Translational Rheumatology and Immunology

Research unit: Translational Rheumatology and Immunology

Description

Our research unit focuses on the study of the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs), such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic sclerosis. Our current research lines have two main aims:

1. The identification of new therapeutic targets for the treatment of RMDs patients.

2. The identification of biomarkers that predict the progression of the RMDs and the response to the current therapies.

Team

1. Calcineurin and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: The Rationale for Using Calcineurin Inhibitors in the Treatment of Lupus Nephritis. Rafael-Vidal C, Altabás I, Pérez N, Mourino Rodríguez C, Pego-Reigosa JM, Garcia S. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Jan 27;22(3):1263. doi: 10.3390/ijms22031263. PMID: 33514066.
2.  Angiopoietin-2 Promotes Inflammatory Activation in Monocytes of Systemic Sclerosis Patients. Carvalheiro T, Lopes AP, van der Kroef M, Malvar-Fernandez B, Rafael-Vidal C, Hinrichs AC, Servaas NH, Bonte-Mineur F, Kok MR, Beretta L, Zimmermann M, Marut W, Pego-Reigosa JM, Radstake TRDJ, Garcia S. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Dec 15;21(24):9544. doi: 10.3390/ijms21249544. PMID: 33333969.
3. Blocking IL-17: A Promising Strategy in the Treatment of Systemic Rheumatic Diseases. Rafael-Vidal C, Pérez N, Altabás I, Garcia S, Pego-Reigosa JM. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Sep 26;21(19):7100. doi: 10.3390/ijms21197100. PMID: 32993066.
4. Semaphorin4A-Plexin D1 Axis Induces Th2 and Th17 While Represses Th1 Skewing in an Autocrine Manner. Carvalheiro T, Rafael-Vidal C, Malvar-Fernandez B, Lopes AP, Pego-Reigosa JM, Radstake TRDJ, Garcia S. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Sep 22;21(18):6965. doi: 10.3390/ijms21186965. PMID: 32971928.
5. Extracellular SPARC cooperates with TGF-β signalling to induce pro-fibrotic activation of systemic sclerosis patient dermal fibroblasts. Carvalheiro T, Malvar Fernández B, Ottria A, Giovannone B, Marut W, Reedquist KA, Garcia S, Radstake TR. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2020 Sep 1;59(9):2258-2263. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kez583. PMID: 31840182
6. Promotion of macrophage activation by Tie2 in the context of the inflamed synovia of rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis patients. Kabala PA, Malvar-Fernández B, Lopes AP, Carvalheiro T, Hartgring SAY, Tang MW, Conde C, Baeten DL, Sleeman M, Tak PP, Connor J, Radstake TR, Reedquist KA, García S. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2020 Feb 1;59(2):426-438. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kez315. PMID: 31377797.
7. Induction of Inflammation and Fibrosis by Semaphorin 4A in Systemic Sclerosis. Carvalheiro T, Affandi AJ, Malvar-Fernández B, Dullemond I, Cossu M, Ottria A, Mertens JS, Giovannone B, Bonte-Mineur F, Kok MR, Marut W, Reedquist KA, Radstake TR, García S. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2019 Oct;71(10):1711-1722. doi: 10.1002/art.40915. Epub 2019 Aug 27. PMID: 31012544.
8. Class 3 semaphorins modulate the invasive capacity of rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes. Tang MW, Malvar Fernández B, Newsom SP, van Buul JD, Radstake TRDJ, Baeten DL, Tak PP, Reedquist KA, García S. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2018 May 1;57(5):909-920. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kex511. PMID: 29471421.

Selected Projects

• Grant Call: Consolidación y estructuración de unidades de investigación competitivas y otras acciones de fomento. Modalidad C: Proxectos de persoal investigador con traxectoria excelente.
Project: Papel de Tie2 en la disfunción endotelial en pacientes con lupus eritematoso sistémico
Project code: IN607D-2020-01
Principal investigator: Samuel García Pérez

• Grant Call: Acción Estratégica de Salud. Ayudas y SubvencionesProyectos de investigación en salud. Modalidad: Proyectos de investigación en salud
Project: Utilización de la Semaforina3B como diana terapéutica y biomarcador de la progresión de la enfermedad en la artritis reumatoide
Project code: PI20/01472
Principal investigator: Samuel García Pérez

• Grant Call: Miguel Servet program 2019. Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Project: The role of Semaphorin4A in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Psoriatic Arthritis.
Project code: CP19/00005
Principal investigator: Samuel García Pérez

• Grant Call: Miguel Servet program 2019. Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Project: The role of Semaphorin4A in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Psoriatic Arthritis.
Project code: CP19/00005
Principal investigator: Samuel García Pérez

• Grant Call: Dutch Arthritis Foundation 2018
Project: Targeting Semaphorin4A in Systemic Sclerosis.
Project code: NR18-1-301
Principal investigator: Samuel García Pérez

• Grant Call: Dutch ASPIRE Inflammation Competitive Research Program Pfizer.
Project: Class 3 semaphorins as predictors of disease progression and response to TNF therapy in rheumatoid arthritis.
Project code: WI229944
Principal investigator: Samuel García Pérez

• Grant Call: Dutch Arthritis Foundation 2015
Project: Testing the therapeutic potential of Semaphorin4A as modulator of Th17 polarization in systemic sclerosis.
Project code: NR15- 3-101
Principal investigator: Samuel García Pérez