Sharmila Masli | Profiles RNS

Sharmila Masli, PhD

Associate Professor

Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Ophthalmology

PhD, Northeastern University
MS, Northeastern University
BSc, University of Bombay

Websites

	Immunology Training Program Faculty
	ResearchGate

ORCID : 0000-0001-8612-0617

The major focus of research in the laboratory is the study of molecular mechanisms utilized by ocular antigen presenting cells (APCs) to regulate inflammatory ocular immune responses. Particular focus is on elucidating the role of thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) in regulating ocular inflammation.

Resident ocular APCs in the posterior and anterior segment of the eye depend on TSP-1 for maintaining an anti-inflammatory phenotype. In the absence of TSP-1 these APCs acquire more immunogenic phenotype. These observations are examined further to determine their role in ocular inflammation.

Induction of regulatory T cells (Treg) subset by ocular APCs is known to be a key component of ocular immune privilege. The ability of ocular APCs to induce Treg and its correlation with their expression of TSP-1 is examined in the laboratory at the level of molecular mechanisms.

The laboratory has identified spontaneous development of autoimmune Sjögren’s syndrome and related ocular inflammation in TSP-1 deficient mice that closely resembles clinical symptoms in human Sjögren’s patients. Different projects in the laboratory address immunologic mechanisms underlying disease development in these mice.

Graduate Faculty (Primary Mentor of Grad Students)
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Graduate Medical Sciences

BU Research

Determining the efficacy of Platelet Like Cells (PLC) in resolving Sjogren’s syndrome-associated chronic dry eye in a pre-clinical mouse model (TSP-1-/- mice).
12/22/2022 - 12/22/2023 (PI)
Stellular Bio, Inc.

Projects for the Massachusetts Lions Eye Research Fund
07/01/2014 - 08/31/2023 (PI of Sub-Project / SP)
PI: Stephen P. Christiansen, MD
Massachusetts Lions Eye Research Fund, Inc.

Tear biomarkers for differential diagnosis of Sjogren's vs. non-Sjogren's dry eye
09/01/2020 - 07/01/2022 (PI)
Sjogren's Foundation

Determining the effect of natriuretic peptides and sGC peptide on mucin secretion by conjunctival goblet cells
07/01/2017 - 04/30/2018 (PI)
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Determining efficacy of IL-17 antagonist in resolving Sjogren's syndrome associated chronic dry eye
08/08/2016 - 12/31/2017 (PI)
Allergan Sales Inc

Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Immune Regulation of Ocular Inflammation
04/15/2013 - 08/31/2015 (PI)
NIH/National Eye Institute
5R01EY015472-11

Title

Yr	Title	Project-Sub Proj	Pubs

Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.

iCite Analysis Copy PMIDs To Clipboard

Gordon RA, Nguyen Y, Foulquier N, Beydon M, Gheita TA, Hajji R, Sahbudin I, Hoi A, Ng WF, Mendonça JA, Wallace DJ, Shea B, Bruyn GA, Goodman SM, Fisher BA, Baldini C, Torralba KD, Bootsma H, Akpek EK, Karakus S, Baer AN, Chakravarty SD, Terslev L, D'Agostino MA, Mariette X, DiRenzo D, Rasmussen A, Papas A, Montoya C, Arends S, Yusof MYM, Pintilie I, Warner BM, Hammitt KM, Strand V, Bouillot C, Tugwell P, Inanc N, Andreu JL, Wahren-Herlenius M, Devauchelle-Pensec V, Shiboski CH, Benyoussef A, Masli S, Lee AYS, Cornec D, Bowman S, Rischmueller M, McCoy SS, Seror R. The Sjögren's Working Group: The 2023 OMERACT meeting and provisional domain generation. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2024 Apr; 65:152378. PMID: 38310657

Masli S, Akpek EK. Reduced tear thrombospondin-1/matrix metalloproteinase-9 ratio can aid in detecting Sjögren's syndrome etiology in patients with dry eye. Clin Transl Sci. 2022 Aug; 15(8):1999-2009. PMID: 35610740; PMCID: PMC9372415; DOI: 10.1111/cts.13316;

