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Onderzoek Department of Genetics Staff
University Medical Center Groningen

Sebo Withoff, PhD

Associate professor
Dr Sebo Withoff

MSc: Biology (specialization Biochemistry), University of Groningen, 1991

PhD thesis: The role of the topoisomerases in drug resistance and sensitivity in human tumours, University of Groningen, 1996

Specialization: Molecular biology of immune cells

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Google Scholar

Keywords

Immune system, T-cells, B-cells, miRNA’s, functional genomics, lincRNAs

Research Interests

My main research interest is how an individual’s genetic make-up contributes to immune homeostasis in healthy individuals versus in autoimmune disease susceptibility. Recently, two pivotal observations have been made about the genetics of autimmune disease susceptiblity: (1) a considerable part of the genetic architecture of autoimmune diseases is shared between different autoimmune diseases, and (2) most genetic factors associated with autoimmune diseases (disease-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)) do not seem to alter the amino-acid sequence of protein-encoding genes but instead associate with (a) gene regulatory regions or (b) non-coding RNA genes. Based on this, I am currently focusing on the following questions:

  • How does the genetic background affect an individual’s immune cell function in health and (autoimmune) disease?
  • How do SNPs in gene regulatory regions affect the expression of genes associated with autoimmune diseases?
  • What is the role of non-coding RNAs in autoimmune diseases?

Objectives

I am focusing on celiac disease as a model system for autoimmune diseases in general. However, my research has implications for other diseases as well, such as multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. Because of the shared genetics of autimmune diseases, results obtained for celiac disease can have an immediate broader impact. To gain insight into the genetics and the etiology of these autoimmune diseases, we are using sophisticated genomics approaches (genome-wide association studies, pathway analysis) and state-of-the-art wet biology approaches (FACS, next generation sequencing, CRISPR/Cas9 technology) in house.

Current Research Projects

These projects are being performed within the context of Prof. Cisca Wijmenga’s research group. Several other PIs and technicians in the Dept. of Genetics are involved to varying degrees.

  • We are using next generation sequencing to identify which genes are deregulated by prioritized disease-associated SNPs. Subsequent pathway analysis approaches are used to predict disease mechanisms. An anchoring point in this research are disease-associated loci (found by genome-wide association studies) and the coding and non-coding genes therein. The results of these prioritization studies are being used for the rational design of in vitro experiments.
  • I am investigating whether circulating miRNAs are biomarkers for immune mediated diseases. Currently, I am focusing circulating miRNAs in plasma of celiac disease patients and in plasma or CSF of multiple sclerosis patients.
  • We are studying the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in celiac disease and other autoimmune conditions. Using in silico approaches, multiple lincRNA genes have been identified in the celiac disease risk loci. Most of these candidate lincRNAs were initially identified in T cells, a cell type that plays an important role in the pathology of celiac disease and other autoimmune diseases. We are profiling lincRNAs in the immune cells of genotyped individuals and are screening for disease-associated mutations in lincRNAs by deep sequencing. To study the role of candidate lincRNAs in immune cell function, we are designing vectors to modify their expression levels in vitro by overexpression and knock-down approaches.
  • Some of the genes prioritized in our pathway analyses appear to play a role in intestinal barrier function. Currently we are using CaCo2 sublines as model systems for this, but we are working towards a system that uses urine-derived iPS cells (from patients and healthy volunteers) that we want to differentiate in vitro towards the epithelial lineage.
  • We are applying cutting-edge molecular techniques to study disease-causing genetic variation in specific cell types (single sequencing approaches) and can modify these genetic factors in a particular background using CRISPR/Cas9 technology.

My Background

I studied Biology (specialization in Biochemistry) at the University of Groningen and in 1996 I obtained my PhD there (thesis: “The role of DNA Topoisomerase II in drug resistance and sensitivity”). My research interest then shifted more towards immunology. I performed post-doc research in the Netherlands, in the Dept. of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen (Prof. E.G.E. de Vries & Prof. N.H. Mulder), in the Dept. of Physiological Chemistry, University of Groningen (Prof. J.C. Wilschut), and in the Dept. of Medical Biology (Prof. L.F.M.H. de Leij). Then I worked in the USA as a post-doc in the lab of Dr. Inder Verma (Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA) and as a staff scientist in the lab of Dr. Douglas Green (Department of Immunology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN). I returned to the Netherlands in 2011 where I am now an assistant professor in the Dept. of Genetics, UMCG.

Publications

I have published several papers in high impact journals, such as Nature Genetics, Nature, Cell, and Blood (see full list in Google Scholar). Papers most relevant for my ongoing studies are:

Internships

If you are a student and you are interested in an internship in my group, please drop me an email. Undoubtedly we will have fresh plans by the time you read this, but links to current projects are:

http://tinyurl.com/74at7j2

http://tinyurl.com/7vbjdp4

http://tinyurl.com/88hbrat

Laatst gewijzigd:06 november 2020 11:15