Physicians

Departments / Divisions

• Medicine / Med-Rheumatolgy & Immunology
• Immunology

Address
DUMC 3544
Durham, NC 27710

Appointment Telephone
Not accepting new patients

Office Telephone
919-286-6835

Fax Telephone
919-286-6891

Training

• MD, PhD, Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University (New York), 1973

Residency

• Medicine, Yale-New Haven Hospital (Connecticut), 1973-1975
• Immunology, National Institutes of Health (Maryland), 1975-1978

Clinical Interests
Rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, general rheumatology

Research Interests
Studies in my laboratory concern the immunological properties of DNA as related to two main topics:  1) the induction of anti-DNA responses in systemic lupus erythematosus; and 2) the stimulation of innate immunity by bacterial DNA.  These topics are closely linked since we have established novel disease models in which lupus-like illness can be induced in normal mice by bacterial DNA under conditions in which mammalian DNA is inactive.  This model has been useful in elucidating mechanisms of DNA antigen drive in autoimmunity.

To pursue these studies, our laboratory conducts investigations in the following areas:  1) specificity of anti-DNA for epitopes on mammalian and bacterial DNA; 2) molecular analysis of murine mononclonal anti-DNA antibodies; 3) histopathological analyses of DNA-immunized mice; 4) in vitro analysis of proliferation, antibody production and cytokine expression in human and murine immune cells; and 5) analysis of DNA binding to cell surface molecules on B cells, T cells and macrophages.  Results of these studies have allowed identification of at least two structural motifs that are immunoactive.  We are also exploring the impact of chemical modifications of the DNA backbone.

In addition to work on the immunology of DNA, I am also involved in clinical trials related to new immunomodulatory agents in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis as well as serological markers of disease activity.

The areas of research for which I am known nationally are anti-DNA antibodies, systemic lupus erythematosus and immunological properties of DNA.  I have written textbook chapters and reviews on all these subjects.

Industry Relationships and Collaborations (What's this?)

This physician (or a member of their immediate family) has a working relationship (i.e. consulting, research, and/or educational services) with the companies listed below. These relations have been reported to the health system leadership and, when appropriate, management plans are in place to address potential conflicts.

• Bio-Rad
• Pfizer Inc.

Representative Publications
Distler JH, Akhmetshina A, Dees C, Jüngel A, Stürzl M, Gay S, Pisetsky DS, Schett G, Distler O. Induction of apoptosis in circulating angiogenic cells by microparticles. Arthritis Rheum. 2011 Mar 24. (2011) Abstract

Pisetsky DS, Gauley J, Ullal AJ. Microparticles as a source of extracellular DNA. Immunol Res. 2011 Apr;49(1-3):227-34. (2011) Abstract

Pisetsky DS. Platelet microparticles: making blood a bad humor. J Rheumatol. 2011 Apr;38(4):590-2. (2011) Abstract

Rutledge HR, Jiang W, Yang J, Warg LA, Schwartz DA, Pisetsky DS, Yang IV. Gene expression profiles of RAW264.7 macrophages stimulated with preparations of LPS differing in isolation and purity. Innate Immun. 2011 Jan 14. (2011) Abstract

Ullal AJ, Reich CF 3rd, Clowse M, Criscione-Schreiber LG, Tochacek M, Monestier M, Pisetsky DS. Microparticles as antigenic targets of antibodies to DNA and nucleosomes in systemic lupus erythematosus. J Autoimmun. 2011 Mar 2. (2011) Abstract

Beyer C, Pisetsky DS. The role of microparticles in the pathogenesis of rheumatic diseases. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2010 Jan;6(1):21-9. (2010) Abstract

Gauley J, Pisetsky DS. The release of microparticles by RAW 264.7 macrophage cells stimulated with TLR ligands. J Leukoc Biol. 2010 Jun;87(6):1115-23. (2010) Abstract

Grundtman C, Bruton J, Yamada T, Ostberg T, Pisetsky DS, Harris HE, Andersson U, Lundberg IE, Westerblad H. Effects of HMGB1 on in vitro responses of isolated muscle fibers and functional aspects in skeletal muscles of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies. FASEB J. 2010 Feb;24(2):570-8. (2010) Abstract

Pisetsky DS, Lipsky PE. Microparticles as autoadjuvants in the pathogenesis of SLE. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2010 Jun;6(6):368-72. (2010) Abstract

Pisetsky DS, Ullal AJ. The blood nucleome in the pathogenesis of SLE. Autoimmun Rev. 2010 Nov;10(1):35-7. (2010) Abstract

Pisetsky DS. Charlie's List. Ann Intern Med. 2010 Sep 7;153(5):344. (2010) Abstract

Pisetsky DS. HMGB1: a dangerous player in lupus pathogenesis. J Rheumatol. 2010 Apr;37(4):689-91. (2010) Abstract

Pisetsky DS. The role of HMGB1 in efferocytosis: when the dead go unburied. Focus on "HMGB1 inhibits macrophage activity in efferocytosis through binding to the alphavbeta3-integrin". Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2010 Dec;299(6):C1253-5. (2010) Abstract

Ullal AJ, Pisetsky DS, Reich CF 3rd. Use of SYTO 13, a fluorescent dye binding nucleic acids, for the detection of microparticles in in vitro systems. Cytometry A. 2010 Mar;77(3):294-301. (2010) Abstract

Ullal AJ, Pisetsky DS. The release of microparticles by Jurkat leukemia T cells treated with staurosporine and related kinase inhibitors to induce apoptosis. Apoptosis. 2010 May;15(5):586-96. (2010) Abstract

Crowley SD, Vasievich MP, Ruiz P, Gould SK, Parsons KK, Pazmino AK, Facemire C, Chen BJ, Kim HS, Tran TT, Pisetsky DS, Barisoni L, Prieto-Carrasquero MC, Jeansson M, Foster MH, Coffman TM. Glomerular type 1 angiotensin receptors augment kidney injury and inflammation in murine autoimmune nephritis. J Clin Invest. 2009 Apr;119(4):943-53. (2009) Abstract

Gauley J, Pisetsky DS. The translocation of HMGB1 during cell activation and cell death. Autoimmunity. 2009 May;42(4):299-301. (2009) Abstract

Pisetsky DS, Rönnblom L. Systemic lupus erythematosus: a matter of life and death. Arthritis Rheum. 2009 Jun;60(6):1567-70. (2009) Abstract

Pisetsky DS, Vrabie IA. Antibodies to DNA: infection or genetics? Lupus. 2009 Nov;18(13):1176-80. (2009) Abstract

Pisetsky DS. Microparticles as biomarkers in autoimmunity: from dust bin to center stage. Arthritis Res Ther. 2009;11(6):135. (2009) Abstract

Reich CF 3rd, Pisetsky DS. The content of DNA and RNA in microparticles released by Jurkat and HL-60 cells undergoing in vitro apoptosis. Exp Cell Res. 2009 Mar 10;315(5):760-8. (2009) Abstract

Su KY, Pisetsky DS. The role of extracellular DNA in autoimmunity in SLE. Scand J Immunol. 2009 Sep;70(3):175-83. (2009) Abstract