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
Group Leader
Synovial Pathology Group
Room: 0.023
Phone: +49 251 83-56754
Fax: +49 251 83-57462
Email
Dr. rer. nat. Denise Beckmann
Postdoc
Synovial Pathology Group
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)
Synovial Pathology Group
Department of Molecular Medicine
Room: 0.030
Phone: +49 251 83-57783
Fax: +49 251 83-57462
Email
Alina Hinderks
PhD student
Synovial Pathology Group
Department of Molecular Medicine
Room: 0.030
Phone: +49 251 83-57783
Fax: +49 251 83-57462
Email

Annika Krause
Technical Assistant
Synovial Pathology Group
Department of Molecular Medicine
Room: 0.030
Phone: +49 251 83-57783
Fax:+49 251 83-57462
Email
Florian Bischoff
Technical Assistant
Synovial Pathology Group
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.

Team

Projects

Publications