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Karin H Franzén

Position: Senior Lecturer School/office: School of Medical Sciences

Email: a2FyaW4uaC5mcmFuemVuO29ydS5zZQ==

Phone: +46 19 301408

Room: X2110

Research subject

Biomedicine

About Karin H Franzén

Karin H Franzén is Associate Professor (docent) in Medical Sciences with specialization Biomedicine. She works as Senior Lecturer and is employed at Örebro University since 2008. She defended her PhD thesis about molecular genetic aspects on colorectal cancer at Linköping University in 2005. Karin H Franzén’s research focus is mainly inflammation in atherosclerosis.

Research

Karin H Franzén’s research is mainly focused on inflammation in atherosclerosis and genetic risk factors. Inflammation in the blood vessels is one of the hallmarks of atherosclerosis. Her research focus is mainly IL-β, which is produced by the NLRP3 inflammasome, but also on CARD8, which has been identified as an important regulator for inflammation in vascular cells. Studies on molecules involved in cardiovascular diseases may in the future lead to the development of novel tailored treatment options and Karin H Franzéns research is also focused on evaluation of new treatment strategies against inflammatory targets in atherosclerosis.

Karin H Franzén is affiliated to the research environment Cardiovascular Research Centre (CVRC) at Örebro University, where she is supervisor for post docs and has been main supervisor for one PhD student to dissertation and co-supervisor to four PhD students.

Lecturing

Karin H Franzén is mainly lecturing in biomedicine, with an emphasis on molecular genetics and tumor biology at the Medical program at Örebro University, but also at second and third cycle courses. She has a solid experience as course coordinator at advanced and doctoral levels and is examiner at semester 2 in the medical program. She also supervises student theses at bachelor and master levels.

Assignments

Karin is responsible for biomedicine in the section of Reproduction and Development in the Medical program and is coordinator for the course coordinators/examinators and is a member of the Medical program board at Örebro University.

Collaborations

Karin H Franzén’s main collaborative organizations are the National Hellenic Research Foundation (NHRF), Athens, Greece, Linköping University, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway and Karolinska Institute. In addition, Karin also has collaboration with the Swedish industrial partners Aptahem, Attgeno, BioReperia, Buzzard Pharmaceuticals, Cantargia, Lipum, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Toleranzia.

Active projects

Research groups

Publications

Articles in journals | Articles, reviews/surveys | Conference papers | Manuscripts |

