Our team is integrated in the Scientific Program on Chronic and Inflammatory Diseases, oriented to the study of the most relevant chronic processes of the modern society, with special emphasis on those of an inflammatory and autoimmune nature. This area mainly covers the study of chronic inflammatory and systemic autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neurological diseases, renal and urological diseases, liver and digestive diseases.
Our research team employs synergistically clinical-therapeutic approaches and cellular and molecular approaches, and has as main objectives to:
- Analyze molecular and cellular mechanisms of atherothrombosis development in systemic autoimmune diseases (EAS), and to identify new biomarkers and regulatory mechanisms promoted by new therapeutic approaches.
- Analyze the role of the chronic systemic inflammation in the glucose and lipid metabolism in rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis.
- Study of the effects of conventional therapies (DMARDs), new agents (Apremilast) and other biologic drugs (anti-TNFa) on the metabolic syndrome associated with chronic inflammatory diseases.
- Record, describe, and analyze clinical, epidemiological, demographic, genetic, radiographic, pathophysiological and of therapeutic response in patients with spondyloarthritis (AS) in Spain.
- Design, develop and validate a new system of measurement of mobility (most important expression of structural damage) of AS patients.
Ours research contributes to improved patient care by adding to our knowledge and discovering new biological therapies for e.g. Rheumatoid Arthritis, Spondyloarthritis, or for other Autoimmune Diseases. New biological therapies are selected for patients who do not respond adequately to conventional treatments. The biological therapy helps chronic patients to spend long asymptomatic periods, and to reduce disease outbreaks. This allows better control of these diseases, as well as improved prognosis and quality of life of patients and, therefore, a modern and effective alternative in cases of difficult control of the rheumatologic diseases.
We have long-lasting and wide network of collaborations with researchers at the St. Thomas NHS Foundation Trust (UK), University of Cambridge (UK), IDIVAL, Genyo, University of Murcia, and Center of Research of Immunopathology and Rare Diseases (Italy), among others.
Research Lines
Our team studies the cellular and molecular mechanisms of atherothrombosis development and organ damage in three systemic autoimmune diseases: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). We further analyze the regulatory mechanisms promoted by new therapeutic approaches such as Statins, biological therapies (i.e. anti-TNF, anti-IL6, anti-Blyss), biosimilars, and new drugs with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects (i.e. Coenzyme Q10, cannabinoids).
Our research group also investigates new molecular biomarkers involved in the development of systemic autoimmune diseases. Specifically, the group conducts various research projects among which we can highlight PRECISESADS (Molecular Reclassification to Find clinically Useful Biomarkers for Systemic Autoimmune Diseases), a European project funded by the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI).
The aim of PRECISESADS is the use of -omics and bioinformatics tools for the reclassification of EAS that share common pathophysiological mechanisms. The project aims to push for personalized medicine based on clinical and molecular profiles of the individual by promoting a substantial improvement in the processes of prediction, diagnosis, and clinical developments as well as in monitoring therapeutic response.
This project, recently finished, will be continued by a recently granted new European project: Taxonomy, Treatment, Targets and Remission (3TR) which main objective is the Identification of the Molecular Mechanisms of non-response to Treatments, Relapses and Remission in Autoimmune, Inflammatory, and Allergic Conditions. This study will last from October 2019 to October 2026.
Metabolic disorders are strongly associated with systemic autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases. Our group has recently started a new research area focused on the study of the mechanisms involved in the development of metabolic co morbidities in rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis.
The main objectives within this area are to analyze the role of the chronic systemic inflammation in the glucose and lipid metabolism in rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, and to study the effect of conventional therapies (DMARDs), new agents (Apremilast) and other biologic drugs (anti-TNFa) on the metabolic syndrome associated with chronic inflammatory diseases.
Our group has 3 lines of research in this field:
- Clinical and epidemiological aspects of spondylarthritis (SPA) (activity and disease severity) at local, national (Spanish Registry EA: REGISPONSER) and international levels (European and Latin American Registry of EA (E: RESPONDIA).
- Development of a new system for evaluating the mobility of patients with AS (as an expression of structural damage and disease severity) by informatics technologies developed by our group (UCOTRACK. computerized motion capture using artificial vision; patented).
- Study of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the inflammatory and osteoproliferative pathways, in order to find new therapeutic targets.
