Crosstalk between inflammation, bone destruction and new bone formation in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Uta Syrbe
• Subject Area: Rheumatology
• Term: from 2010 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 169556143

Inflammation and new bone formation are the hallmarks of the immunopathology observed in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and determine disease activity, function and longterm outcome. The molecular mechanism of the fluctuating inflammation and its interaction with new bone formation are only poorly understood. In the current project we will apply recent evidence about such an interaction obtained in animal models on the molecular level to histological and immunhistological bone material obtained from AS patients, supplemented by functional in vitro studies. The following question will be addressed: (i) the role of T effector and T regulatory cells in inflammation with special focus on TH17 cells; (ii) interaction between cells and molecules of inflammation and of new bone formation; (iii) investigation of cells/molecules relevant for new bone formation in AS. The results obtained here should enable us to develop better and/or refined current therapies for inhibition of inflammation and osteoproliferaion in AS.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1468: Osteoimmunology - IMMUNOBONE - A Programme to Unravel the Mutual Interactions between the Immune System and Bone
• Participating Persons: Privatdozent Dr. Heiner Appel; Professor Dr. Thomas Kamradt; Professor Dr. Thomas Pap; Professor Dr. Georg Schett; Professor Thorsten Schinke, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Joachim Sieper