Synovial Pathology Group

The "Synovial Pathology" work group focuses on the investigation of molecules that regulate mesenchymal adhesion, invasion and migration processes and thus, influence inflammatory (joint) diseases. Various studies have shown that adhesion molecules are involved in the activation of synovial fibroblasts in rheumatoid arthritis. These are proteins expressed on the surface which, in addition to the interaction of the synovial fibroblasts with the extracellular matrix (ECM), also facilitate contact with each other and with neighboring cells. The contact and associated adhesion of the synovial fibroblasts to the ECM of the cartilage represent a first decisive step in inflammatory joint destruction.

  • Team

    Dr. med. univ. Adelheid Korb-Pap
    Groupleader
    Working group Synovial Pathology
    Room: 0.023
    Phone: +49-251-8356754
    Fax: +49-251-8357462
    E-Mail

    Dr. rer. nat. Denise Beckmann
    Postdoc
    Department of Molecular Medicine
    Room: 0.048/0.049
    Phone: +49 251 83-52719
    Fax: +49 251 83-57462
    Email

    Niklas Boeck
    MD student (MedK)
    Department of Molecular Medicine
    Room: 0.030
    Phone: +49 251 83-57783
    Fax: +49 251 83-57462
    Email

    Sarah Bödecker
    Phd student
    Working group Synovial Pathology /
    Working group Cartilage Biologogy
    Room: 0.030
    Phone: +49-251-8357783
    Fax: +49-251-8357462
    Email-Kontakt

     

    Anna de Giuseppe
    Phd student
    Working group Synovial Pathology
    Room: 0.030
    Phone: +49-251-8357780
    Fax: +49-251-8357462
    Email

    Lucia Seseña Carrillo 
    Phd student
    Working group Synovial Pathology
    Room: 0.030
    Tel.: +49-251-8357780
    Fax: +49-251-8357462
    Email

    Alina Hinderks
    PhD student
    Department of Molecular Medicine
    Synovial Pathology Group
    Room: 0.030
    Phone: +49 251 83 57783
    Fax: +49 251 83 57462
    Email

     

    Annika Krause
    Technical Assistant
    Working group Synovial Pathology
    Room: 0.030
    Phone: +49-251-8357783
    Fax:  +49-251-8357462
    E-Mail

    Florian Bischoff
    Technical Assistant
    Department of Molecular Mecdicine
    Room: 0.054
    Phone: +49 251 83-44272
    Fax: +49 251 83-57462
    Email

     

  • Projects

    Completed and current third-party funded projects:

    DFG KO4044/3-2 Dr. Adelheid Korb-Pap
    FOR2722 "Neue molekulare Determinanten der Homöostase der muskuloskelettalen extrazellulären Matrix - ein systemischer Ansatz". TP05 "Matrix vermittelte Fibroblastenaktivierung in rheumatoider Arthritis".
    2023-2025

    Galapagos N.V.
    Dr. Adelheid Korb-Pap
    Identification of the pathways leading to resistance in Rheumatoid Arthrits.
    2021-2023

    Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)
    Prof. Dr. Thomas Pap, Dr. Adelheid Korb-Pap
    Verbund: "Wirstofftransport: Responsive Biokonjugate zur selektiven und zügigen Anreichung in inflammatorischen und degenerativen Gelenken - BICRA - in vitro und in vivo Untersuchungen"
    2021-2024

    Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)
    Prof. Dr. Thomas Pap (Verbundkoordinator)
    Verbund: "Integrative präklinische Strategien zur Untersuchung des lokalen Mesenchyms als Regulator bei entzündlichen muskuloskelettalen Erkrankungen"
    Teilprojekt P1 (Prof. Pap, Dr. Sherwood, Dr. Korb-Pap): "Targeting cartilage damage as a trigger of epigentic changes and mesenchymal activation in inflammatory musculoskeletal diseases" 
    2020-2023

    Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)
    Prof. Dr. Thomas Pap
    Teilprojekt: "Identification and profiling of fibroblast subsets in rheumatic diseases during remission and relapse" im Verbund MASCARA "Molecular Assessment of Signatures Characterizing the Remission of Arhthritis"
    2020-2023

    Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)
    Dr. Adelheid Korb-Pap (DFG KO4044/3-1)
    "Matrix vermittelte Fibroblastenaktivierung in rheumatoider Arthrits" im Rahmen des SPP "Neue molekulare Determinanten der Homöostase der muskuloskelettalen extrazellulären Matrix - ein systemischer Ansatz".
    2018-2021
    Informationen über die Forschergruppe FOR2722 finden Sie hier: http://for2722.uni-koeln.de

    Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) Sachbeihilfe PA689/7-3
    Prof. Dr. Thomas Pap
    Regulation der Fibroblastenantwort auf IL-1 bei rheumatoider Arthritis durch das transmembrane Heparansulfatproteoglycan syndecan-4
    2015-2017

    Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) PA689/7-2
    Prof. Thomas Pap
    Modulation von Entzündungssignalen in synovialen Fibroblasten von RA- Patienten durch Syndecan-4
    2011-2013

    Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) HA2672/3-1
    Dr. Uwe Hansen, Prof. Thomas Pap
    Untersuchung der rheumatischen Knopelzerstörung mit Hilfe eines neu etablierten in vitro Modells (MATRIN-Assay) unter Verwendung von authentischen Kollagenmatrizes
    2009-2011

    Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) SFB492 TP B19
    Prof. Thomas Pap
    Regulation of fibroblast attachment and invasiveness by PI3Kgamma- mediated signalling pathways in rheumatoid arthritis
    2009-2011

    Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) PA689/8-1
    Prof. Wilhelm Aicher, Prof. Thomas Pap
    Analyse des Beitrages erhöhter IL-16 Expression in synovialen Fibroblasten zur rheumatoiden Arthritis
    2008-2010

    Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)
    Prof. Thomas Pap
    Deutsches Epigenom Programm - DEEP, Teilprojekt SP. 5.3 "Epigenetics of synovial fibroblasts in Inflammation"
    2012-2015

    Dr. Adelheid Korb-Pap, Prof. Thomas Pap
    Cell-Matrix interaction structures as key modulators of inflammatory signals in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS)
    2011-2013


    DGRh Start-up Förderung
    Dr. Adelheid Korb-Pap
    Regulation of fibroblast attachment and invasion through interaction with cartilage-specific type IX collagen during TNFalpha-mediated cartilage destruction in vitro and in vivo
    2009-2011

    IMF Innovative Medizinische Forschungsförderung Münster
    Dr. Ulrich König
    Investigation of autophagy in the synovium
    2015-2016

  • Publications

    2024

    Karonitsch T, Saferding V, Kieler M, von Dalwigk K, Tosevska A, Heller G, Dellinger M, Niederreiter B, Kartnig F, Steiner CW, Georgel P, Kiener HP, Smolen JS, Korb-Pap A, Bonelli M, Aletaha D, Blüml S. Amino Acids Fueling Fibroblast-Like Synoviocyte Activation and Arthritis By Regulating Chemokine Expression and Leukocyte Migration. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2023 Nov 20. doi: 10.1002/art.42759. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37984422.

    Beckmann D, Krause A, Hansen U, Kiener HP, Karonitsch T, Blüml S, Kremerskothen J, Pavenstädt H, Pap T, Korb-Pap A. Focal adhesion protein Lasp1 links the Arp2/3 complex to adherens junctions and promotes motility of arthritic fibroblast-like synoviocytes. Ann Rheum Dis. 2024 Feb 19:ard-2023-225241. doi: 10.1136/ard-2023-225241. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38373844.