Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common form of inflammatory autoimmune arthritis, affecting approximately 1% of the population worldwide, and resulting in significant morbidity, shortened lifespan, and functional disability. Our laboratory utilizes genetic and induced animal models if arthritis to study 1) the endothelial expression of adhesion molecules, 2) the humoral factors involved (e.g. cytokines, nitric oxide), and 3) the characteristics of the inflammatory cells with particular attention to the T lymphocyte subsets which control chronic disease. We have a great interest in understanding the factors which modulate the T cells and the endothelial reactivity. To do this we utilize flow cytometry, intravital fluorescent videomicroscopy, PCR and other molecule methods, ELISA, and adoptive transfer of cell populations. We have identified pertinent T cell markers of lymphoid organs, characterized the time course of cytokine synthesis in acute and chronic disease, and identified some of the factors critical for cell adhesion to the vascular endothelium of synovial tissues. These investigations should allow us to identify and test important targets for new therapies of RA.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1734333,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"otheraff":[],"phd-degree":[],"primary":[2330],"research-discipline":[],"research-opportunity":[],"training-grant":[],"class_list":["post-1730795","faculty-listing","type-faculty-listing","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","primary-medicine"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n