Marco W.J. Schreurs, PhD
Laboratory specialist Medical Immunology,
Laboratory Medical Immunology, Department of Immunology
Autoimmune Disease Diagnostics (AID) Research interest
Autoimmune Disease and Allergy Diagnostics (AID) research laboratory
Research activities in the AID group focus on biomarkers in autoimmune-, inflammatory- and allergic disease, in particular (auto)antibodies directed at self antigens and allergen components.
State-of-the-art laboratory technology is available in the AID group for the analysis of (auto)antibodies and other biomarkers in blood, CSF and other body fluids. Technology includes (indirect) immunofluorescence, immunoblotting, ELISA- and FEIA-based techniques, radio-immuno assay (RIA) and micro-array. In collaboration with different clinical and basic research partners, this technology is used to support different research projects in autoimmune-, inflammatory- and allergic disease.
Fig.1 Recoverin-specific anti-retinal autoantibodies in serum of an autoimmune retinopathy patient detected by indirect immunofluorecence (left) and immunoblot (right).
The quality of available (auto)antibody detection systems is improved, often in collaboration with the IVD industry, and novel techniques are developed and validated for clinical and research application. Besides investigating the role of known (auto)antibodies, the AID group also sets out to identify novel (auto)antibodies and other biomarkers in autoimmune-, inflammatory- and allergic disease. Investigating the role of (novel) biomarkers in disease processes may result in improved diagnostic and prognostic classification, and improved treatment stratification of such diseases.
Fig. 2 Quality of anti-Sm autoantibody detection in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients (left) and Sjögren/systemic sclerosis (SjS/SSc) patients (right), analyzed using two different FEIA test systems.
The AID group is also involved in the development and application of companion diagnostics for biologic therapy: therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). The value of TDM for different biologic therapies is investigated in both adult and pediatric patients with autoimmune-/inflammatory disease and cancer, to elucidate the relation between biologic blood levels and different clinical parameters.
The AID group is currently working on/contributing to different research projects, including:
- Pathogenesis, prognostic factors and novel therapeutic options of scleritis
- Neurologic syndromes associated with GAD65 antibodies. Clinical and serological response to treatment
- Clinical validation of an improved FEIA for the detection of Sm antibodies
- Personalized immunotherapy therapeutic drug monitoring of Nivolumab
The research projects the AID group participates in are translational in nature and are organized multidisciplinary. As a result, extensive internal collaboration exits with different clinical departments, including Ophthalmology, Neurology, Clinical Immunology and Allergology, Medical Oncology, Pharmacy, Pediatric Allergology and Pathology.
The AID group is part of international networks with research activities contributing to the improvement and standardization of laboratory technology for the analysis of (auto)antibodies. These networks include the European Autoimmunity Standardization Initiative (EASI) and the European Consensus Finding Study Group (ECFSG).
Group members
- Marco W.J. Schreurs, PhD, Principal investigator
- Adriaan A. van Beek, PhD, a.vanbeek@erasmusmc.nl
- Daphne P.C. Vergouwen, MD, d.vergouwen@erasmusmc.nl
- Sharon Veenbergen, PhD, s.veenbergen@erasmusmc.nl
- Sanae Boukhrissi, technician, s.smaili@erasmusmc.nl
- Cindy Kneppers, technician, c.kneppers@erasmusmc.nl
- Jac Kuijpers-Entrup, technician, j.kuypers@erasmusmc.nl
- Zenovia Lourens-Florencia, technician, z.florencia@erasmusmc.nl
- Elham Torabi-Azhandeh, technician, e.torabi@erasmusmc.nl
- Pamela Vasic, technician, p.vasic@erasmusmc.nl
- Jacolien Vermeer, technician, j.vermeer.1@erasmusmc.nl
- Annemarie Wijkhuijs, technician, j.wijkhuijs@erasmusmc.nl
Selected Publications
(Check for all publications: Schreurs MW in Pubmed)
Platteel ACM, Wevers BA, Lim J, Bakker JA, Bontkes HJ, Curvers J, Damoiseaux
J, Heron M, de Kort G, Limper M, van Lochem EG, Mulder AHL, Saris CGJ, van der
Valk H, van der Kooi AJ, van Leeuwen EMM, Veltkamp M, Schreurs MWJ, Meek B,
Hamann D. Frequencies and clinical associations of myositis-related antibodies
in The Netherlands: A one-year survey of all Dutch patients. J Transl Autoimmun.
