Gender	Male
E-mail	sergio.lira@mssm.edu
Education and Training	Ph.D., University of California
	M.D., U. Federal de Pernambuco
	Fellowship, Roche Institute of Molecular Biology

Co-Director, Immunology Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine

Education and Training	Ph.D., University of California
	M.D., U. Federal de Pernambuco
	Fellowship, Roche Institute of Molecular Biology

Research
Specific Clinical/Research Interest: Chemokines; leukocyte trafficking; angiogenesis; lymphoid development; mouse genetics

Current Students: Luciana Muniz

Postdoctoral Fellows: Andrea Martin, Limin Shang, Gerold Bongers, Federica Marchesi, Abel Viejo-Borbolla

Research Personnel: Research Assistant: Emral Devany

Summary of Research Studies:
We use genetic approaches in mice to study the function of chemokines and their receptors in leukocyte trafficking, angiogenesis, inflammation and cancer. Recent work in the laboratory focuses:

1) on the role of chemokine-like molecules encoded by herpes and poxviruses in immune evasion and tumorigenesis; and

2) on the role of chemokines in lymphoid organogenesis and autoimmunity.

For more information, please visit the Immunology Institute website.

Shang L, Fukata M, Thirunarayanan N, Martin AP, Arnaboldi P, Maussang D, Berin C, Unkeless JC, Mayer L, Abreu MT, Lira SA. Toll-like receptor signaling in small intestinal epithelium promotes B-cell recruitment and IgA production in lamina propria. Gastroenterology 2008; 135: 529-538.

Saederup N, Chan L, Lira SA, Charo IF. Fractalkine deficiency markedly reduces macrophage accumulation and atherosclerotic lesion formation in CCR2-/- mice: evidence for independent chemokine functions in atherogenesis. Circulation 2008; 117: 1642-1648.

Martin AP, Rankin S, Pitchford S, Charo IF, Furtado GC, Lira SA. Increased expression of CCL2 in insulin-producing cells of transgenic mice promotes mobilization of myeloid cells from the bone marrow, marked insulitis, and diabetes. Diabetes 2008; 57: 3025-3033.

Martin AP, Grisotto MG, Canasto-Chibuque C, Kunkel SL, Bromberg JS, Furtado GC, Lira SA. Islet expression of M3 uncovers a key role for chemokines in the development and recruitment of diabetogenic cells in NOD mice. Diabetes 2008; 57: 387-394.

Landsman L, Bar-On L, Zernecke A, Kim KW, Krauthgamer R, Shagdarsuren E, Lira SA, Weissman IL, Weber C, Jung S. CX3CR1 is required for monocyte homeostasis and atherogenesis by promoting cell survival. Blood 2008;.

Delaunay A, Bromberg KD, Hayashi Y, Mirabella M, Burch D, Kirkwood B, Serra C, Malicdan MC, Mizisin AP, Morosetti R, Broccolini A, Guo LT, Jones SN, Lira SA, Puri PL, Shelton GD, Ronai Z. The ER-bound RING finger protein 5 (RNF5/RMA1) causes degenerative myopathy in transgenic mice and is deregulated in inclusion body myositis. PLoS ONE 2008; 3: e1609.

Martin AP, Alexander-Brett JM, Canasto-Chibuque C, Garin A, Bromberg JS, Fremont DH, Lira SA. The chemokine binding protein M3 prevents diabetes induced by multiple low doses of streptozotocin. J Immunol 2007; 178: 4623-4631.

Furtado GC, Marinkovic T, Martin AP, Garin A, Hoch B, Hubner W, Chen BK, Genden E, Skobe M, Lira SA. Lymphotoxin beta receptor signaling is required for inflammatory lymphangiogenesis in the thyroid. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2007; 104: 5026-5031.

Marinkovic T, Garin A, Yokota Y, Fu YX, Ruddle NH, Furtado GC, Lira SA. Interaction of mature CD3+CD4+ T cells with dendritic cells triggers the development of tertiary lymphoid structures in the thyroid. J Clin Invest 2006; 116: 2622-2632.

Furtado GC, Pina B, Tacke F, Gaupp S, van Rooijen N, Moran TM, Randolph GJ, Ransohoff RM, Chensue SW, Raine CS, Lira SA. A novel model of demyelinating encephalomyelitis induced by monocytes and dendritic cells. J Immunol 2006; 177: 6871-6879.