Betty van Esch

Betty van Esch is Senior Scientist at the division of Pharmacology at UIPS, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University with a broad background on immunology and allergy. Her interest is immune modulation by nutrition with >70 published papers related to this topic (H-index 23, Scopus). As senior scientist in Immunology & Nutrition, she is conducting translational immunological research. Her main interest field is immune modulation and immune-imprinting by dietary interventions, environmental factors and experimental agents. Nutritional concepts, like raw milk, fermented raw milk and its components are valuable new strategies based on the epidemiologic evidence that structural changes in proteins induced by processing play a role in the development of allergic diseases. By studying the specific bioactive component in unprocessed milk, we are aiming to develop therapeutic strategies which support current pharmaceutical therapies.
 

She has received her PhD degree on her research on “Cow’s milk Allergy; Avoidance versus tolerance: new concepts for allergy management”.  She runs programs on the anti-inflammatory and immune effects of nutrition, biologicals and using experimental models and isolated cell systems. Current projects include; The effect of nutritional concepts on the microbial composition of the gut, lungs and esophagus in relation to disease; The immunomodulation of fermented raw milk and The immune profiling of eosinophilic esophagitis. Next to her research, she teaches in the Bachelor and Master program of Pharmacy.  She is an elected member of the EAACI Immuno-pharmacology taskforce, Ethical Committee Animal Experiments and reviewer for Frontiers in Immunology.

 

Selected publications period 2021-2008

  1. IL-33 Is Involved in the Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Butyrate and Propionate on TNFα-Activated Endothelial Cells. Li M, van Esch BCAM, Henricks PAJ, Garssen J, Folkerts G.Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Feb 28;22(5):2447. doi: 10.3390/ijms22052447 PMID: 33671042
  2. Perinatal and Early-Life Nutrition, Epigenetics, and Allergy. Acevedo N, Alashkar Alhamwe B, Caraballo L, Ding M, Ferrante A, Garn H, Garssen J, Hii CS, Irvine J, Llinás-Caballero K, López JF, Miethe S, Perveen K, Pogge von Strandmann E, Sokolowska M, Potaczek DP, van Esch BCAM. Nutrients. 2021 Feb 25;13(3):724. doi: 10.3390/nu13030724. PMID: 33668787
  3. Butyrate and Propionate Restore the Cytokine and House Dust Mite Compromised Barrier Function of Human Bronchial Airway Epithelial Cells. Richards LB, Li M, Folkerts G, Henricks PAJ, Garssen J, van Esch BCAM. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Dec 23;22(1):65. doi: 10.3390/ijms22010065.
  4. The Impact of Milk and Its Components on Epigenetic Programming of Immune Function in Early Life and Beyond: Implications for Allergy and Asthma. van Esch BCAM, Porbahaie M, Abbring S, Garssen J, Potaczek DP, Savelkoul HFJ, van Neerven RJJ. Front Immunol. 2020 Oct 21;11:2141. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.02141. eCollection 2020. PMID: 33193294
  5. Decreased Histone Acetylation Levels at Th1 and Regulatory Loci after Induction of Food Allergy. Alashkar Alhamwe B, Meulenbroek LAPM, Veening-Griffioen DH, Wehkamp TMD, Alhamdan F, Miethe S, Harb H, Hogenkamp A, Knippels LMJ, Pogge von Strandmann E, Renz H, Garssen J, van Esch BCAM, Garn H, Potaczek DP, Tiemessen MM. Nutrients. 2020 Oct 19;12(10):3193. doi: 10.3390/nu12103193.