Subepithelial myofibroblasts are stromal mesenchymal cells which reside under the epithelium and play a central pathophysiological role in intestinal and pulmonary fibrosis. Our laboratory has long experience in isolation, culture, and study of these cells; maintains and enriches daily a biobank with subepithelial myofibroblasts from normal subjects and patients with IBD or IPF, to promote the research in this field in Greece and abroad.

In a recent study of ours, we successfully developed  Human Intestinal Organoids from stem cells, creating an in vitro model to study intestinal inflammation and fibrosis. Moreover, we have already started the development of enteroids which are 3D epithelial structures derived from intestinal tissue biopsies of normal subjects and patients with enteropathies. The ultimate purpose of this protocol is to create individualized models of studying both intestinal inflammation and fibrosis as well as the effect of new drugs.

Probiotics have an important role in IBD as studies highlight their contribution to wound healing. Myofibroblasts play a major role in intestinal mucosal healing and fibrosis. Aim of this study is to investigate the effect of different probiotic strains on the migratory capacity and fibrotic behavior of human intestinal subepithelial myofibroblasts.

IBD is described by chronic and incurable diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, with the main characteristics being recurrent inflammation and the creation of intestinal fibrosis. Local populations of immune cells in the intestinal mucosa appear to play a central role in the progression of chronic inflammation, as they determine the immunological profile of the disease. Using flow cytometer we will be able to characterize these cells, in terms of the type of immune response they belong to, helping particularly both in the understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms that govern IBD, and in determining the appropriate biological treatment for these patients. Through their identification, groups of patients with a different immunological profile will emerge, as well as biomarkers that demonstrate a better response to specific biological factors.

Chronic inflammation plays a central role in the etiology of IBD, while in addition, it seems to be involved in the creation of intestinal fibrosis. In a previous study, we examined the effect of cytokines of different types of immune responses on the fibrotic behavior of intestinal subepithelial myofibroblasts and discovered that specific combinations of cytokines show a pro-fibrotic character. In the Unit, we are planning the development of an in vitro model of chronic intestinal inflammation, both for the study of the pathogenic mechanisms of IBD, and for its possible use as a model for the study of new drugs against inflammation and fibrosis.

Previous studies from our laboratory have shown that various pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic factors play an important role in the process of fibrosis. Indicatively, it has been found that intestinal myofibroblasts express cytokine receptors of various types of immune responses and that this expression is affected by the action of pro-inflammatory factors. In the Unit, we further study the physiology of these cells, as well as the etiological mechanisms that lead to fibrosis, both at the RNA level with the help of the Precision Medicine Unit, and at the protein level with the help of the Proteomics - Metabolomics Unit.

New anticoagulant drugs have been at the forefront of many research studies since their release in 2008. Our laboratory has significant experience in endothelial cell culture and processing. The purpose of this study is to test the pleiotropic actions of anticoagulant drugs on in vitro cultures of human endothelial cells, as well as to study the mechanisms involved in these actions.