Begum Horuluoglu Team
Mechanisms of tissue damage in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) or shortly myositis
About
We are part of the research group led by Prof Ingrid Lundberg at the Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine. Our team aims to identify mechanisms that leads to tissue damage in a group of autoimmune diseases called idiopathic inflammatory myopathies or shortly myositis. To achieve this, we combine molecular assays with bioinformatic approaches to investigate the role and contribution of immune cells (T-, B- cells and macrophages) and autoantibodies to myositis. Our work is carried out in close collaboration with the groups of Vivianne Malmström, Karine Chemin, Caroline Grönwall and Lina Marcela Diaz Gallo at the Division of Rheumatology. Together we use a range of approaches including:
- Investigation of antigen specific T cells in blood and tissue samples
- Spatial proteomics/transcriptomics on tissue samples to study the immune archetype
- Single cell RNA and T cell receptor sequencing
- Functional studies on polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies derived from patients
Our strong connection to the rheumatology clinic through Ingrid Lundberg group allows us to combine molecular findings with clinical manifestations of disease, helping us better understand the pathogenic mechanisms underlying myositis.
Team Leader
Begum Horuluoglu, PhD, begum.horuluoglu@ki.se
Team members
Marina Galešić, MSc, PhD student, marina.galesic@ki.se
Andrea Kemp, MSc, Research Assistant, andrea.kemp@ki.se
Yue-Bei Luo, MD, PhD, Neurologist, Postdoc, yuebei.luo@ki.se
Beatriz Ferreira, PhD, postdoc beatriz.henriques.ferreira@ki.se
Bengüsu Sertkaya, BSc, Master Student, bengusu.sertkaya@ki.se
Funding
Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation (Hjärtlungfonden), The Myositis Association (TMA), Professor Nanna Svartz Stifltelsen, King Gustaf V 80th year Foundation (GV80), Åke Wiberg Foundation, Alex and Eva Wallström Foundation, Karolinska Institutet Research Foundations, Swedish Rheumatology Foundation (Reumatikerförbundet), Anna-Greta and Holger Foundation.
Selected publications
Autoreactive T cells identified in patients with anti-Jo1+ anti-synthetase syndrome recognise a new epitope on histidyl t-RNA synthetase. Galindo A., Sharma RK, Dubnotvistky A, Gerstner C., Kozhukh G., Van Vollenhoven A., Diaz-Boada J.S., Ramsköld D., Achour A., Dastmalchi M., Reid H., Sandalova T., Rossjohn J., Chemin K., Malmström V., Lundberg I., Horuluoglu B#. . Ann Rheum Dis. 2025 Oct 25:S0003-4967(25)04429-2. doi: 10.1016/j.ard.2025.09.015. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41139557.
Characterization of a Vietnamese Cohort With Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies. Luo YB, Nakazawa M, Minh NPT, Heinon L, Nennesmo I, Rönnelid J, Lundberg IE, Phuong TNT, Horuluoglu B. Immune. Muscle Nerve. 2025 Jun 16. doi: 10.1002/mus.28455. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40521794.
Serum From patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy induces skeletal muscle weakness. Leijding C, Kaewin S, Andreasson KM, Horuluoglu B, Galindo-Feria AS, Van Gompel E, Dastmalchi M, Gastaldello S, Alexanderson H, Lundberg IE, Andersson DC. Ann Rheum Dis. 2024 Nov 14;83(12):1796-1797. doi: 10.1136/ard-2024-225912. PMID: 39197873.
CD73low B-cell phenotypes and distinct cytokine profiles in patients with active anti-Jo-1 antibody positive idiopathic inflammatory myopathies. Nakazawa M, Horuluoglu B, de Vries C, Lodin K, Malmström V, Lundberg IE, Grönwall C. RMD Open. 2025 Apr 9;11(2):e005401. doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2024-005401. PMID: 40210261; PMCID: PMC11987157.
Single-cell profiling of muscle-infiltrating T cells in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies. Argyriou A*, Horuluoglu B*, Galindo-Feria AS*, Diaz-Boada JS, Sijbranda M, Notarnicola A, Dani L, van Vollenhoven A, Ramsköld D, Nennesmo I, Dastmalchi M, Lundberg IE, Diaz-Gallo LM, Chemin K. EMBO Mol Med. 2023 Oct 11;15(10):e17240. doi: 10.15252/emmm.202217240. Epub 2023 Jul 31. PMID: 37522383; PMCID: PMC10565639.