Thesis Janita Oosterhoff
On 17 March 2026, Sanquin researcher Janita Oosterhoff defended her PhD Thesis 'Maternal antibodies to fetal platelets: a complex-related story' at Utrecht University
Promotores: prof G Vidarsson MD and prof CE van der Schoot MD PhD
Venue: Academy building, Utrecht University
Although our findings did not reveal a definitive antibody signature for severe disease, the previously proposed biomarker of αvβ3-specific antibodies has been questioned and falsified. Other features such as glycosylation and functional properties have been emerged as more relevant predictors. Given the complexity of the immune response, it is unlikely that a single biomarker will be predictive but rather a panel of markers is needed. We support the initiation of a screening program based on current knowledge which can be refined over time as more data becomes available.
Chapters
Chapter 1
General introduction and scope of the thesis
Chapter 2
Afucosylated IgG responses in humans - structural clues to the regulation of humoral immunity abstract
Chapter 3
Generation of human antibodies targeting human platelet antigen (HPA)-la abstract
Chapter 4
Patient-derived monoclonal anti-HPA-la can induce platelet activation through FcyRIla
Chapter 5
HPA-la antibodies in FNAIT do not distinguish avps from allbps and bind inactive integrins more strongly than active integrins abstract
Chapter 6
Fc galactosylation of anti-platelet human IgGI alloantibodies enhances complement activation on platelets abstract
Chapter 7
Altered glycosylation profile of anti-HPA-1a-specific antibodies: Insights from a prospective FNAIT cohort abstract
Chapter 8
General discussion and future perspectives
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