The Laboratory of Rheumatology, Autoimmunity and Inflammation together with the Affiliated Clinical Research Unit at the University Hospital, represent an interdisciplinary group of physician scientists, bio-scientists, clinicians and nurses that investigates medical inflammation in the context of autoinflammatory-autoimmune rheumatic diseases (rheumatoid arthritis [RA]), systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE], familial Mediterranean fever). It has been officially approved as a research laboratory of the Medical School, University of Crete (FEK 1207, 26 April 2016).
The laboratory explores mechanisms of tissue injury and repair with the ultimate goal of developing novel therapies. We use animal models of SLE, RA, and other autoimmune diseases, as well as tissues obtained from humans (blood, bone marrow, skin, synovium and kidney), investigating innate and adaptive immune responses under the premise that they share common effector pathways for tissue injury. Importantly, we explore the relative contribution of these pathways in human diseases by studying well characterized patient cohorts seeking to identify molecular biomarkers for diagnosis and monitoring. We seek to understand how novel therapies work and explore molecular or genetic biomarkers that predict response or toxicity to therapy.
We are interested in understanding how these mechanisms intersect in the context of "immune tolerance" and the "homeostatic regulation" of the inflammatory response that protects the organism from inflammation-induced injury. We also seek to understand how variations in genome and gene expression observed in these diseases may contribute to aberrant function of immune cells. Because these diseases are associated with an increased risk for infection due to inherent immune defects and the effect of immunosuppressive and biologic drugs, we are interested in defining host-defenses against specific pathogens such as fungi. To gain further insight in the dynamics of host-fungal interplay, we have developed mini-host models of fungal disease in Drosophila, an ideal model organism to perform high- throughput genetic screens.
Inflammation – a type of a non-specific immune response – is the biologic process by which the body responds to infection, irritation or other injury or environmental exposures. When inflammation involves primarily the musculoskeletal system, this may result to pathogenesis of diseases collectively called “inflammatory rheumatic diseases”. Some of the most well-known inflammatory rheumatic diseases include:
a) Chronic inflammatory arthritides [Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthropathies (SpA)]
b) Collagen vascular diseases (SLE, systemic sclerosis, myositis)
c) Systemic vasculitides (Adamantiades-Behcet's disease, ANCA-associated vasculitides).
d) Other autoinflammatory diseases such as the familial Mediterranean fever (FMF).
Inflammatory rheumatic diseases are not uncommon affecting approximately 1-2% of the population. People of both sexes and across all ages may be affected. In general, women tend to be affected more commonly than men; in fact, some autoimmune rheumatic diseases such as SLE, have a very strong predilection for women of the reproductive age. If not managed appropriately, inflammation may lead to irreversible injury (damage) of the joints (bone and cartilage), kidneys, heart and lung, blood, skin or other organs, resulting in significant morbidity and disability.
Inflammatory rheumatic diseases are characterized by acute and chronic inflammation. Inflammation is provoked either by an immune response directed against self-constituents (auto-immunity) or by yet unidentified non-self, non-pathogen targets (auto-inflammation). Research has thus far revealed the important role of cells (B and T lymphocytes, monocytes and monocyte-derived cells, neutrophils), co-stimulatory or inhibitory molecules such as CTLA-4, PD-1, and BTLA, as well as cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukins in mediating tissue injury. De-regulation of cytokine production or cytokine networks have also been implicated in their pathogenesis.
The laboratory consists of the following sections-research interests (leaders):
Title: The role of innate immunity in SLE nephritis pathogenesis
Funding Source: Secretariat for Research and Technology (GR) – “Pythagoras I” ”, co-funded, 3rd framework
Contract Number: ELKE PK KA 1935
Status : Principal investigator – D.Boumpas
Budget: 100.000 €
Duration: 01/03/2004-31/12/2007
Title: Invastigating the haetiopathology, clinical progress, prognosis and response to therapy in SLE: prospective and comparative study using DNA arrays in Bone Marrow and Peripheral Blood.