Networks
RIER - Research network in inflammation and rheumatic diseases – The Spanish National Institute of Health Carlos III (Instituto de Salud Carlos III)
PAIDI CTS-1004 Chronic inflammatory diseases of musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (Andalusian Plan for Research, Development and Innovation - PAIDI)
APS Action International - Antiphospholipid Syndrome Alliance for Clinical Trials & International Networking
Keywords
- Autoimmune diseases
- spondiloarthropathies
- inflammation
- atherothrombosis
- metabolic syndrome
- organ damage
- biomarkers
- new therapies
Additional Information
Our website: PASIC
Relevant articles
1. Perez-Sanchez C, Cecchi I, Barbarroja N, Patino-Trives AM, Luque-Tevar M, Perez-Sanchez L, Ibanez-Costa A, de la Rosa IA, Ortega R, Escudero A, Castro MC, Radin M, Roccatello D, Sciascia S, Aguirre MA, Collantes E, Lopez-Pedrera C. Early restoration of immune and vascular phenotypes in systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis patients after B cell depletion. JOURNAL OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE. 2019. 23. 9. 6308-6318. DOI:10.1111/jcmm.14517. IF: 4,658. Q1. Article; Early Access. IMIBIC GROUPS: GC05
2. Ruiz-Limon P, Ortega-Castro R, Barbarroja N, Perez-Sanchez C, Jamin C, Patino-Trives AM, Luque-Tevar M, Ibanez-Costa A, Perez-Sanchez L, de la Rosa IA, Abalos-Aguilera M, Jimenez-Gomez Y, Calvo-Gutierrez J, Font P, Escudero-Contreras A, Alarcon-Riquelme M. Molecular Characterization of Monocyte Subsets Reveals Specific and Distinctive Molecular Signatures Associated With Cardiovascular Disease in Rheumatoid Arthritis. FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY. 2019. 10. DOI:10.3389/fimmu.2019.01111. IF: 4,716. Q2. Article. IMIBIC GROUPS: GC05
3. Lopez-Pedrera C, Barbarroja N, Patino-Trives AM, Collantes E, Aguirre MA, Perez-Sanchez C. New Biomarkers for Atherothrombosis in Antiphospholipid Syndrome: Genomics and Epigenetics Approaches. FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY. 2019. 10. DOI:10.3389/fimmu.2019.00764. IF: 4,716. Q2. Review. IMIBIC GROUPS: GC05
4. Sanmarti R, Veale DJ, Martin-Mola E, Escudero-Contreras A, González C, Ercole L, Alonso R, Fonseca JE; ToSpace Study Group. Reducing or Maintaining the Dose of Subcutaneous Tocilizumab in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis in Clinical Remission: A Randomized, Open-Label Trial. Arthritis & Rheumatology. 2019 Oct. Doi: 10.1002/art.40905. IF: 9.002 Q1/D1 Article. IMIBIC GROUPS: GC05
5. Lopez-Isac E, Acosta-Herrera M, Kerick M, Assassi S, Satpathy AT, Granja J, Mumbach MR, Beretta L, Simeon CP, Carreira P, Ortego-Centeno N, Castellvi I, Bossini-Castillo L, Carmona FD, Orozco G, Hunzelmann N, Distler JHW, Franke A, Lunardi C, Moroncini G, Gabrielli A, de Vries-Bouwstra J, Wijmenga C, Koeleman BPC, Nordin A, Padyukov L, Hoffmann-Vold AM, Lie B. European Scleroderma Grp; ASIG: Rios, R; Callejas, JL; Vargas-Hitos, JA; Garcia-Portales, R; Camps, MT; Fernandez-Nebro, A; Gonzalez-Escribano, MF; Garcia-Hernandez, FJ; Castillo, MJ; Aguirre, MA; Gomez-Gracia, I; Fernandez-Gutierrez, B; Rodriguez-Rodriguez, L; de la Pena, PG; Vicente, E; Andreu, JL; de Castro, MF; Lopez-Longo, FJ; Martinez, L; Fonollosa, V; Guillen, A; Espinosa, G; Tolosa, C; Pros, A; Rodriguez-Carballeira, M; Narvaez, FJ; Rubio-Rivas, M; Ortiz-Santamaria, V; Madronero, AB; Gonzalez-Gay, MA; Diaz, B; Trapiella, L; Sousa, A; Egurbide, MV; Fanlo-Mateo, P; Saez-Comet, L; Diaz, F; Hernandez, V; Beltran, E; Roman-Ivorra, JA; Grau, E; Alegre-Sancho, JJ; Freire, M; Blanco-Garcia, FJ; Oreiro, N; Witte, T; Kreuter, A; Riemekasten, G; Airo, P; Magro, C; Voskuyl, AE; Vonk, MC; Hesselstrand, R; Proudman, S; Stevens, W; Nikpour, M; Zochling, J; Sahhar, J; Roddy, J; Nash, P; Tymms, K; Rischmueller, M; Lester, S; Vyse, T; Herrick, AL; Worthington, J; Denton, CP; Allanore, Y; Brown, MA; Radstake, TRDJ; Fonseca, C; Chang, HY; Mayes, MD; Martin, JGWAS for systemic sclerosis identifies multiple risk loci and highlights fibrotic and vasculopathy pathways. Nature Communications. 2019 Oct 31. Doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-12760-y. IF: 11.878 Q1/D1. Article.IMIBIC GROUPS: GC05
6. Cecchi I, Arias de la Rosa I, Menegatti E, et al. Neutrophils: Novel key players in Rheumatoid Arthritis. Current and future therapeutic targets. Autoimmun Rev. 2018 Nov;17(11):1138-1149. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2018.06.006. Epub 2018 Sep 11. Review.
