The Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation and Human Genetics and Host Defense Sections, Laboratory of Internal Medicine represent an interdisciplinary group that focuses on medical inflammation in the context of autoinflammatory/autoimmune rheumatic diseases (familial Mediterranean fever, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis)

The laboratories explore mechanisms of tissue injury and repair with the ultimate goal of developing novel therapies. To this end, we use animal models of systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis 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. We 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. In addition to identifying genetic factors predisposing individuals to these diseases understanding how genetic variations may contribute to the abnormal function of cells (functional genomics) represents an additional area of our interest. Because these diseases are associated with an increased risk for infection because of inherent immune defects and the effect of immunosuppressive/biologic drugs that are used for their treatment we are also interested in defining host-defenses against specific pathogens.

Selected Publications

Raptopoulou AP, Bertsias G, Makrygiannakis D, Verginis P, Kritikos I, Tzardi M, Klareskog L, Catrina AI, Sidiropoulos P, Boumpas DT. (2010) The programmed death 1/programmed death ligand 1 inhibitory pathway is up-regulated in rheumatoid synovium and regulates peripheral T cell responses in human and murine arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 62:1870-80.

Kavousanaki M, Makrigiannakis A, Boumpas D, Verginis P. (2010) Novel role of plasmacytoid dendritic cells in humans: induction of interleukin-10-producing Treg cells by plasmacytoid dendritic cells in patients with rheumatoid arthritis responding to therapy. Arthritis Rheum. 62: 53-63.

Bertsias GK, Nakou M, Choulaki C, Raptopoulou A, Papadimitraki E, Goulielmos G, Kritikos H, Sidiropoulos P, Tzardi M, Kardassis D, Mamalaki C, Boumpas DT. (2009) Genetic, immunologic, and immunohistochemical analysis of the programmed death 1/programmed death ligand 1 pathway in human systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Rheum. 60: 207-18.

Nakou M, Knowlton N, Frank MB, Bertsias G, Osban J, Sandel CE, Papadaki H, Raptopoulou A, Sidiropoulos P, Kritikos I, Tassiulas I, Centola M, Boumpas DT. (2008) Gene expression in systemic lupus erythematosus: bone marrow analysis differentiates active from inactive disease and reveals apoptosis and granulopoiesis signatures. Arthritis Rheum. 58: 3541-9.

Aksentijevich I, Galanakis E, Kritikos H, Repa A, Fragiadakis G, Boumpas D, Goulielmos GN. (2008) Familial Mediterranean Fever in Crete: a genetic and structural biological approach in a population of 'intermediate risk. Clin Genet. 73: 152-9.