Articles in journals

Fransén, K. , Hiyoshi, A. , Paramel Varghese, G. & Hurtig-Wennlöf, A. (2024). Association between C10X polymorphism in the CARD8 gene and inflammatory markers in young healthy individuals in the LBA study. BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 24 (1).
Fransén, K. , Pettersson, C. & Hurtig-Wennlöf, A. (2022). CRP levels are significantly associated with CRP genotype and estrogen use in The Lifestyle, Biomarker and Atherosclerosis (LBA) study. BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 22 (1).
Paramel Varghese, G. , Lindkvist, M. , Idosa, B. A. , Sebina, L. S. , Kardeby, C. , Fotopoulou, T. , Pournara, D. , Kritsi, E. & et al. (2022). Novel purine analogues regulate IL-1β release via inhibition of JAK activity in human aortic smooth muscle cells. European Journal of Pharmacology, 929.
Paramel Varghese, G. , Karadimou, G. , Göthlin Eremo, A. , Ljungberg, L. , Hedin, U. , Olofsson, P. S. , Folkersen, L. , Paulsson Berne, G. & et al. (2020). Expression of CARD8 in human atherosclerosis and its regulation of inflammatory proteins in human endothelial cells. Scientific Reports, 10 (1).
Kardeby, C. , Paramel Varghese, G. , Pournara, D. , Fotopoulou, T. , Sirsjö, A. , Koufaki, M. , Fransén, K. & Grenegård, M. (2019). A novel purine analogue bearing nitrate ester prevents platelet activation by ROCK activity inhibition. European Journal of Pharmacology, 857.
Paramel Varghese, G. , Folkersen, L. , Strawbridge, R. J. , Halvorsen, B. , Yndestad, A. , Ranheim, T. , Krohg-Sørensen, K. , Skjelland, M. & et al. (2016). NLRP3 Inflammasome Expression and Activation in Human Atherosclerosis. Journal of the American Heart Association: Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease, 5 (5).
Göthlin Eremo, A. , Tina, E. , Wegman, P. , Stål, O. , Fransén, K. , Fornander, T. & Wingren, S. (2015). HER4 tumor expression in breast cancer patients randomized to treatment with or without tamoxifen. International Journal of Oncology, 47 (4), 1311-1320.
Paramel, G. , Uporova, L. , Halfvarson, J. , Sirsjö, A. & Fransén, K. (2015). Polymorphism in the NLRP3 inflammasome-associated EIF2AK2 gene and inflammatory bowel disease. Molecular Medicine Reports, 11 (6), 4579-4584.
Paramel, G. , Folkersen, L. , Strawbridge, R. J. , Elmabsout, A. , Särndahl, E. , Lundman, P. , Jansson, J. , Hansson, G. K. & et al. (2013). CARD8 gene encoding a protein of innate immunity is expressed in human atherosclerosis and associated with markers of inflammation. Clinical Science, 125 (8), 401-407.
Sahdo, B. , Fransén, K. , Asfaw Idosa, B. , Eriksson, P. , Söderquist, B. , Kelly, A. & Särndahl, E. (2013). Cytokine profile in a cohort of healthy blood donors carrying polymorphisms in genes encoding the NLRP3 inflammasome. PLOS ONE, 8 (10).
Fransén, K. , Franzén, P. , Magnuson, A. , Elmabsout, A. , Nyhlin, N. , Wickbom, A. , Curman, B. , Törkvist, L. & et al. (2013). Polymorphism in the retinoic acid metabolizing enzyme CYP26B1 and the development of Crohn's disease. PLOS ONE, 8 (8), e72739.
Paramel, G. , Fransén, K. , Hurtig-Wennlöf, A. , Bengtsson, T. , Jansson, J. & Sirsjö, A. (2013). Q705K variant in NLRP3 gene confers protection against myocardial infarction in female individuals. Biomedical Reports, 1 (6), 879-882.
Ungerbäck, J. , Belenki, D. , Jawas ul-Hassan, A. , Fredrikson, M. , Fransén, K. , Elander, N. , Verma, D. & Söderkvist, P. (2012). Genetic variation and alterations of genes involved in NFκB/TNFAIP3- and NLRP3-inflammasome signaling affect susceptibility and outcome of colorectal cancer. Carcinogenesis, 33 (11), 2126-2134.
Nixon Tangi, T. , Elmabsout, A. A. , Bengtsson, T. , Sirsjö, A. & Fransén, K. (2012). Role of NLRP3 and CARD8 in the regulation of TNF-α induced IL-1β release in vascular smooth muscle cells. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 30 (3), 697-702.
Fransén, K. , Fenech, M. , Fredrikson, M. , Dabrosin, C. & Söderkvist, P. (2006). Association between ulcerative growth and hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha polymorphisms in colorectal cancer patients. Molecular Carcinogenesis, 45 (11), 833-840.
Elander, N. , Söderkvist, P. & Fransén, K. (2006). Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) -1, -2, -3 and -9 promoter polymorphisms in colorectal cancer. Anticancer Research, 26 (1B), 791-795.
Grahn, N. , Hmani-Aifa, M. , Fransén, K. , Söderkvist, P. & Monstein, H. (2005). Molecular identification of Helicobacter DNA present in human colorectal adenocarcinomas by 16S rDNA PCR amplification and pyrosequencing analysis. Journal of Medical Microbiology, 54 (11), 1031-1035.
Fransén, K. , Elander, N. & Söderkvist, P. (2005). Nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2) promoter polymorphisms in colorectal cancer. Cancer Letters, 225 (1), 99-103.
Monstein, H. , Fransén, K. , Dimberg, J. & Söderkvist, P. (2004). K-ras and B-raf gene mutations are not associated with gastrin- and CCK2-receptor mRNA expression in human colorectal tumour tissues. European Journal of Clinical Investigation, 34 (2), 100-106.
Fransén, K. , Klintenäs, M. , Österström, A. , Dimberg, J. , Monstein, H. & Söderkvist, P. (2004). Mutation analysis of the BRAF, ARAF and RAF-1 genes in human colorectal adenocarcinomas. Carcinogenesis, 25 (4), 527-533.
Österström, A. , Dimberg, J. , Fransén, K. & Söderkvist, P. (2002). Expression of cytosolic and group X secretory phospholipase A(2) genes in human colorectal adenocarcinomas. Cancer Letters, 182 (2), 175-182.
Fransén, K. , Dimberg, J. , Österström, A. , Olsson, A. , Söderkvist, P. & Sirsjö, A. (2002). Nitric oxide synthase 2 mRNA expression in relation to p53 and adenomatous polyposis coli mutations in primary colorectal adenocarcinomas. Surgery, 131 (4), 384-392.

