CV
Sa’ad Al-Lahham
Vinkenstraat 66A
9713 TK, Groningen, the Netherlands.
E-mail: saadlaham@yahoo.com and s.lahham@med.umcg.nl
Mobile: 0031643067312
Educational Background:

2010: PhD in Biomedicine. University Medical Centre of Groningen, Groningen
University, Groningen, the Netherlands.

2006: Master in Medical and Pharmaceutical Drug Innovation. Groningen
University, Groningen, the Netherlands.

2003: B.Sc. in Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering. Jordan University of
Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
Significant achievements and Honors: Honor degrees in high school and B.Sc.
Employment History:
Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Arab American University, Jenin,
Palestine (2003-2004):
Duties: Coaching the students basic laboratorial techniques; such as molecular
biology and microbiological techniques and mammalian and plant cell culturing.
Research experience:
PhD project (till 2010): Propionic acid influence on human adipose tissue
metabolism and inflammation.
It is well known that colonic-fermentation influences the development of obesity and
its associated disorders. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the influence of propionic
acid (PA), a metabolite produced by colonic-microbiota fermentation, on
adipocytokines and chemokines production by human omental and subcutaneous
adipose tissue. In addition, we aimed to investigate the underlying molecular
mechanisms; the role of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR), PPARγ and NF-kB, in
PA signaling. Because obesity is associated with macrophage infiltration in adipose
tissue, which is implicated in pathogenesis of inflammation associated disorders, we
investigated the effect of PA on macrophages secretome. We found that PA
influences the adipose tissue production of adipocytokines and chemokines.
Furthermore, we found that PA exerts an immunoregulatory effects on macrophages.
Regarding the underlying molecular mechanisms, we have shown that both PPARγ
and GPCRs play a role in PA signaling; however NF-kB role still need to be
investigated. These findings suggest that PA is involved in the regulation of human
energy metabolism, inflammation and in turn obesity development and its associated
disorders.
Master project (January-June 2005): Human scFvSIgA expressed on Lactococcus
lactis as a vector for the treatment of mucosal disease.
The treatment of gastrointestinal tract pathologies, including cancer and inflammatory
disease, remains problematic. Although substantial insight has been gained in the
pathogenesis of these diseases, translating this knowledge to novel therapy remains
troublesome. These problems are derived from the difficulty of delivering functional
protein therapeutics to the mucosa of the digestive tract, mainly as a consequence of
the protein-structure hostile nature of the lumen of the tract and the occurrence of
unwanted side effects when such proteins are introduced in a systemic fashion. To
overcome these troubles we have designed a novel recombinant scFvSIgA1 protein
produced by Lactococcus lactis and anchored to its membrane to target colon cancer
epitope, epithelial glycoprotein protein-2 (EGP-2). Accordingly L. lactis expressing
this chimeric protein was capable of binding cells expressing this epitope. This
proposes that the expression of specific antibodies on bacteria may allow local
delivery of anticancer agents produced by such bacteria in conjunction with the
antibody and provides a new avenue in the quest for targeted drug delivery.
Genetic Diversity Studies on Wheat Landraces in Palestine Using RAPD Markers
in Comparison to Phenotypic Classification: United Nations Development Program,
Department of Biology, Al-Quds University, Abu Dis, Palestine (4 months, 20032004).
This study was undertaken to examine the extent of genetic variation among the
diverse individuals of important crops such as wheat. Moreover, we aimed to evaluate
random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) as a molecular marker assay for
genetic classification of cultivars of wheat and compare this approach with the
authentic data collected from the same cultivars cultivated in Palestine. We found that
RAPD technique could be used effectively as a valuable marker to discriminate
between landraces and their original sources.
Internships:
1. Al-maqased Hospital-Israel (2 months): learning molecular diagnosis of human
genetic diseases, such as thalasemmia.
