQ mutation disrupts key signaling pathways, which could point to new therapeutic targets.

Advanced Research Tools

To uncover these mechanisms, Janssen used zebrafish embryos and state-of-the-art microscopy. “By pasting fluorescing ‘flags’ onto proteins inside the cells, I can track what happens inside a living cell,” she explains. This approach allowed her to observe cell movements and interactions in real time.

Microscopy image of the zebrafish model

A Sense of Wonder

Beyond medical science, Janssen hopes her work inspires curiosity about the body’s inner workings. “It shows how complex and yet elegant these building blocks of life are,” she reflects.