Sign in

Laboratory of Exercise and Health - ETH Zürich

@debocklab.bsky.social
370 followers 266 following 28 posts

K. De Bock - Passionate scientist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH - Zurich) and proud mother of four children - muscle, vascular biology and metabolism.

PostsRepliesMedia
Laboratory of Exercise and Health - ETH Zürich @debocklab.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
Why does this matter in vivo? Using a synergist ablation overload, we show that tendon maladaptation develops over time. Genetic inhibition of HIF1α in tendon fibroblasts preserves tendon structure and mechanics. This supports HIF1α-regulated pathways as potential therapeutic entry point. (7/8)
110
Laboratory of Exercise and Health - ETH Zürich @debocklab.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
But, what triggers HIF1α? Mechanical overload. In vitro, tendon fibroblasts show a strain-dependent increase in HIF1α activation. Ex vivo, HIF1α activation emerges only once loading exceeds a damage threshold, indicating damage-associated activation, even under normal oxygen conditions. (6/8)
100
Laboratory of Exercise and Health - ETH Zürich @debocklab.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
By genetically decoupling vascular recruitment from HIF1α activation (via VEGFA-dependent mechanisms), we show that tendon degeneration occurs independently of angiogenesis, while vascular invasion is tightly coupled to myelinated nerve ingrowth. (5/8)
100
Laboratory of Exercise and Health - ETH Zürich @debocklab.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
To investigate causality, we generated a tendon fibroblast–specific mouse model with chronic HIF1α activation. HIF1α activation alone was sufficient to drive ECM disorganization, mechanical dysfunction, hypercellularity, and neurovascular ingrowth, hallmark features of human tendinopathy. (4/8)
100
Laboratory of Exercise and Health - ETH Zürich @debocklab.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
Quantitative proteomics further uncovered pathological collagen remodeling, including increased pyridinoline (↑ PYD) crosslinking and altered collagen composition, helping explain why tendinopathic tendons become mechanically compromised. (3/8)
100
Laboratory of Exercise and Health - ETH Zürich @debocklab.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
We started with clinical observations. Analyzing human tendinopathic samples, we asked which molecular pathways are altered in disease. Using immunofluorescence and integrative omics, we found strong enrichment of HIF1α signaling in both diseased long head of biceps and rotator cuff tear tendons.
110
Laboratory of Exercise and Health - ETH Zürich @debocklab.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
Goobye @viola Vogel! Prioneer in bio-physics, bio-engineering and leading lady of DHEST…#rolemodels #womeninscience #eth
021
Laboratory of Exercise and Health - ETH Zürich @debocklab.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
Thanks @britta Engelhardt for serving the @ssmvr.bsky.social as our president forr many years!
130
Laboratory of Exercise and Health - ETH Zürich @debocklab.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
1/10/2015-1/10/2025 🎂 10 years @ethz.ch #timeflies 10 years of great people and exciting science thanks to all people who were part of the lab, who collaborated with us, and who made those years a fantastic time!
050
Laboratory of Exercise and Health - ETH Zürich @debocklab.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
On my way to #BeNeVBO, taking the train to Leuven as I have done for many years!
020
Laboratory of Exercise and Health - ETH Zürich @debocklab.bsky.social · 02/08/2025
Returning home from a fantastic gordon Research Confernce in #angiogenesis. Thanks @karinayaniv.bsky.social and @anne eichmann for the splendid organization! Couldn’t leaave the USA without a big hug to Gillian and Jing ❤️.
040
Laboratory of Exercise and Health - ETH Zürich @debocklab.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
Excited to be part of the first #Hi-TAC symposium in beautiful Heidelberg. Team efforts in angiocardioscience will make the difference!
030
Laboratory of Exercise and Health - ETH Zürich @debocklab.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
Proud about this one! Together with EA Richter ending up twice in the same issue of @cp-cellmetabolism.bsky.social ! #luck or my lab is great ;-). Thanks @wimderave.bsky.social and Zelzer labs for the nice collaborations! authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S... authors.elsevier.com/c/1kZR45WXUl...
111
Laboratory of Exercise and Health - ETH Zürich @debocklab.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
#lifeofthescientist #sla #eth_eng getting ready for the annual Christmas karaoke!
020
Laboratory of Exercise and Health - ETH Zürich @debocklab.bsky.social · 07/12/2024
Thanks Ulf Eriksson for the great two days in #KarolinskaInstitutet. First being the opponent of your last PhD student (my first time!), and today joining you to the #nobellectures2024 #microRNA
030