Rheumatology Research
Ritu Chakravarti, PhD, inventor of an anti-RA vaccine, is an associate professor of internal medicine in the division of rheumatology with a joint appointment in microbiology, immunology, and molecular genetics. She has successfully received a US patent on the design and use of an anti-RA vaccine that shows high promise in animal models. Dr. Chakravarti’s research team is actively pursuing vaccine optimization studies and aims to translate them into human studies. In addition, her lab studies the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, including preclinical model and inflammatory cytokine signaling. She is an accomplished scientist with multiple publications in PNAS, Science Advances, JBC, and other immunology journals. An R01 grant from NIAID (NIH) currently supports her research work to study the role of 14-3-3z in the interleukin-17A signaling. She is open to building new collaborations and recruiting graduate (PhD/MD-PhD) students.
Research Interests
Our research focuses on understanding how 14-3-3z regulates the immune system and its role in various autoimmune diseases.
Main Research Projects
A Prophylactic Vaccine for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis, and lupus are some examples of autoimmune diseases. Few autoantigens are known to be associated with these diseases; however, their role in pathogenesis remains primarily unknown. We use biochemical, bioinformatics, and genetic techniques to study pathogenesis. Published in PNAS, we showed that 14-3-3z suppresses rheumatoid arthritis. Furthermore, we designed an immunization-based strategy that delays and suppresses rheumatoid (inflammatory) arthritis in animals. In addition to several publications, this project has led to two complete patent applications (one published and the other pending). Ongoing studies focus on translating immunization strategy to human studies.
Cytokine Signaling
We examine how 14-3-3z regulates pro-inflammatory cytokines. In particular, we study interleukin-17A and RANKL signal transduction to study the pathogenesis of immune dysfunction. Published in PNAS and JBC, we showed that the adaptor function of 14-3-3z regulates inflammatory bone diseases. Current projects dig deeper into the mechanism and identify targets for immune modulation that will have therapeutic utility
Funding Sources
- NIH- R01
- ODH-CDC
- AHA-SDG
- Vasculitis Foundation
- Medical Research Society
- UToledo Research Foundation
- UK Start-up funds
Recent Honors
Presidential Award for Excellence in Creative & Scholarship Activity 2024, The University of Toledo.
Innovator Award, Influential UToledo Women, 2023, Catherine S. Eberly Center for Women, The University of Toledo.
Dean’s Award for New Investigator Research Excellence 2022, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences.
Presidential Award for Excellence in Creative & Scholarship Activity 2022, The University of Toledo.
Nominated for Best Advisor Award 2022, The University of Toledo.
Key Publications
- R Chakravarti, B Joe. Materials and methods for the prevention of rheumatoid arthritis. US Patent 12,226,449
R. Ayyasamy, S. Fan, P. Czernik, B. Lecka Czernik, S. Chattopadhyay, & R. Chakravarti. 2024.14-3-3z Suppresses Osteoclast Differentiation by Destabilizing TRAF6. Journal of Biological Chemistry.300 (7): 107487
H. Lughmani, H. Patel, & R. Chakravarti. 2024. Structural features and physiological associations of human 14-3-3z pseudogenes. Genes. 15(4): 399-415.
J. McGowan, M. Borucki, H. Omairi, M. Varghese, S. Vellani S, S. Chakravarty, S. Fan, S. Chattopadhyay, M. Sidiquee, J.B. Thissen, N. Mulakken, J. Moon, J. Kimbrel, A.K. Tiwari, R.T. Taylor, D.W. Kang*, C. Jaing*, R. Chakravarti* & S. Chattopadhyay*. 2022. SARS-CoV-2 monitoring in wastewater reveals novel variants and biomarkers of infection. Viruses, 14 (9): 2032. * co-corresponding author
R. Chakravarti*. 2021. Immune Regulations by 14-3-3: A Misty Terrain. Immunobiology 226(6):152145.
J. Kim, K. Chun, J. McGowan, Y. Zhang, P.J. Czernik, B. Mell, B. Joe, S. Chattopadhyay, J. Holoshitz & R. Chakravarti*. 2021. 14-3-3z: A novel suppressor of inflammatory arthritis. Proceedings of National Academy of Science, 118(34): e2025257118.
(Highlighted in BBC World News and more than 60 national and international news websites)
J. McGowan, C. Peter, J. Kim, S. Popli, B. Veerman, J. Saul-Beth, H. Conti, S. Pruett-Miller, S. Chattopadhyay & R. Chakravarti*. 2020. 14-3-3z-TRAF5 axis governs Interleukin-17A signaling. Proceedings of National Academy of Science, 117(40): 25008-250017.
B. Benhuri, A. ElJack, B. Kahaleh & R. Chakravarti*. 2020. Mechanisms and biomarkers in aortitis- A Review. Journal of Molecular Medicine (Berl), 98(1): 11-23.
J. McGowan, C. Peter, S. Chattopadhyay & R. Chakravarti*. 2019. 14-3-3z: A novel immunogen promotes inflammatory cytokine production. Frontiers in Immunology, 10: 1553.