Overview

The long-term goals of the Pediatric Translational Research laboratory are to understand cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of spondyloarthritis. Spondyloarthritis refers to a spectrum of chronic immune-mediated inflammatory diseases that affect an estimated 1% of the population. They differ from other types of inflammatory arthritis in genetic predisposition, pathogenesis, and long-term outcome. Spondyloarthritis often begins as an undifferentiated disease that, in many cases, progresses to ankylosing spondylitis (AS). AS can lead to ankylosis of the spine and significant disability. Although most people affected by AS are adults, approximately 15-20% are first affected as children. This juvenile onset AS (JAS) differs from adult onset disease because spinal (axial) symptoms are usually missing, while peripheral arthritis and enthesitis are more prominent. Most spondyloarthritis in children is classified as a form of juvenile idiopathic arthritis known as enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA) or psoriatic arthritis (PsA). However, children with ERA or PsA and spinal involvement are not distinguished from those with only peripheral arthritis and enthesitis. Since individuals with axial involvement are most likely to progress to AS, recognizing early spinal involvement in children is paramount.

The development of AS is primarily determined by one’s genetic make-up. HLA-B (predominantly the B27 allele) plays a major role, accounting for an estimated 30-40% of overall susceptibility, with additional genes, such as ERAP1, IL23R, IL1RII, IL1 (probably IL1A), CARD9, TNFR1, TRADD, STAT3, PTGER2, ANTXR2 and others also contributing. Our knowledge of how these genes and their variants work together to promote the inflammation and bone formation that occurs in AS is incomplete, although new targets have been identified. As therapeutic options improve, identification of children with spondyloarthritis who have axial involvement will be increasingly important, as they may benefit the most from early aggressive intervention.

Current projects include:

  • Evaluating the role of HLA-B27 and other genetic factors in disease.
    • Studies employ a transgenic animal model of spondyloarthritis and cells from human subjects including induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), to evaluate effects of HLA-B27 expression and misfolding on ER stress and its consequences for cytokine production and cellular function.
    • Effects on osteoclast and osteoblast development and function.
  • Elucidating genes that influence how HLA-B27 causes spondyloarthritis in rats.
  • Determining how ERAP1 affects spondyloarthritis pathogenesis.
  • Understanding how HLA-B27 shapes the immunology and microbiology of the gut.
  • Determining clinical manifestations and biomarkers of early axial spondyloarthritis in children.

These studies will inform us on mechanisms that drive pathogenesis of spondyloarthritis and suggest novel strategies that can be developed to more effectively treat disease.

Image & Media Gallery

Clinical Trials

Recruiting
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01422694

Spondyloarthritis encompasses a spectrum of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases that exhibit overlapping features, but differ from other types of inflammatory arthritis in genetic predisposition, pathogenesis, and outcome. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Researchers are interested in studying people with SpA and their relatives to determine which people are more likely to develop more severe conditions.

Active, not recruiting
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01793519

Researchers want to see if people with RA in remission on a TNF inhibitor can stay in remission without this medicine. Also there may be a clinical, imaging (MRI, ultrasound), laboratory profile that will help to determine which patients remain in remission after stopping these drugs. This study will provide important new information on the best treatment approach for patients with RA in remission.

Scientific Publications

Selected Recent Publications

VEGF Secretion Drives Bone Formation in Classical MAP2K1+ Melorheostosis.

Allbritton-King JD, Maity J, Patel A, Colbert RA, Navid F, Bhattacharyya T
J Bone Miner Res.
2023 Dec;
38(12).
doi: 10.1002/jbmr.4915
PMID: 37737377

Paradoxical Effects of Endoplasmic Reticulum Aminopeptidase 1 Deficiency on HLA-B27 and Its Role as an Epistatic Modifier in Experimental Spondyloarthritis.

Tran TM, Gill T, Bennett J, Hong S, Holt V, Lindstedt AJ, Bakshi S, Sikora K, Taurog JD, Breban M, Navid F, Colbert RA
Arthritis Rheumatol.
2023 Feb;
75(2).
doi: 10.1002/art.42327
PMID: 36577442

Recent Updates in Juvenile Spondyloarthritis.

Srinivasalu H, Sikora KA, Colbert RA
Rheum Dis Clin North Am.
2021 Nov;
47(4).
doi: 10.1016/j.rdc.2021.07.001
PMID: 34635292

Consensus-driven conceptual development of a standardized whole body-MRI scoring system for assessment of disease activity in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: MRI in JIA OMERACT working group.

Panwar J, Tolend M, Redd B, Srinivasalu H, Colbert RA, Akikusa J, Appenzeller S, Carrino JA, Herregods N, Jans L, Highmore K, von Kalle T, Kirkhus E, Rumsey DG, Jaremko JL, Clemente IEJ, van Rossum MA, Stimec J, Tse SM, Twilt M, Tzaribachev N, Sudol-Szopinska I, Meyers AB, Doria AS
Semin Arthritis Rheum.
2021 Dec;
51(6).
doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2021.07.017
PMID: 34465447

JAK1: Number one in the family; number one in inflammation?

Spinelli FR, Colbert RA, Gadina M
Rheumatology (Oxford).
2021 May 5;
60(Suppl 2).
doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keab024
PMID: 33950229

Janus kinase (JAK) inhibition with baricitinib in refractory juvenile dermatomyositis.

Kim H, Dill S, O'Brien M, Vian L, Li X, Manukyan M, Jain M, Adeojo LW, George J, Perez M, Grom AA, Sutter M, Feldman BM, Yao L, Millwood M, Brundidge A, Pichard DC, Cowen EW, Shi Y, Lu S, Tsai WL, Gadina M, Rider LG, Colbert RA
Ann Rheum Dis.
2021 Mar;
80(3).
doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-218690
PMID: 32843325

HLA-B27 misfolding and ankylosing spondylitis.

Colbert RA, Tran TM, Layh-Schmitt G
Mol Immunol.
2014 Jan;
57(1).
doi: 10.1016/j.molimm.2013.07.013
PMID: 23993278

HLA-B27 alters the response to tumor necrosis factor α and promotes osteoclastogenesis in bone marrow monocytes from HLA-B27-transgenic rats.

Layh-Schmitt G, Yang EY, Kwon G, Colbert RA
Arthritis Rheum.
2013 Aug;
65(8).
doi: 10.1002/art.38001
PMID: 23666508

Periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and adenitis (PFAPA) is a disorder of innate immunity and Th1 activation responsive to IL-1 blockade.

Stojanov S, Lapidus S, Chitkara P, Feder H, Salazar JC, Fleisher TA, Brown MR, Edwards KM, Ward MM, Colbert RA, Sun HW, Wood GM, Barham BK, Jones A, Aksentijevich I, Goldbach-Mansky R, Athreya B, Barron KS, Kastner DL
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.
2011 Apr 26;
108(17).
doi: 10.1073/pnas.1103681108
PMID: 21478439

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