Systems immunology of autoimmune inflammatory diseases

• Grant number: 23/02994-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: July 01, 2023
• End date: October 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Helder Takashi Imoto Nakaya
• Grantee: Débora Guerra Peixe
• Host Institution: Instituto Israelita de Ensino e Pesquisa Albert Einstein (IIEPAE). Sociedade Beneficente Israelita Brasileira Albert Einstein (SBIBAE). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/08216-2 - CRID - Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases, AP.CEPID

Abstract

Autoimmune inflammatory diseases are disorders in which aberrant immune response leads to tissue damage mediated by autoantibodies, leading to tissue destruction, disability and comorbidities. Autoimmune diseases affect ~5% of the population with substantial morbidity and decrease in functionality, including loss of work ability and other social consequences. Several molecular mechanisms are described for these diseases and treatment options exist, such as broad anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs. However, understanding the unique and common features of these conditions could open new pathways for therapies and clinical management. In this master's project, we proposed a systems immunology approach to explore the common and unique mechanisms of autoimmune diseases. We obtained hundreds of differential gene expression signatures from six of the most burdening autoimmune diseases - rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriasis, Sjögren's syndrome, and scleroderma - covering several affected tissues and organs. Then, we performed a systems immunology and network science approach to find the shared and exclusive genes and pathways associated with these diseases. So far, we have already searched and collected 50 individual gene signatures covering all six diseases. Here, we present preliminary results for the differentially expressed genes and pathways for these diseases, such as the consensus signatures and novel potential markers. Our approach will allow us to uncover complex relationships between autoimmune inflammatory diseases across several tissues and organs, opening potential new paths for treatments and drug development. This approach can also be used to investigate other inflammatory diseases, which are included in the PhD proposal presented at the end. (AU)