2024
Chimeric antigen receptors: “CARs” in the fast lane for rheumatology
Johnson N, Koumpouras F. Chimeric antigen receptors: “CARs” in the fast lane for rheumatology. Current Opinion In Rheumatology 2024, 36: 176-183. PMID: 38517338, PMCID: PMC11224568, DOI: 10.1097/bor.0000000000001012.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsChimeric antigen receptorCAR-T treatmentCAR-TB cellsAutoimmune diseasesRheumatologic diseasesReview current clinical dataSevere refractory autoimmune diseasesReconstitution of B cellsRefractory autoimmune diseasesTreatment of rheumatologic diseasesB-cell malignanciesCompassionate use programB cell populationsLaboratory remissionRefractory SLECD19-CARField of autoimmunityRefractory diseaseClinical responseNaive phenotypeSevere lupusMultiple myelomaAutoimmune modelsT cells
2023
Obexelimab in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus With Exploration of Response Based on Gene Pathway Co‐Expression Patterns: A Double‐Blind, Randomized, Placebo‐Controlled, Phase 2 Trial
Merrill J, Guthridge J, Smith M, June J, Koumpouras F, Machua W, Askanase A, Khosroshahi A, Sheikh S, Rathi G, Burington B, Foster P, Matijevic M, Arora S, Wang X, Gao M, Wax S, James J, Zack D. Obexelimab in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus With Exploration of Response Based on Gene Pathway Co‐Expression Patterns: A Double‐Blind, Randomized, Placebo‐Controlled, Phase 2 Trial. Arthritis & Rheumatology 2023, 75: 2185-2194. PMID: 37459248, DOI: 10.1002/art.42652.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSystemic lupus erythematosusLoss of improvementPrimary endpointLupus erythematosusWeek 32B cellsEfficacy-evaluable populationImproved disease activityPhase 2 trialProportion of patientsTreatment-related toxicityTreatment of patientsPlacebo-ControlledCorticosteroid injectionDisease activityInfusion reactionsTrough concentrationsPatient subsetsPlasma cellsPatientsSecondary analysisMonoclonal antibodiesStatistical significanceEndpointPlaceboVascular-Targeted Therapy for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus–Associated Vasculitis
Xu S, Patrignelli R, Ramachandran S, Koumpouras F, Desir D, Ko C, Gehlhausen J. Vascular-Targeted Therapy for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus–Associated Vasculitis. JAMA Dermatology 2023, 159: 460-462. PMID: 36884229, DOI: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2023.0077.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2020
IL-7 receptor alpha defines heterogeneity and signature of human effector memory CD8+ T cells in high dimensional analysis
Shin MS, Kim D, Yim K, Park HJ, You S, Dong X, Koumpouras F, Shaw AC, Fan R, Krishnaswamy S, Kang I. IL-7 receptor alpha defines heterogeneity and signature of human effector memory CD8+ T cells in high dimensional analysis. Cellular Immunology 2020, 355: 104155. PMID: 32619811, PMCID: PMC7415611, DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2020.104155.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSingle-cell RNA-seqHuman effector memory CD8Effector memory CD8T cellsIL-7RαMemory CD8Gene regulationTranscription factorsRNA-seqPossible biological significanceDownstream eventsEM CD8Expression patternsExpressional relationshipDifferential expressionCytokine receptorsComprehensive landscapeHigh-dimensional cytometryBiological significanceIL-7 receptor alphaKey moleculesIL-7 receptor alpha chainReceptor alpha chainBiological implicationsHeterogeneous cell subsetsStand Together and Deliver: Challenges and Opportunities for Rheumatology Education During the COVID‐19 Pandemic
Koumpouras F, Helfgott S. Stand Together and Deliver: Challenges and Opportunities for Rheumatology Education During the COVID‐19 Pandemic. Arthritis & Rheumatology 2020, 72: 1064-1066. PMID: 32270923, PMCID: PMC7262333, DOI: 10.1002/art.41278.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2015
Randomized, Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled Trial of the Effect of Vitamin D3 on the Interferon Signature in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Aranow C, Kamen DL, Dall'Era M, Massarotti EM, Mackay MC, Koumpouras F, Coca A, Chatham WW, Clowse ME, Criscione-Schreiber LG, Callahan S, Goldmuntz EA, Keyes-Elstein L, Oswald M, Gregersen PK, Diamond B. Randomized, Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled Trial of the Effect of Vitamin D3 on the Interferon Signature in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Arthritis & Rheumatology 2015, 67: 1848-1857. PMID: 25777546, PMCID: PMC4732716, DOI: 10.1002/art.39108.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdaptor Proteins, Signal TransducingAdultAntibodies, Anti-IdiotypicAntigensCarrier ProteinsCholecalciferolCytoskeletal ProteinsDietary SupplementsDNADose-Response Relationship, DrugDouble-Blind MethodFemaleGene Expression RegulationHumansLupus Erythematosus, SystemicMaleMicroarray AnalysisMiddle AgedMyxovirus Resistance ProteinsProspective StudiesRNA-Binding ProteinsVitamin DConceptsPercentage of patientsVitamin D3Vitamin DIFN signatureTreatment groupsSLE patientsInterferon signatureSystemic lupus erythematosus seraDNA antibody levelsVitamin D repletionPlacebo-controlled trialVitamin D deficientVitamin D supplementationVitamin D3 supplementationSubset of patientsSystemic lupus erythematosusD supplementationD deficientD3 supplementationDisease activityImmunologic outcomesInactive diseaseAdverse eventsBaseline characteristicsLupus erythematosus