ISTM

I have been head of the research laboratory at the Staffordshire Rheumatology Centre (SRC) at the Haywood Hospital since 1989, and have been responsible for initiating and developing the current research programme This includes; studies on the role of genetic factors and gene-environment interactions in rheumatoid arthritis (RA); identification of diagnostic/prognostic markers for inflammatory arthritis, and studies on synovial fibroblast and T cell biology. The unit is well recognised for work on markers of disease outcome in RA.

The main objective of my research is to enable a better understanding of disease mechanisms involved in the development and progression of RA and other inflammatory joint diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis. Research on genetic factors which influence disease susceptibility, severity and drug responses will continue to expand, and increased effort will be focused on identifying how interactions between genes and environmental factors influence the disease phenotype. Our work will also include studies on the role of epigenetic mechanisms in the pathogenesis of RA.

We have established at the SRC a well characterised resource of patient material for studying inflammatory joint diseases, and developed close liaison between laboratory and clinical research, together with a network of national and international collaborators. We have also published regularly in top rheumatology and scientific journals. In particular, I have helped to provide better understanding of the role of gene polymorphisms (e.g. HLA, TNF, TGFβ1, MMP-3, GSTs, MnSOD, etc) in the development and severity of RA. We were the first group to show that genetic factors associated with RA are also associated with increased risk of early mortality in RA patients. We also provided the first evidence that genetic factors modulate the association of smoking with RA severity, and were the first to show that smoking attenuates the response of RA patients to some of the new biologic agents. We are currently using Luminex technology to investigate the profiles of multiple cytokines, matrix metalloproteinases and adhesion molecules in smokers and non-smokers with RA.  

I have had the privilege of presenting talks and posters at major national and international rheumatology conferences (London, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Amsterdam,Nice, Brussels, Washington, San Diego, San Francisco, San Antonio), and had over 2,500 citations of my research papers. 

ISTM Research themes: 1. Clinical & Diagnostic Science
                                      2. Infection, Inflamation & Immunity

My main research interests are:

1. influence of genetic factors on development and severity of rheumatoid arthritis
2. predictors of co-morbid disease and survival in RA
3. gene-environment interactions in rheumatic diseases
4. biomarker profiling in inflammatory arthritis
5. role of epigenetic factors in RA.

The equipment and facilities we use include Luminex suspension array technology for biomarker analysis, ELISA, immunofluorescence microscopy, PCR, cell culture, FACS analysis. Our research group consists of a senior scientist, postdoctoral researcher, 2 PhD students, 2 research technicians and 2 research nurses.

 

TGFß1 induced expression of a smooth muscle actin in RA synovial fibroblasts 

 

Selection of recent publications:

Mattey DL, Brownfield A, Dawes PT. Relationship between pack year history of smoking and response to tumor necrosis factor antagonists in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. J Rheumatol 2009;36:1180-87.

Pratt A, Isaacs J, Mattey DL. Current concepts in the pathogenesis of early rheumatoid arthritis. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 2009;23:37-48

Mattey DL, Glossop JR, Nixon NB, Dawes PT. Circulating levels of tumor necrosis factor receptors are highly predictive of mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 2007;56:3940-48.

Mattey DL, Thomson W, Ollier W, Batley M, Davies PG, Gough AK, Devlin J, Prouse P,  James DW ,Williams PL, Dixey J, Winfield J, Cox NL, Koduri G, Young A. Association of DRB1 shared epitope genotypes with early mortality in rheumatoid arthritis. Results of 18 years followup from the Early RA study (ERAS). Arthritis Rheum 2007;56:1408-1416.

Glossop JR, Dawes PT, Mattey DL. Association between cigarette smoking and release of tumour necrosis factor alpha and its soluble receptors by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology 2006;45:1223-9.

Mattey DL, Kerr J, Nixon NB, Dawes PT. Association of polymorphism in the transforming growth factor β1 gene with disease outcome and mortality in rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 2005;64:1190-94.

Mattey DL, Nixon NB, Dawes PT, Ollier WER, Hajeer AH. Association of matrix metalloproteinase 3 promoter genotype with disease outcome in rheumatoid arthritis. Genes Immun 2004;5:147-9.

For further information follow the link on Research at the Staffordshire Rheumatology Centre supported by the NHS and The Haywood Foundation.