email: p.hordijk@amsterdamumc.nl

Research interests

The integrity of the vascular wall is dependent on cell-cell contact between endothelial cells, mediated by VE (Vascular Endothelial)-cadherin (CD144), The adhesive function of VE-cadherin is regulated by extracellular stimuli (VEGF, TNF, thrombin) and intracellular signalling. Our group focuses on the regulation of actin dynamics in the context of endothelial integrity. We study the regulation and stability of Rho-like GTPases, using 2D and 3D in vitro approaches including high resolution imaging and self-organizing microvascular networks. Related research link our molecular studies in endothelial cells to human disease. In collaboration with our colleagues from the clinic, we focus primarily on hypertensive and inflammatory disorders as well as disease of the vascular wall.

Key publications 

1. Podieh F, Overboom MC, Knol JC, Piersma SR, Goeij-de Haas R, Pham TV, Jimenez CR, Hordijk PL. AAMP and MTSS1 Are Novel Negative Regulators of Endothelial Barrier Function Identified in a Proteomics Screen. Cells. 2024; 13(19):1609. doi: 10.3390/cells13191609.
2. Podieh F, Wensveen R, Overboom MC, Abbas L, Majolée J, Hordijk PL. Differential role for rapid proteostasis in Rho GTPase-mediated control of quiescent endothelial integrity. J Biol Chem. 2023 ;299(4):104593. doi: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104593.
3. Madsen MC, Podieh F, Overboom MC, Thijs A, den Heijer M, Hordijk PL. The effect of circulating iron on barrier integrity of primary human endothelial cells. Sci Rep. 2023;13(1):16857. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-44122-6
4. Majolée J, Podieh F, Hordijk PL, Kovačević I. The interplay of Rac1 activity, ubiquitination and GDI binding and its consequences for endothelial cell spreading. PLoS One. 2021;16(7):e0254386. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254386.
5. Pronk MCA, Majolée J, Loregger A, van Bezu JSM, Zelcer N, Hordijk PL, Kovačević I. FBXW7 regulates endothelial barrier function by suppression of the cholesterol synthesis pathway and prenylation of RhoB. Mol Biol Cell. 2019;30(5):607-621. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E18-04-0259.

Ongoing research

• Innovative modelling of the human microcirculation by merging vascular cell biology with computational science (Joint project with the dept of Computational Science, UvA). PIs: P. Hordijk / A. Hoekstra. Funding: ZonMW
• 3D modeling of Vascular disease. PI: P. Hordijk. Funding: VUmc

Group members

• Philipp Hauger, PhD student
• Jasmine Kiers, PhD student
• Antonio Aquaviva, PhD student (UvA)
• Max Overboom, Technician

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