Research group Marie Wahren-Herlenius
Pathogenesis of the rheumatic autoimmune disease Sjögren's syndrome and congenital heart block - for development of prevention, diagnostics and therapy
Description of the project
Autoimmune disorders are a major cause of disease and disability, affecting around 5% of the population. We study the molecular and clinical pathology of the rheumatic autoimmune condition Sjögren’s syndrome, and the autoantibody mediated congenital heart block that may develop in the fetus of pregnant women with Sjögren’s syndrome.
Our projects aim at specifying key steps in generation of the autoimmune inflammation in both mother and child, and to identify immunologic components relevant to the tissue destruction. Our research is performed with a translational approach and involves both basic molecular studies, analysis in experimental models and clinical investigations. Generated data are important for developing preventive strategies, diagnostic assays and novel therapy.
Overall aim
By studying the underlying factors such a genetics and triggering environmental factors and the resulting pathogenic autoimmune process in Sjögren's syndrome and congenital heart block we hope to develop prevention, novel diagnostics and therapeutic appraoches.
The research group
Marie Wahren-Herlenius, professor, gruppledare
Alexander Espinosa, Docent, Team leader
Hanna Brauner, MD, PhD, Team leader
Vijole Ottosson, PhD, labmanager
Lauro Meneghel, postdoc
Malin Hedlund, postdoc
Diego Pulgarin, postdoc
Andrea Scheffschick, postdoc
Sina Fuchs, postdoc
Gudny Ella Thorlacius, doktorand
Johannes Mofors, MD, doktorand
Albin Björk, MD, doktorand
Tilen Trselic, doktorand
Julia Nenonen, MD, doktorand
André Rudolph, MD, student
Stina Salomonsson, PhD, affilierad forskare
Aurélie Ambrosi, PhD, affilierad forskare
Marika Kvarnström, MD, PhD, affilierad forskare
Marie Fischer, MD, PhD, affilierad forskare
Amanda Skog, PhD, affilierad, Biobanksansvarig koordinator
Five selected publications
H1N1 vaccination in Sjögren's syndrome triggers polyclonal B cell activation and promotes autoantibody production.
Brauner S, Folkersen L, Kvarnström M, Meisgen S, Petersen S, Franzén-Malmros M, et al
Ann. Rheum. Dis. 2017 Oct;76(10):1755-1763
Clinical associations and expression pattern of the autoimmunity susceptibility factor DIORA-1 in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.
Aqrawi LA, Mentlein L, Meneghel L, Björk A, Thorlacius GE, Ivanchenko M, et al
Ann. Rheum. Dis. 2018 12;77(12):1840-1842
European families reveal MHC class I and II associations with autoimmune-mediated congenital heart block.
Kyriakidis NC, Kockum I, Julkunen H, Hoxha A, Salomonsson S, Meneghel L, et al
Ann. Rheum. Dis. 2018 09;77(9):1381-1382
Comorbidity and long-term outcome in patients with congenital heart block and their siblings exposed to Ro/SSA autoantibodies in utero.
Mofors J, Eliasson H, Ambrosi A, Salomonsson S, Skog A, Fored M, et al
Ann. Rheum. Dis. 2019 05;78(5):696-703
Sonesson SE and Wahren-Herlenius M.
Surveillance of congenital heart block in highly specialised care.
Lancet Rheumatology 2020;2:e203-204.