Paul Schiffers

Assistant Professor

Dr Paul Schiffers studied chemistry at Utrecht University and graduated in 1986, having specialised in Biochemistry. He obtained his PhD in 1994 on 'Intra-arterial Growth Control. A Slow Variation on a Classical Theme' at Maastricht University. From 1994 onwards, he has been a staff member of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology.

His present interest in research concerns vascular function and structure in cardiovascular diseases. He focusses on the interaction between the endothelium, vascular smooth muscle and perivascular nerves, in regulating vascular tone and structure (in both small and large arteries). The in vitro analysis of isolated arteries derived from experimental animal models, as well as human tissue, is performed by using a combination of techniques: wire-myography (force), pressure/flow myography (diameter), immunohistochemistry (morphometry) and 2-photon laser scanning microscopy.

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht
PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht
Room number: 4.210
T: +31(0)43 388 21 08

  • 2024
    • Vangrieken, P., Al-Nasiry, S., Remels, A. H. V., Schiffers, P. M. H., Janssen, E., Nass, S., Scheijen, J. L. J. M., Spaanderman, M. E. A., & Schalkwijk, C. G. (2024). Placental Methylglyoxal in Preeclampsia: Vascular and Biomarker Implications. Hypertension, 81(7), 1537-1549. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.123.22633
  • 2021
    • Vangrieken, P., Al-Nasiry, S., Bast, A., Leermakers, P. A., Tulen, C. B. M., Schiffers, P. M. H., van Schooten, F. J., & Remels, A. H. V. (2021). Placental Mitochondrial Abnormalities in Preeclampsia. Reproductive Sciences, 28(8), 2186-2199. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43032-021-00464-y
    • Vangrieken, P., Al-Nasiry, S., Bast, A., Leermakers, P. A., Tulen, C. B. M., Janssen, G. M. J., Kaminski, I., Geomini, I., Lemmens, T., Schiffers, P. M. H., van Schooten, F. J., & Remels, A. H. V. (2021). Hypoxia-induced mitochondrial abnormalities in cells of the placenta. PLOS ONE, 16(1), Article 0245155. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0245155
  • 2020
    • Vangrieken, P., Remels, A. H., Al-Nasiry, S., Bast, A., Janssen, G. M. J., von Rango, U., Vroomans, D., Pinckers, Y. C. W., van Schooten, F. J., & Schiffers, P. M. H. (2020). Placental hypoxia-induced alterations in vascular function, morphology, and endothelial barrier integrity. Hypertension Research, 43(12), 1361-1374. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41440-020-0528-8
    • Elbatreek, M. H., Sadegh, S., Anastasi, E., Guney, E., Nogales, C., Kacprowski, T., Hassan, A. A., Teubner, A., Huang, P.-H., Hsu, C.-Y., Schiffers, P. M. H., Janssen, G. M., Kleikers, P. W. M., Wipat, A., Baumbach, J., De Mey, J. G. R., & Schmidt, H. H. H. W. (2020). NOX5-induced uncoupling of endothelial NO synthase is a causal mechanism and theragnostic target of an age-related hypertension endotype. Plos Biology, 18(11), Article 3000885. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000885
    • Vangrieken, P., Al-Nasiry, S., Bast, A., Leermakers, P. A., Tulen, C. B. M., Janssen, G. M. J., Schiffers, P. M. H., van Schooten, F. J., & Remels, A. H. V. (2020). Placental Mitochondrial Abnormalities Upon Hypoxia; The Cause of Placental Oxidative Stress?Reproductive Sciences, 27(SUPPL 1), 268A-268A.
  • 2018
    • Vangrieken, P., Al-Nasiry, S., Janssen, G. M. J., Weseler, A. R., Spaanderman, M. E., Bast, A., & Schiffers, P. M. H. (2018). The direct and sustained consequences of severe placental hypoxia on vascular contractility. PLOS ONE, 13(8), Article e0202648. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0202648
    • Zhang, M., Schiffers, P., Janssen, G., Vrolijk, M., Vangrieken, P., & Haenen, G. R. M. M. (2018). The cardiovascular side effects of Ma Huang due to its use in isolation in the Western world. European Journal of Integrative Medicine, 18, 18-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eujim.2018.01.007
  • 2017
    • Lemkens, P., Spijkers, L. J. A., Meens, M. J., Nelissen, J., Janssen, B., Peters, S. L. M., Schiffers, P. M. H., & De Mey, J. G. R. (2017). Dual NEP/ECE inhibition improves endothelial function in mesenteric resistance arteries of 32-week-old SHR. Hypertension Research, 40(8), 738-745. https://doi.org/10.1038/hr.2017.38
    • Sthijns, M. M. J. P. E., Schiffers, P. M., Janssen, G. M., Lemmens, K. J. A., Ides, B., Vangrieken, P., Bouwman, F. G., Mariman, E. C., Pader, I., Arner, E. S. J., Johansson, K., Bast, A., & Haenen, G. R. M. M. (2017). Rutin protects against H2O2-triggered impaired relaxation of placental arterioles and induces Nrf2-mediated adaptation in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells exposed to oxidative stress. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta-general Subjects, 1861(5), 1177-1189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbagen.2017.03.004
    • Haeren, R. H. L., Hartmans, S. A., De Mey, J., Hoogland, G., Dings, J., Schijns, O. E. M. G., van Kuijk, S. M. J., Rijkers, K., Schiffers, P., & van Overbeeke, K. J. (2017). Cerebral Artery Vasoconstriction is Endothelin-1 Dependent Requiring Neurogenic and Adrenergic Crosstalk. Current Neurovascular Research, 14(4), 306-315. https://doi.org/10.2174/1567202614666171005144450