7. Del Rio C, Cantarero I, Palomares B, Gómez-Cañas M, et al. VCE-004.3, a cannabidiol aminoquinone derivative, prevents bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis and inflammation through PPARγ- and CB2 receptor-dependent pathways. Br J Pharmacol. 2018 Oct;175(19):3813-3831. doi: 10.1111/bph.14450. Epub 2018 Aug 23.
8. Pérez-Sánchez C, Arias-de la Rosa I, Aguirre MÁ, et al. Circulating microRNAs as biomarkers of disease and typification of the atherothrombotic status in antiphospholipid syndrome. Haematologica. 2018 May;103(5):908-918. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2017.184416. Epub 2018 Mar 15.
9. Arias de la Rosa I, Escudero-Contreras A, Rodríguez-Cuenca S, et al. Defective glucose and lipid metabolism in rheumatoid arthritis is determined by chronic inflammation in metabolic tissues. J Intern Med. 2018 Jul;284(1):61-77. doi: 10.1111/joim.12743. Epub 2018 Mar 12.
10. Perez-Sanchez C, Font-Ugalde P, Ruiz-Limon P, et al. Circulating microRNAs as potential biomarkers of disease activity and structural damage in ankylosing spondylitis patients. Hum Mol Genet. 2018 Mar 1;27(5):875-890. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddy008.
11. Pérez-Sánchez C, Aguirre MÁ, Ruiz-Limón P, et al. Ubiquinol Effects on Antiphospholipid Syndrome Prothrombotic Profile: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2017 Oct;37(10):1923-1932. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.117.309225. Epub 2017 Jul 6.
12. Pérez-Sánchez C, Ruiz-Limón P, Aguirre MA, et al. Diagnostic potential of NETosis derived products for disease activity, atherosclerosis and therapeutic effectiveness in Rheumatoid Arthritis patients. J Autoimmun. 2017 Aug;82:31-40. doi: 10.1016/j.jaut.2017.04.007. Epub 2017 Apr 29
13. Pérez-Sánchez C, Aguirre MA, Ruiz-Limón P, et al. Atherothrombosis associated microRNAs in Antiphospholipid syndrome and Systemic Lupus erythematosus patients. Sci Rep. 2016 Aug 9;6:31375. doi: 10.1038/srep31375
14. Ruiz-Limón P, Ortega R, Arias de la Rosa I, et al. Tocilizumab improves the proatherothrombotic profile of rheumatoid arthritis patients modulating endothelial dysfunction, NETosis and inflammation. Transl Res. 2017 May;183:87-103. doi: 10.1016/j.trsl.2016.12.003. Epub 2016 Dec 9
15. Castro-Villegas C, Pérez-Sánchez C, Escudero A, et al. Circulating miRNAs as potential biomarkers of therapy effectiveness in Rheumatoid Arthritis patients treated with antiTNFα. Arthritis Res Ther. 2015 Mar 9;17:49. doi: 10.1186/s13075-015-0555-z.
16. Perez-Sanchez C, Barbarroja N, Messineo S, et al. Gene profiling reveals specific molecular pathways in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease in antiphospholipid syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus and antiphospholipidsyndrome with lupus. Ann Rheum Dis. 2015 Jul;74(7):1441-9. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-204600. Epub 2014 Mar 11
17. Ruiz-Limon P, Barbarroja N, Perez-Sanchez C, et al. Atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease in systemic lupus erythematosus: effects of in vivo statin treatment. Ann Rheum Dis. 2015 Jul;74(7):1450-8. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-204351. Epub 2014 Mar 21
18. Barbarroja N, Pérez-Sanchez C, Ruiz-Limon P, et al. Anticyclic citrullinated protein antibodies are implicated in the development of cardiovascular disease in rheumatoid arthritis. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2014 Dec;34(12):2706-16. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.114.304475. Epub 2014 Sep 25
19. Perez-Sanchez C, Ruiz-Limon P, Aguirre MA, et al. Mitochondrial dysfunction in Antiphospholipid syndrome: implications in the pathogenesis of the disease and effects of coenzyme Q10 treatment. Blood. 2012 Jun 14;119(24):5859-70. doi: 10.1182/blood-2011-12-400986. Epub 2012 Apr 23.