2. Alamani Center–Palestine (3 months): human in vitro fertelization (IVF) training.
3. First Medical Laboratories-Jordan (1 months): learning molecular and cytological
technologies for genetic disorder diagnosis such as Hemophilia and Hepatitis a, b,
c. Moreover, I was coached the basic histology and pathology techniques, such as
tissue processing, embedding, microtomy and staining
Grants:
Beleidsruimte 2006 grant, Graduate School for Drug Exploration), 1200 €.
Patents:
SCFA for use in preventing, delaying and/or treating obesity and/or metabolic syndrome
and/or insulin resistance and/or diabetes (P6019698EP).
Poster Presentations in Conferences:
1. Propionic Acid Stimulates Leptin Production by Human Adipose Tissue
Through G-Protein Coupled Receptor(s). S. Al-Lahham, D. Weening, F.
Rezaee, H. Roelofsen, K. Venema and R.J. Vonk. GUIDE early summer
meeting, Groningen, the Netherlands, 2009.
2. Propionic Acid Stimulates Leptin Production In Human Adipose Tissue
Through G-Protein Coupled Receptor(s). S. Al-Lahham, D. Weening, F.
Rezaee, H. Roelofsen, K. Venema and R.J. Vonk. European Congress on
Obesity, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 2009.
3. Propionic Acid Stimulates Leptin Production In Human Adipose Tissue
Through G-Protein Coupled Receptor(s). S. Al-Lahham, D. Weening, F.
Rezaee, H. Roelofsen, K. Venema and R.J. Vonk. Keystone symposia Type 2
Diabetes and Insulin Resistance (J3) and Obesity: Novel Aspects of the
Regulation of Body Weight (J4), Banff, AB, Canada, 2009.
4. The influence of short chain fatty acids on human adipose tissue function. S.
Al-Lahham, H. Roelofsen, A. Hoek, K. Venema,
R. J. Vonk
GUIDE early summer meeting, Groningen, the Netherlands, 2007.
5. Apoptosis induction to colon cancer cell by Recombinant BMP-2. S. AlLahham, S.Yuvaraj, W.Helfrich, L.F.M.H de Leij, M.P. Peppelenbosch, and
N.A.Bos. GUIDE early summer meeting, Groningen, the Netherlands, 2005.
Oral presentations in Conferences:
 Propionic Acid Stimulates Leptin Production In Human Adipose Tissue Through
G-Protein Coupled Receptor(s). S. Al-Lahham, D. Weening, F. Rezaee, H.
Roelofsen, K. Venema and R.J. Vonk. Annual Gut Day (Darmendag), Utrecht, the
Netherlands, 2009.
Publications:
1. S. Yuvaraj, S. Lahham, R. K. R. Marreddy, G. Dijkstra, W. A. M. Wolken, J. S.
Lolkema, W. Helfrich, F-E. Johansen, M. P. Peppelenbosch, N. A. Bos. Human
scFv SIgA expressed on Lactococcus lactis as a vector for the treatment of mucosal
disease. Mol. Nutr. Food Res. 52, 913 – 920, 2008
2. Khaled Sawalha, Hatem Eideh, Sa’ad Laham, Haitham Hasesneh, Buthaina Mezeid.
Genetic Diversity Studies on Wheat Landraces in Palestine Using RAPD Markers in
Comparison to Phenotypic Classification. JABS, 2 (1): 29-34, 2008
3. Kees Meijer and Saed Lahham, Marcel de Vries, Marcel Bruinenberg, Desiree
Weening, Martijn Dijkstra, Niels Kloosterhuis, Bert Blaauw, Nel Blom, J.J.L. van
der Want, Roel Vonk and Fahrad Rezaee. Human Preadipocytes and Adipocytes
Exhibit Immune Cell-Like Behavior. Submitted
4. Sa’ad H. Al-Lahham, Han Roelofsen, Desiree Weening, Martijn Dijkstra, Farhad
Rezaee, Annemieke Hoek, Koen Venema and Roel J. Vonk. Regulation of
Adipokine Production in Human Adipose Tissue by Propionic Acid. Submitted
5. Sa’ad H. Al-Lahham, Han Roelofsen, Desiree Weening, Farhad Rezaee, Annemieke
Hoek, Koen Venema and Roel J. Vonk. Propionic Acid Influence on Human
Adipose Tissue Inflammation and insulin resistance markers: the underlying
molecular targets. Writing.
6. Sa’ad H. Al-Lahham, Desiree Weening, Han Roelofsen, Koen Venema and Roel J.
Vonk. Propionic acid influence on THP-1 Macrophages Secretome; Quantitative
Proteomics Approach. Writing.
References:
1. Dr. J. Sikkema: Program Director, Top Institute Food and Nutrition, Wageningen,
the Netherlands.
Tel: 0031317486162
E-mail: Sikkema@tifn.nl
2. Dr. K. Venema: project manager at TNO, team leader at TNO quality of life and
project leader at Top Institute Food and Nutrition, Ziest, the Netherlands.
Tel: 0031306944703.
E-mail: koen.venema@tno.nl
3. Dr. F. Rezaee: Medical Biomics Centre, Department of Cell Biology, University
Medical Centre of Groningen (UMCG), Groningen, the Netherlands.
Tel: 003150363
E-mail: f.rezaee@med.umcg.nl
4. Prof. Dr. N. A. Bos: Coordinator International Bachelor Medicine, Director PreUniversity College, Institute for Medical Education, University Medical Centre of
Groningen(UMCG), Groningen, the Netherlands.
Tel: 0031503636356
E-mail: n.a.bos@med.umcg.nl