  • 2015
    • Kosanovic, D., Luitel, H., Dahal, B. K., Cornitescu, T., Janssen, W., Danser, A. H. J., Garrelds, I. M., De Mey, J. G. R., Fazzi, G., Schiffers, P., Iglarz, M., Fischli, W., Ghofrani, H. A., Weissmann, N., Grimminger, F., Seeger, W., Reiss, I., & Schermuly, R. T. (2015). Chymase: a multifunctional player in pulmonary hypertension associated with lung fibrosis. European Respiratory Journal, 46(4), 1084-1094. https://doi.org/10.1183/09031936.00018215
  • 2014
    • Kapsokalyvas, D., Schiffers, P. M. H., Maij, N., Suylen, D. P., Hackeng, T. M., van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J., & De Mey, J. G. R. (2014). Imaging evidence for endothelin ETA/ETB receptor heterodimers in isolated rat mesenteric resistance arteries. Life Sciences, 111(1-2), 36-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2014.07.007
  • 2012
    • Lemkens, P., Nelissen, J., Meens, M. J. P. M. T., Fazzi, G. E., Janssen, G. J. M., Debets, J. J. M., Janssen, B. J. A., Schiffers, P. M. H., & De Mey, J. G. R. (2012). Impaired flow-induced arterial remodeling in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats. Hypertension Research, 35(11), 1093-1101. https://doi.org/10.1038/hr.2012.94
    • Lemkens, P., Nelissen, J., Meens, M. J. P. M. T., Janssen, B. J. A., Schiffers, P. M. H., & De Mey, J. G. R. (2012). Dual neural peptidase/endothelin-converting enzyme inhibition improves endothelial function in mesenteric resistance arteries of young spontaneously hypertensive rats. Journal of Hypertension, 30(9), 1799-1808. https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0b013e3283569c7a
    • Altenhofer, S., Kleikers, P. W. M., Radermacher, K. A., Scheurer, P., Hermans, J. J. R., Schiffers, P., Ho, H., Wingler, K., & Schmidt, H. H. H. W. (2012). The NOX toolbox: validating the role of NADPH oxidases in physiology and disease. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 69(14), 2327-2343. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-012-1010-9
  • 2011
    • Wingler, K., Hermans, J. J. R., Schiffers, P., Moens, A. L., Paul, M., & Schmidt, H. H. H. W. (2011). NOX1, 2, 4, 5: counting out oxidative stress. British Journal of Pharmacology, 164(3), 866-883. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01249.x
    • Maitland-van der Zee, A.-H., van Wieren-de Wijer, D. B. M. A., de Boer, A., Kroon, A. A., de Leeuw, P. W., Schiffers, P., Janssen, R. G. J. H., Psaty, B. M., Duijn, C. M. V., Stricker, B. H. C., & Klungel, O. H. (2011). Genetic variation in the renin-angiotensin system, use of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors and the risk of myocardial infarction. Journal of the Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone System, 12(3), 208-214. https://doi.org/10.1177/1470320310391834
  • 2010
    • Storkebaum, E., de Almodovar, C. R., Meens, M., Zacchigna, S., Mazzone, M., Vanhoutte, G., Vinckier, S., Miskiewicz, K., Poesen, K., Lambrechts, D., Janssen, G. M. J., Fazzi, G. E., Verstreken, P., Haigh, J., Schiffers, P. M., Rohrer, H., Van Der Linden, A., De Mey, J. G. R., & Carmeliet, P. (2010). Impaired Autonomic Regulation of Resistance Arteries in Mice With Low Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor or Upon Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Trap Delivery. Circulation, 122(3), 273-U107. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.109.929364
    • Nawrot, T. S., Staessen, J. A., Holvoet, P., Struijker-Boudier, H. A., Schiffers, P., Van Bortel, L. M., Fagard, R. H., Gardner, J. P., Kimura, M., & Aviv, A. (2010). Telomere length and its associations with oxidized-LDL, carotid artery distensibility and smoking. Frontiers in Bioscience, Elite edition, 2(3), 1164-1168. https://doi.org/10.2741/E176
  • 2007
    • Donker, D. W., Maessen, J. G., Verheyen, F., Ramaekers, F., Spätjens, R. L. H., Kuijpers, R., Rarnakers, C., Schiffers, P. M. H., Vos, M. A., Crijns, H. J. G. M., & Volders, P. G. A. (2007). Impact of acute and enduring volume overload on mechanotransduction and cytoskeletal integrity of canine left ventricular myocardium. American Journal of Physiology-heart and Circulatory Physiology, 292(5), H2324-H2332. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpheart.00392.2006
    • Goossens, G. H., Jocken, J. W., Blaak, E. E., Schiffers, P. M., Saris, W. H., & van Baak, M. A. (2007). Endocrine Role of the Renin-Angiotensin System in Human Adipose Tissue and Muscle. Effect of {beta}-Adrenergic Stimulation. Hypertension, 49(3), 542-547. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.HYP.0000256091.55393.92
  • 2006
    • Goossens, G. H., Blaak, E. E., Schiffers, P. M., Saris, W. H., & van Baak, M. A. (2006). Effect of short-term ACE inhibitor treatment on peripheral insulin sensitivity in obese insulin-resistant subjects. Diabetologia, 49(12), 3009-3016. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-006-0458-2
  • 1997
    • Luik, A. J., van Kuijk, W. H. M., Spek, J., de Heer, F., van Bortel, L. M., Schiffers, P. M. H., van Hooff, J. P., & Leunissen, K. M. L. (1997). Effects of hypervolemia on interdialytic hemodynamics and blood pressure control in hemodialysis patients.American Journal of Kidney Diseases, 30(4), 466-474. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0272-6386(97)90303-6