Articles, reviews/surveys

Paramel, G. , Sirsjö, A. & Fransén, K. (2015). Role of genetic alterations in the NLRP3 and CARD8 genes in health and disease. Mediators of Inflammation.

Conference papers

Fransén, K. & Wahlberg, J. (2024). Integration mellan biomedicin och professionell utveckling på läkarprogrammet vid Örebro Universitet. Paper presented at NU2024,SUHF:s nationella högskolepedagogiska konferens, Umeå, 17-19 juni, 2024.
Lindkvist, M. , Paramel Varghese, G. , Rydberg Millrud, C. , Rattik, S. , Grönberg, C. , Liberg, D. & Fransén, K. (2024). Novel antibodies targeting IL1RAP affects markers of vascular inflammation and adhesion in endothelial cells. In: TOLL 2024 ABSTRACT E-BOOK. Paper presented at TOLL 2024 - Road to translation, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, April 17-20, 2024. (pp. 236-236).
Lindkvist, M. , Paramel Varghese, G. , Rydberg Millrud, C. , Rattik, S. , Grönberg, C. , Liberg, D. & Fransén, K. (2023). IL1RAP: a future target to reduce vascular inflammation and adhesion?. Paper presented at Chemical biology workshop - Drug and biomarker discovery Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece, 23-25 November , 2023.
Fransén, K. (2023). Inflammation: a future target against cardiovascular diseases?. Paper presented at Bioscience 2023 - Research and Diagnostics through innovative Technologies, Stockholm, November 8th, 2023.
Fransén, K. , Hiyoshi, A. & Hurtig Wennlöf, A. (2023). The C10X Polymorphism in the CARD8 Gene is Associated with the Levels of CCL20 and IL-6 Proteins in Healthy Young Men. In: Circulation Research. Paper presented at Basic Cardiovascular Sciences - Innovations and discovery in cardiovascular science, Boston, USA, July 31-August 3, 2023. American Heart Association.
Grenegård, M. , Koufaki, M. , Zervou, M. , Fotopoulou, T. , Lindström, E. , Nilsson, K. F. , Lindkvist, M. & Fransén, K. (2023). The cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic piperazinyl-purine analogue MK177 is a bifunctional drug with promising therapeutic potential. In: British Journal of Pharmacology. Macmillan Publishers Ltd..
Fotopolou, T. , Ansari, S. , Paramel Varghese, G. , Lindkvist, M. , Ramström, S. , Pournara, D. , Ifanti, E. , Kritsi, E. & et al. (2021). Study of the anti platelet/anti-thromobotic activity of 6-piperazinyl-purien analogues. Paper presented at 18th Hellenic Symposium on Medicinal Chemistry, 25-27 feb. 2021.
Fransén, K. , Johansson, M. & Prenkert, M. (2016). Doktoranders upplevelse av nyttan med den obligatoriska forskarutbildningskursen Allmänvetenskaplig forskningsmetodik i medicinsk vetenskap vid Örebro universitet. Paper presented at NU 2016, Malmö, Sweden, June 15-17, 2016.
Fransén, K. , Paramel Varghese, G. , Jansson, J. , Eriksson, P. & Sirsjö, A. (2016). Molecular genetic aspects of the NLRP3 inflammasome in cardiovascular disease. Paper presented at Miami Winter symposium 2016, Miami, Florida, USA, 24-27 Jan., 2016.

Manuscripts

Göthlin Eremo, A. , Tina, E. , Kruse, R. , Fransén, K. , Wegman, P. , Repsilber, D. , Montgomery, S. , Sollie, T. & et al. Gene expression profiles in breast tumors from tamoxifen treated patients with and without distant recurrence.
Lindkvist, M. , Paramel Varghese, G. , Göthlin Eremo, A. , Haque, A. , Rydberg Millrud, C. , Rattik, S. , Grönberg, C. , Liberg, D. & et al. IL-1RAP expression in human atherosclerosis : a future target of novel antibodies to reduce vascular adhesion and inflammation?.