20. López-Pedrera C, Ruiz-Limón P, Aguirre MÁ, et al. Global effects of fluvastatin on the prothrombotic status of patients with antiphospholipid syndrome. Ann Rheum Dis. 2011 Apr;70(4):675-82. doi: 10.1136/ard.2010.135525. Epub 2010 Dec 20.
Patents
Título propiedad industrial registrada: Método de obtención de datos útiles para el diagnóstico, estratificación y/o seguimiento de pacientes con artritis reumatoide.
Inventores/autores/obtentores: Rosario López Pedrera; Raul Luque Huertas, Carlos Perez-Sanchez, Eduardo Collantes Estevez, Rafaela Ortega Castro, Justo Pastor Castaño Fuentes, Alejandro Ibañez Costa, Sergio Pedraza Arevalo, Mercedes del Rio Moreno, Nuria Barbarroja Puerto, Yolanda Jimenez Gomez.
Entidad titular de derechos: Servicio Andaluz de Salud y Universidad de Córdoba.
Nº de solicitud: P201930123.
País de inscripción: España, Andalucía.
Fecha de registro: 15/02/2019
Título propiedad industrial registrada: MiRNAs circulantes como biomarcadores del Síndrome Antifosfolípido Primario.
Inventores/autores/obtentores: Rosario López Pedrera; María Ángeles Aguirre Zamorano; Eduardo Collantes Estévez; Nuria Barbarroja Puerto; Carlos Pérez Sánchez; Yolanda Jiménez Gómez.
Entidad titular de derechos: Servicio Andaluz de Salud, Universidad de Córdoba.
Nº de solicitud: P201630725.
País de inscripción: España, Andalucía.
Fecha de registro: 01/06/2016
Título propiedad industrial registrada: MiRNAs como biomarcadores para el diagnóstico de cáncer de pulmón.
Inventores/autores/obtentores: Antonio Rodríguez Ariza, Rosario López Pedrera; Nuria Barbarroja Puerto; Carlos Pérez Sánchez.
Entidad titular de derechos: Servicio Andaluz de Salud, Universidad de Córdoba.
Nº de solicitud: P201630628.
País de inscripción: España, Andalucía.
Fecha de registro: 13/03/2016.
Título propiedad industrial registrada: MiRNAs circulantes como biomarcadores de efectividad terapéutica en pacientes con Artritis Reumatoide tratados con anti-TNFalpha.
Inventores/autores/obtentores: Rosario López Pedrera; Carlos Pérez Sánchez; Carmen Castro Villegas; Eduardo Collantes Estévez; Nuria Barbarroja Puerto; Patricia Ruiz Limón; Yolanda Jiménez Gómez
Entidad titular de derechos: Fundación Progreso y Salud.
Nº de solicitud: EP14382178.3.
País de inscripción: España, Andalucía.
Fecha de registro: 22/05/2014.
Título propiedad industrial registrada: Dispositivo y métodos de captura y análisis de movimiento.
Inventores/autores/obtentores: Eduardo Collantes Estévez, Juan Luis Garrido Castro
Entidad titular de derechos: Servicio Andaluz de Salud, Universidad de Córdoba.
Nº de solicitud: RPI201399901094447.
País de inscripción: España, Andalucía.
Fecha de registro: 08/10/2013.
Título propiedad industrial registrada: Dispositivo y métodos de captura y análisis de movimiento UCOTRACK.
Inventores/autores/obtentores: Eduardo Collantes Estévez, Juan Luis Garrido Castro
Entidad titular de derechos: Servicio Andaluz de Salud, Universidad de Córdoba.
Nº de solicitud: P201130413.
País de inscripción: España, Andalucía.
Fecha de registro: 22/03/2011.
Relevant projects
- Identification of the Molecular Mechanisms of non-response to Treatments, Relapses and Remission in Autoimmune, Inflammatory, and Allergic Conditions. 3TR.
- Implicación de la microbiota intestinal en la progresión radiográfica en pacientes con Espondiloartritis axial. PI19/00701
- Desarrollo y validación del uso de sensores inerciales aplicados a la metrología de pacientes con espondiloartritis axial.. Funding agency: Institute Carlos III Health (ISCIII). Reference: DTS18/00046. 2019-2021
- Identification of the molecular heterogeneity associated with cardiovascular disease, clinical evolution and therapeutic response in systemic autoimmune pathologies. PI18/00837. 2019-2021.
- Study of the epigenetic mechanisms involved in the development of insulin resistance and obesity associated with rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis Funding agency: Institute Carlos III Health (ISCIII). PI17/01316. 2018-2020.
- Molecular reclassification to find clinically useful biomarkers for systemic autoinmunediseases (PRECISESADS) IMI 15565. 2014-2019.
