Our Vision
Discovery of new biomarkers to implement precision medicine in rheumatology, in order to improve the diagnosis and the treatment of inflammatory rheumatic diseases
Rheumatic diseases include a variety of inflammatory athropathies such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) as well as non-inflammatory rheumatic diseases like osteoarthritis (OA). Those diseases share common clinical presentation but also present differences in pathogenesis, clinical and radiographic findings.
Those differences are translated into variances in the specificity and efficacy of therapies. New biologic agents targeting key immunological and inflammatory pathways has greatly improved patients treatment. However selection of the optimal treatment and identification of biomarkers that predict the best therapeutic options are unmet need.
Discovery of new biomarkers may assist in (i) the diagnosis of different arthritis disease types (ii) therapy prioritization to improve patient’s outcomes.
In addition, since the joints are the major inflammation site in rheumatic diseases, we are focusing on novel approaches to inhibit inflammatory immune populations in the synovium to resolve synovial inflammation in those diseases.
Our laboratory is located in close proximity to the rheumatology clinic allowing daily collaboration with the department and accessibility to human patient samples. We use advanced immunological, genetic, and molecular approaches.
Our Team
- Prof. Ori Elkayam, Lab PI, Dept. of Internal Medicine
- Dr. Smadar Gertel, Lab manager
- Dr. Marina Slobodkin
- Adam Slavick
Researchers
- Dr. Uri Arad
- Dr. Gilad Gibor
Research
for response to therapy
Patient’s immune cells response to anti-rheumatic drugs is analyzed for phenotypical changes in immune cell populations by flow cytometry.
to distinguish between different forms of arthritis
More accurate biomarkers will assist clinicians in the diagnosis, disease activity monitoring and selection of therapy for patients with different types of arthritis.
of synovial inflammation
Novel anti-inflammatory therapeutic approach to slow the development and progression of synovial inflammation and to prevent joint destruction
Highlight Publications
T cell functions of psoriatic arthritis patients are regulated differently by TNF, IL-17A and IL-6 receptor blockades in vitro. Gertel S, Polachek A, Furer V, Levartovsky D, Sidis H, Pel S, Paran D, Elkayam O. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2021 Feb 25. Online ahead of print.
CD4+LAG-3+ T cells are decreased in active psoriatic arthritis patients and their restoration in vitro is mediated by TNF inhibitors. Gertel S, Polachek A, Furer V, Levartovsky D, Elkayam O. Clin Exp Immunol. 2021;206(2):173-83
Soluble ST2 and CXCL-10 may serve as biomarkers of subclinical diastolic dysfunction in SLE and correlate with disease activity and damage. Chorin E, Hochstadt A, Arad U, Ghantous E, Gertel S, Levartovsky D, Litinsky I, Elaluof O, Polachek A, Kaufman I, Aloush V, Borok S, Wigler I, Wollman J, Caspi D, Laufer-Perl M, Letourneau-Shesaf S, Berliner S, Elkayam O, Topilsky Y, Paran D.Lupus. 2020 Oct;29(11):1430-1437
Heparanase is expressed in adult human osteoarthritic cartilage and drives catabolic responses in primary chondrocytes. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. Gibor G, Ilan N, Journo S, Sharabi A, Dreyer J, Gertel S, Singh P, Menachem A, Snir N, Elkayam O, Vlodavsky I, Arad U.Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2018 Aug;26(8):1110-1117