Alicia R. Mathers, Ph.D.

Alicia R. Mathers, Ph.D.

Contact

Campus: Biomedical Science Tower, 203 Lothrop St

Office: W1156

Lab: W1104

Pittsburgh, PA 1561

Ph: 412-648-9974

Fax: 412-383-5857

alicia@pitt.edu

Education

  • Ph.D., West Virginia University

Academic Affiliation

  • Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology
  • Associate Professor, Department of Immunology

About Research

The focus of our laboratory is to understand how cutaneous inflammation is induced and to exploit that knowledge to develop novel therapeutics utilizing both murine and human models.

In our first project we are examining the role of danger signals, specifically ATP/P2X7R, in the development and maintenance of psoriatic lesions. We have determined that signaling through the P2X7R in vitro leads to the differentiation of Th17 cells, utilizing both human and murine cells. Moreover, if P2X7R agonists are injected into the skin we can induce an acute psoriasis-like response in mice, indicating that ATP/P2X7R likely has a role in initiating the development of psoriasis lesions.

In our second project, we have determined that an exemplary electrophilic nitro fatty acid, nitro oleic acid (OA-NO2), has the capacity to suppress contact hypersensitivity responses, we hope to eventually translate this finding into psoriasis models. Furthermore, we are focused on understanding the mechanisms by which OA-NO2 suppresses cutaneous inflammation in order to better understand these inflammatory processes. 

To explore pertinent questions of cutaneous biology, our laboratory has utilized human skin explants and murine models of disease. We also perform human to mouse skin xenotransplants with biopsies that we have collected from healthy human skin and (non)psoriatic lesional skin. 

The Mathers lab has two R01 funded projects (2016-2020) to study cutaneous inflammation and psoriasis. Graduate students interested in rotation opportunities should contact Dr. Mathers.

Selected Publications

My Most recent publication updates:

  1. Watson AR, Dai H, Diaz-Perez JA, Killeen ME, Mathers AR, and AW Thomson (2018) mTORC2 deficiency in cutaneous dendritic cells potentiates CD8+ effector T cell responses and accelerates skin graft rejection. AM J Transplant. Epub ahead of print (DOI) - 10.1111/ajt.15083. PMID: 30129283

 

  1. Diaz-Perez JA, Killeen ME, Yang Y, Carey CD, Falo Jr LD, and AR Mathers* (2018) Extracellular ATP and IL-23 form a local inflammatory circuit leading to the development of a neutrophil-dependent psoriasiform dermatitis. J Invest Dermatol. 138(12):2595-2605. PMID: 29870687

      *Senior/Corresponding author

 

  1. Mathers AR*, Carey CD, Killeen ME, Salvatore SR, Ferris LK, Freeman BA, Schopfer FJ, and LD Falo Jr. (2018) Topical electrophilic nitro-fatty acids potentiate cutaneous inflammation. Free Rad Bio Med. 115:31-42. PMID: 29132974

       *Senior/Corresponding author

 

  1. Monin L, Gudjonsson JE, Childs EE, Amatya N, Xing X, Verma AH, Coleman BM, Killeen M, Mathers A, Ward NL, and SL Gaffen. (2017) MCPIP1/Regnase-1 restricts IL-17A- and IL-17C-dependent skin inflammation. J Immunol. 198(2):767-775. PMID: 27920272

 

  1. Mathers AR*, Carey CD, Killeen ME, Diaz-Perez J., Salvatore SR, Schopfer FJ, Freeman BA, and LD Falo Jr. (2017) Electrophilic nitro-fatty acids suppress allergic contact dermatitis. Allergy 72: 656-664. PMID: 27718238

        *Senior/Corresponding author

 

  1. Korkmaz E, Friedrich EE, Ramadan MH, Erdos G, Mathers AR, Ozdoganlar OB, Washburn NR, and LD Falo Jr. (2016) Tip-Loaded Dissolvable Microneedle Arrays Effectively Deliver Polymer-Conjugated Antibody Inhibitors of Tumor-Necrosis-Factor-Alpha into Human Skin. J Pharm Sci. 105(11):3453-3457. PMID: 27544434

 

  1. Korkmaz E, Friedrich EE, Ramadan MH, Erdos G, Mathers AR, Ozdoganlar  OB, Washburn NR, and LD Falo Jr. (2015) Therapeutic intradermal delivery of tumor necrosis factor-alpha antibodies using tip-loaded dissolvable microneedle arrays. Acta Biomater. 24: 96-105. PMID: 26093066

 

  1. *†Killeen M, Ferris LK, Kupetsky EA, Falo LD Jr, and AR Mathers (2013) Signaling through Purinergic Receptors for ATP Induces Human Cutaneous Innate and Adaptive Th17 Responses: Implications in the Pathogenesis of Psoriasis. J. Immunol. 190:4324-36. PMID: 23479230

       

* featured in the “In This Issue” section of The Journal of Immunology.  “In This Issue” highlights articles that are among the top 10% of articles published in the journal.

†selected as an ‘Editors Pick’ in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology (2013) 133: 1917.

 

Click here for a complete list of publications.

Research Interests

  • Understanding induction of cutaneous inflammation, in particular psoriasis and wound healing
  • Develop novel therapeutics utilizing both murine and human models