Matteo Vecellio

PhD

Versus Arthritis Career Development Fellow

Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory arthritis with numerous robust genetic associations.

My research goal is to investigate the epigenetic mechanisms by which RUNX3 gene contribute to AS, deciphering how RUNX3 genetic variants (SNPs) alter transcriptional regulation and affect CD8+ T-cell compartment. I'm trying to assess the impact of disrupted transcriptional regulation for AS patients and gain new insight into disease pathogenesis.

I joined the Lab of Professor Wordsworth at NDORMS, in June 2013. Previously, I received my PhD degree in Translational and Molecular Medicine in 2012 from the University of Milan – Bicocca (Italy). Soon after my Ph.D I spent one year at the Goethe University in Frankfurt-am-Main (Germany), carrying on the work started during the Ph.D period focused on the epigenetic regulation of human cardiac mesenchymal stromal cells.

I've been recently awarded with a 5 years Arthritis Research UK Career Development Fellowship to decipher the RUNX3 role in AS.

Key publications

In vitro epigenetic reprogramming of human cardiac mesenchymal stromal cells into functionally competent cardiovascular precursors.
Journal article

Vecellio M. et al, (2012), Plos one, 7
The histone acetylase activator pentadecylidenemalonate 1b rescues proliferation and differentiation in the human cardiac mesenchymal cells of type 2 diabetic patients.
Journal article

Vecellio M. et al, (2014), Diabetes, 63, 2132 - 2147
Detrimental effect of class-selective histone deacetylase inhibitors during tissue regeneration following hindlimb ischemia.
Journal article

Spallotta F. et al, (2013), J biol chem, 288, 22915 - 22929
CBP30, a selective CBP/p300 bromodomain inhibitor, suppresses human Th17 responses.
Journal article

Hammitzsch A. et al, (2015), Proc natl acad sci u s a, 112, 10768 - 10773
The genetic association of RUNX3 with ankylosing spondylitis can be explained by allele-specific effects on IRF4 recruitment that alter gene expression.
Journal article

Vecellio M. et al, (2016), Ann rheum dis, 75, 1534 - 1540

Recent publications

The multifaceted functional role of DNA methylation in immune-mediated rheumatic diseases.
Journal article

Vecellio M. et al, (2020), Clin rheumatol
The severity of ankylosing spondylitis and responses to anti-tumour necrosis factor biologics are not influenced by the tumour necrosis factor receptor polymorphism incriminated in multiple sclerosis.
Journal article

Watts L. et al, (2019), Genes immun, 20, 167 - 171
The role of epigenetics and immunological imbalance in the etiopathogenesis of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
Journal article

Frischknecht L. et al, (2019), Ther adv musculoskelet dis, 11
OP0231?Differential transcription factor binding could explain the genetic association of ankylosing spondylitis with polymorphisms in the IL23R-IL12RB2 intergenic region
Conference paper

(2018), Annals of the rheumatic diseases
THU0364?Rare ERAP1 allotype combinations do not explain the ERAP1 association with ankylosing spondylitis
Conference paper

(2018), Annals of the rheumatic diseases

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