Soriano-Romaní L, Mir FA, Singh N, Chin I, Hafezi-Moghadam A, Masli S. CD47 Binding on Vascular Endothelial Cells Inhibits IL-17-Mediated Leukocyte Adhesion. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 May 20; 23(10). PMID: 35628515; PMCID: PMC9146020; DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105705;

Logeswaran A, Contreras-Ruiz L, Masli S. Conjunctival Goblet Cell Responses to TLR5 Engagement Promote Activation of Local Antigen-Presenting Cells. Front Immunol. 2021; 12:716939. PMID: 34434198; PMCID: PMC8380822; DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.716939;

Simon LS, Keshav V, Baharozian C, Masli S, Lee HJ. Thrombospondin 1 polymorphism associated with decreased expression and increased risk of pterygium. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2021 Aug; 259(8):2301-2307.View Related Profiles.

Lee, Hyunjoo
Masli, Sharmila

PMID: 33661363

Ramos MF, Brassard J, Masli S. Immunology and Pathology in Ocular Drug Development. Toxicol Pathol. 2021 04; 49(3):483-504. PMID: 33468035

Masli S, Dartt DA. Mouse Models of Sjögren's Syndrome with Ocular Surface Disease. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Nov 30; 21(23). PMID: 33266081; PMCID: PMC7730359; DOI: 10.3390/ijms21239112;

Akpek EK, Wu HY, Karakus S, Zhang Q, Masli S. Differential Diagnosis of Sjögren Versus Non-Sjögren Dry Eye Through Tear Film Biomarkers. Cornea. 2020 Aug; 39(8):991-997. PMID: 32195754

Foulsham W, Dohlman TH, Mittal SK, Taketani Y, Singh RB, Masli S, Dana R. Thrombospondin-1 in ocular surface health and disease. Ocul Surf. 2019 07; 17(3):374-383. PMID: 31173926; PMCID: PMC6708501; DOI: 10.1016/j.jtos.2019.06.001;

Soriano-Romaní L, Contreras-Ruiz L, López-García A, Diebold Y, Masli S. Topical Application of TGF-ß-Activating Peptide, KRFK, Prevents Inflammatory Manifestations in the TSP-1-Deficient Mouse Model of Chronic Ocular Inflammation. Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Dec 20; 20(1). PMID: 30577496; PMCID: PMC6337581; DOI: 10.3390/ijms20010009;

Showing 10 of 63 results. Show More

Tatematsu Y, Khan Q, Blanco T, Bair JA, Hodges RR, Masli S, Dartt DA. Thrombospondin-1 Is Necessary for the Development and Repair of Corneal Nerves. Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Oct 16; 19(10). PMID: 30332778; PMCID: PMC6214039; DOI: 10.3390/ijms19103191;

Singh N, Chin I, Gabriel P, Blaum E, Masli S. Dysregulated Marginal Zone B Cell Compartment in a Mouse Model of Sjögren's Syndrome with Ocular Inflammation. Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Oct 11; 19(10). PMID: 30314337; PMCID: PMC6213455; DOI: 10.3390/ijms19103117;

Bhattacharya S, García-Posadas L, Hodges RR, Makarenkova HP, Masli S, Dartt DA. Alteration in nerves and neurotransmitter stimulation of lacrimal gland secretion in the TSP-1-/- mouse model of aqueous deficiency dry eye. Mucosal Immunol. 2018 07; 11(4):1138-1148. PMID: 29445135; PMCID: PMC6030454; DOI: 10.1038/s41385-018-0002-y;

Wakshull E, Quarmby V, Mahler HC, Rivers H, Jere D, Ramos M, Szczesny P, Bechtold-Peters K, Masli S, Gupta S. Advancements in Understanding Immunogenicity of Biotherapeutics in the Intraocular Space. AAPS J. 2017 Nov; 19(6):1656-1668. PMID: 28795351

Contreras Ruiz L, Mir FA, Turpie B, Masli S. Thrombospondin-derived peptide attenuates Sjögren's syndrome-associated ocular surface inflammation in mice. Clin Exp Immunol. 2017 Apr; 188(1):86-95.View Related Profiles.