2019 Aug 23;2:100013.
Vergouwen DPC, Rothova A, Berge JCT, Verdijk RM, van Laar JAM, Vingerling JR,
Schreurs MWJ. Current insights in the pathogenesis of scleritis. Exp Eye Res.
2020 Jun 3;197:108078.
Rösken GHJ, van Beek AA, Bakker-Jonges LE, Schreurs MWJ. Antinucleaire
antistoffen bij systemische auto-immuunziekte [Antinuclear antibodies in
systemic autoimmune disease]. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2020 Apr 23;164:D4066.
Muñoz-Lopetegi A, de Bruijn MAAM, Boukhrissi S, Bastiaansen AEM, Nagtzaam
MMP, Hulsenboom ESP, Boon AJW, Neuteboom RF, de Vries JM, Sillevis Smitt PAE,
Schreurs MWJ, Titulaer MJ. Neurologic syndromes related to anti-GAD65: Clinical
and serologic response to treatment. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. 2020 Mar
2;7(3):e696.
Bastiaan-Net S, Batstra MR, Aazamy N, Savelkoul HFJ, van der Valk JPM, Gerth
van Wijk R, Schreurs MWJ, Wichers HJ, de Jong NW. IgE cross-reactivity
measurement of cashew nut, hazelnut and peanut using a novel IMMULITE inhibition
method. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2020 Feb 14:/j/cclm.ahead-of-
print/cclm-2019-1083/cclm-2019-1083.xml.
Crijnen YS, de Vries JM, Schreurs MWJ, Titulaer MJ. Symptomen van een auto-
immuunencefalitis: Leidraad tot tijdige herkenning en behandeling [Clinical
symptoms of patients with autoimmune encephalitis: a guide to timely recognition
and treatment]. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2019 Dec 5;163:D3848.
Hermans MAW, Schreurs MWJ, van Daele PLA. Systemic mastocytosis with normal
serum tryptase: rule or exception? J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2019
Dec;33(12):e472-e474. doi: 10.1111/jdv.15800. Epub 2019 Jul 24. PMID: 31301247.
Bodewes ILA, van der Spek PJ, Leon LG, Wijkhuijs AJM, van Helden-Meeuwsen CG,
Tas L, Schreurs MWJ, van Daele PLA, Katsikis PD, Versnel MA. Fatigue in
Sjögren’s Syndrome: A Search for Biomarkers and Treatment Targets. Front
Immunol. 2019 Feb 26;10:312.
Taams NE, Notermans NC, Fokkink WR, Tio-Gillen AP, Huizinga R, Schreurs MWJ,
Jacobs BC. Clinical relevance of serum antibodies to GD1b in immune-mediated
neuropathies. J Peripher Nerv Syst. 2018 Dec;23(4):227-234.
La Distia Nora R, Ten Berge JC, Rothova A, Schreurs MWJ. Antinuclear and
antiretinal antibodies in uveitis associated with active and latent
tuberculosis. Acta Ophthalmol. 2018 Aug;96(5):e659-e660.
Basak EA, Wijkhuijs AJM, Mathijssen RHJ, Koolen SLW, Schreurs MWJ.
Development of an Enzyme-Linked Immune Sorbent Assay to Measure Nivolumab and
Pembrolizumab Serum Concentrations. Ther Drug Monit. 2018 Oct;40(5):596-601.