Funding Source: General Secretariat for Research and Technology (GR) – “Pythagoras II””, co-funded , 3rd framework
Contract Number: ELKE PK KA 2086
Status: Principal investigator – P. Sidiropoulos
Budget: 50.000€
Duration: 1/1/2005-31/12/2007
Title: “Curing autoimmune disease. A translational approach to autoimmune disease in the post-genomic era using inflammatory arthritis and myositis as prototypes and learning examples” (AUTOCURE)
Funding Source: INTEGRATED PROJECT UNDER THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY FRAMEWORK 6 PROGRAMME
Contract Number: LSHB CT2006018661
Status: partner– D.Boumpas
Budget (for the team): 212,900 €
Duration: 01/09/2007-28/02/2011
Title: Pathogenesis of autoimmune rheumatic diseases
Funding Source: Hellenic Society of Rheumatology (ERE)
Contract Number:
Status: Principal investigator– D.Boumpas
Budget (for the team): 100,000 €
Duration: 2007-12
Title: Pathogenesis of autoimmune rheumatic diseases
Funding Source: ABBOTT
Contract Number:
Status: Principal investigator– D.Boumpas
Budget: 260.500 €
Duration: 2008-2013
Title: Targeted strategies for new therapies of cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases based on protective actions of High Density Lipoproteins (HDL)
Funding Source: General Secretariat for Research and Technology (GR) – “Cooperation Grant
Contract Number: 09ΣΥΝ-12-897 -‐AP260
Status: partner– D.Boumpas/P.Sidiropoulos
Budget (for the team): 110.000€
Duration: 18/02/11 – 17/02/14
Title: Investigation of Novel Inflammatory Pathways in Chronic Autoinflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases Like Familial Mediterranean Fever (And Other Periodic Fever Syndromes), Uric Acid Arthritis, Crohn's Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Still's Disease»
Funding Source: General Secretariat for Research and Technology (GR) – “Cooperation Grant
Contract Number: 09-SYN-12-898-AP1371
Status: coordiantor– D.Boumpas
Budget (for the team): 350,000 €
Duration: 21/06/11 – 20/06/14
Title: Untraveling the Mode of Action of Antigen-Specific Regulatory T Cells: Implication of Cell-Based Therapy of Autoimmune Diseases – P. Verginis
Funding Source: ESPA Postdoctoral Fellowships
Contract Number: LS6-16963/6-12-10
Status: Principal investigator – D.Boumpas/P.Verginis
Budget: 150.000,00 €
Duration: 18/01/12 – 17/01/15
Title: Interdisciplinary network for Alzheimer Disease study
Funding Source: General Secretariat for Research and Technology (GR) – “Thalis Grant
Status: partner– D.Boumpas
Contract Number: ΟΠΣ 377299
Budget (for the team): 50.000 €
Duration: 01/04/2012– 31/03/2015
Title: Dissection of the Pathogenesis of Autoimmune Diseases for Targeted Therapeutics Using Systemic Lupus Erythematosus as Prototype
Funding Source: General Secretariat for Research and Technology (GR) ΕSPA - EXCELLENCE
Contract Number: AutoimmuneSearch / 2344
Status: Principal investigator– D.Boumpas
Budget: 332.100,00€
Duration: 01/08/12 – 30/09/15
Title: Prediction of response to abatacept in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients based on a detailed immunological profile of cytokine networks
Funding Source: Bristo Meyers Sqibbs (BMS)
Contract Number: IM 101-558
Status: Principal investigator– PI Sidiropoulos
Budget: 101.329 €
Duration: 09/08/15 – 31/12/17
Title: Prediction of response to abatacept in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients based on a detailed immunological profile of cytokine networks
Funding Source: Bristol Meyers Sqibbs (BMS)
Contract Number: IM 101-558
Status : Principal investigator– PI Sidiropoulos
Budget 101.329 €
Duration: 09/08/15 – 31/12/17
Title: NGS in Peripheral Blood and HSCs in SLE: Mechanisms of Disease, Novel Therapeutic Targets and Biomarkers for Disease Activity and Response to Therapy
Funding Source: Foundation for Rheumatology Research (FOREUM)
Contract Number: KA4586
Status: Co-Principal investigator – G Bertsias
Budget: 60.000 €
Duration: 12/2015 – 12/2018
Title: The role of interleukin-33 in modulation of plasmacytoid dendritic cell function and generation of pathogenic immune responses in systemic lupus erythematosus
Funding Source: UoC Research Account (ELKE)
Contract Number: KA4718
Status: Principal investigator– G Bertsias
Budget: 10.000 €
Duration: 05/2017 – 05/2019
Title: A prediction score for individuals at risk for SLE by integrating clinical, serologic and transcriptomic data
Funding Source: Foundation for Rheumatology Research (FOREUM)
Contract Number: KA10002
Status: Principal investigator – G Bertsias
Budget: 110.000 € (total grant: 400.000 €)
Duration: 01/2018 – 12/2020
Publications, Laboratory of Rheumatology, Autoimmunity and Inflammation, University of Crete Medical School (2012-2020)