Research

 Research is a major focus of the Division of Rheumatology and Immunology under the leadership of the new director, Dr. Robert W. Hoffman.  Investigators in the Division of Rheumatology and Immunology are currently studying the molecular mechanisms of disease pathogenesis in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus) and related disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma and osteoarthritis.

 Studies in the division are focused on advancing our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of the rheumatic diseases.  The ultimate goal of these studies is to assist in the development of new treatments.  Researchers are using state-of-the-art molecular and cellular approaches to study these diseases with the conviction that defining molecular mechanisms of disease will lead to new and more effective approaches to therapy.

Recent publications from members of the division:

Greidinger EL, Zang YJ, Jaimes K, Martinez L, Nassiri M, Hoffman RW.
CD4+ T Cells Target Epitopes Residing within the RNA-Binding Domain of the U1-70-kDa Small Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Autoantigen and Have Restricted TCR Diversity in an HLA-DR4-Transgenic Murine Model of Mixed Connective Tissue Disease.
J Immunol. 2008 Jun 15;180(12):8444-54.

Perkins K, Hoffman RW, Bezruczko N.
A rasch analysis for classification of systemic lupus erythematosus and mixed connective tissue disease.
J Appl Meas. 2008;9(2):136-50.
 
Hoffman RW, Maldonado ME.
Immune pathogenesis of Mixed Connective Tissue Disease: A short analytical review.
Clin Immunol. 2008 Apr 23.
 
Maldonado ME, Perez M, Pignac-Kobinger J, Marx ET, Tozman EM, Greidinger EL, Hoffman RW.
Clinical and immunologic manifestations of mixed connective tissue disease in a Miami population compared to a Midwestern US Caucasian population.
J Rheumatol. 2008 Mar;35(3):429-37. Epub 2008 Feb 1.
 
Cervino AC, Tsinoremas NF, Hoffman RW.
A genome-wide study of lupus: preliminary analysis and data release.
Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2007 Sep;1110:131-9.

Greidinger EL, Zang Y, Martinez L, Jaimes K, Nassiri M, Bejarano P, Barber GN, Hoffman RW.
Differential tissue targeting of autoimmunity manifestations by autoantigen-associated Y RNAs.
Arthritis Rheum. 2007 May;56(5):1589-97.
 
Keith MP, Moratz C, Egan R, Zacharia A, Greidinger EL, Hoffman RW, Tsokos GC.
Anti-ribonucleoprotein antibodies mediate enhanced lung injury following mesenteric ischemia/reperfusion in Rag-1(-/-) mice.
Autoimmunity. 2007 May;40(3):208-16.

Greidinger EL.
Immune effects of autoantigen-associated RNA.
Adv Exp Med Biol. 2007;598:293-308. Review. No abstract available.
 
Mahler M, Greidinger EL, Szmyrka M, Kromminga A, Fritzler MJ.
Serological and clinical characterization of anti-dsDNA and anti-PM/Scl double-positive patients.
Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2007 Aug;1109:311-21.

Lozada CJ.
Glucosamine in osteoarthritis: questions remain.
Cleve Clin J Med. 2007 Jan;74(1):65-71. Review.
 
Hogenmiller MS, Lozada CJ.
An update on osteoarthritis therapeutics.
Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2006 May;18(3):256-60.