Ten Berge JC, Groen-Hakan F, Rothova A, Schreurs MWJ. Antinuclear antibody
profiling in uveitis. Acta Ophthalmol. 2018 Aug;96(5):e660-e661.
Van der Pol P, Bakker-Jonges LE, Kuijpers JHSAM, Schreurs MWJ. Analytical
and clinical comparison of two fully automated immunoassay systems for the
detection of autoantibodies to extractable nuclear antigens. Clin Chim Acta.
2018 Jan;476:154-159.
Bharwani KD, Dirckx M, Stronks DL, Dik WA, Schreurs MWJ, Huygen FJPM.
Elevated Plasma Levels of sIL-2R in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: A Pathogenic
Role for T-Lymphocytes? Mediators Inflamm. 2017;2017:2764261.
Ten Berge JC, van Rosmalen J, Vermeer J, Hellström C, Lindskog C, Nilsson P,
Qundos U, Rothova A, Schreurs MWJ. Serum Autoantibody Profiling of Patients with
Paraneoplastic and Non-Paraneoplastic Autoimmune Retinopathy. PLoS One. 2016 Dec
8;11(12):e0167909.
Van Sonderen A, Schreurs MWJ, Wirtz PW, Sillevis Smitt PA, Titulaer MJ. From
VGKC to LGI1 and Caspr2 encephalitis: The evolution of a disease entity over
time. Autoimmun Rev. 2016 Oct;15(10):970-4. doi:
Van Coevorden-Hameete MH, Titulaer MJ, Schreurs MWJ, de Graaff E, Sillevis
Smitt PA, Hoogenraad CC. Detection and Characterization of Autoantibodies to
Neuronal Cell-Surface Antigens in the Central Nervous System. Front Mol
Neurosci. 2016 May 31;9:37.
Van der Valk JPM, Schreurs MWJ, El Bouch R, Arends NJT, de Jong NW. Mono-
sensitisation to peanut component Ara h 6: a case series of five children and
literature review. Eur J Pediatr. 2016 Sep;175(9):1227-1234.
Van Bezooijen JS, Koch BC, van Doorn MB, Prens EP, van Gelder T, Schreurs
MWJ. Comparison of Three Assays to Quantify Infliximab, Adalimumab, and
Etanercept Serum Concentrations. Ther Drug Monit. 2016 Aug;38(4):432-8.
Rietveld MJ, Schreurs MWJ, Gerth van Wijk R, van Daele PL, Hermans MA. The
Basophil Activation Test Is Not a Useful Screening Tool for Hymenoptera Venom-
Related Anaphylaxis in Patients with Systemic Mastocytosis. Int Arch Allergy
Immunol. 2016;169(2):125-9.
Van Sonderen A, Schreurs MWJ, de Bruijn MA, Boukhrissi S, Nagtzaam MM,
Hulsenboom ES, Enting RH, Thijs RD, Wirtz PW, Sillevis Smitt PA, Titulaer MJ.
The relevance of VGKC positivity in the absence of LGI1 and Caspr2 antibodies.
Neurology. 2016 May 3;86(18):1692-9. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000002637. Epub
2016 Apr 1. PMID: 27037230.
Hoorn EJ, Taams NE, Hurskainen T, Salih M, Weening JJ, Jonkman MF, Pas HH,
Schreurs MWJ. Bullous Pemphigoid With a Dual Pattern of Glomerular Immune Complex
Disease. Am J Kidney Dis. 2016 Feb;67(2):302-6.
Dirckx M, Schreurs MWJ, de Mos M, Stronks DL, Huygen FJ. The prevalence of
autoantibodies in complex regional pain syndrome type I. Mediators Inflamm.
2015;2015:718201.
Ten Berge JC, Schreurs MWJ, Dufour-van den Goorbergh BC, de Witte PM, van
Schooneveld MJ, Rothova A. Ernstige visusdaling door auto-immuunretinopathie
[Severe visual loss caused by autoimmune retinopathy]. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd.
2015;159:A8039.