Contreras Ruiz, Laura
Masli, Sharmila

PMID: 28033649; PMCID: PMC5343364; DOI: 10.1111/cei.12919;

Shatos MA, Hodges RR, Morinaga M, McNay DE, Islam R, Bhattacharya S, Li D, Turpie B, Makarenkova HP, Masli S, Utheim TP, Dartt DA. Alteration in cellular turnover and progenitor cell population in lacrimal glands from thrombospondin 1-/- mice, a model of dry eye. Exp Eye Res. 2016 Dec; 153:27-41. PMID: 27697548; PMCID: PMC5121046; DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2016.09.011;

Smith RE, Reyes NJ, Khandelwal P, Schlereth SL, Lee HS, Masli S, Saban DR. Secondary allergic T cell responses are regulated by dendritic cell-derived thrombospondin-1 in the setting of allergic eye disease. J Leukoc Biol. 2016 Aug; 100(2):371-80. PMID: 26856994; PMCID: PMC4945354; DOI: 10.1189/jlb.3A0815-357RR;

Contreras-Ruiz L, Mir FA, Turpie B, Krauss AH, Masli S. Sjögren's syndrome associated dry eye in a mouse model is ameliorated by topical application of integrin a4 antagonist GW559090. Exp Eye Res. 2016 Feb; 143:1-8. PMID: 26463157; DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2015.10.008;

Mir FA, Contreras-Ruiz L, Masli S. Thrombospondin-1-dependent immune regulation by transforming growth factor-ß2-exposed antigen-presenting cells. Immunology. 2015 Dec; 146(4):547-56. PMID: 26458493; PMCID: PMC4693892; DOI: 10.1111/imm.12517;

Masli S. Matricellular Proteins in Ocular Diseases. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. 2015 Sep; 31(7):365. PMID: 26192047; DOI: 10.1089/jop.2015.29001.sjm;

Soriano-Romaní L, Contreras-Ruiz L, García-Posadas L, López-García A, Masli S, Diebold Y. Inflammatory Cytokine-Mediated Regulation of Thrombospondin-1 and CD36 in Conjunctival Cells. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. 2015 Sep; 31(7):419-28. PMID: 26154920; PMCID: PMC4575527; DOI: 10.1089/jop.2015.0029;

Regenfuß B, Dreisow ML, Hos D, Masli S, Bock F, Cursiefen C. The Naïve Murine Cornea as a Model System to Identify Novel Endogenous Regulators of Lymphangiogenesis: TRAIL and rtPA. Lymphat Res Biol. 2015 Jun; 13(2):76-84. PMID: 26091403; PMCID: PMC4492666; DOI: 10.1089/lrb.2015.0004;

Terzulli M, Contreras-Ruiz L, Ruiz LC, Kugadas A, Masli S, Gadjeva M. TSP-1 Deficiency Alters Ocular Microbiota: Implications for Sjögren's Syndrome Pathogenesis. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. 2015 Sep; 31(7):413-8. PMID: 26352162; PMCID: PMC4575514; DOI: 10.1089/jop.2015.0017;

Contreras-Ruiz L, Masli S. Immunomodulatory cross-talk between conjunctival goblet cells and dendritic cells. PLoS One. 2015; 10(3):e0120284. PMID: 25793763; PMCID: PMC4368435; DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0120284;

Masli S. Thrombospondin-1: Therapeutic potential in Ophthalmic Diseases. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. 2015; 31(7):365.

Dartt DA, Masli S. Conjunctival epithelial and goblet cell function in chronic inflammation and ocular allergic inflammation. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014 Oct; 14(5):464-70. PMID: 25061855; PMCID: PMC4206188; DOI: 10.1097/ACI.0000000000000098;

Nair KS, Barbay J, Smith RS, Masli S, John SW. Determining immune components necessary for progression of pigment dispersing disease to glaucoma in DBA/2J mice. BMC Genet. 2014; 15:42. PMID: 24678736; PMCID: PMC3974199; DOI: 10.1186/1471-2156-15-42;

Contreras-Ruiz L, Ryan DS, Sia RK, Bower KS, Dartt DA, Masli S. Polymorphism in THBS1 gene is associated with post-refractive surgery chronic ocular surface inflammation. Ophthalmology. 2014 Jul; 121(7):1389-97. PMID: 24679443; PMCID: PMC4197802; DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2014.01.033;

Masli S, Sheibani N, Cursiefen C, Zieske J. Matricellular protein thrombospondins: influence on ocular angiogenesis, wound healing and immuneregulation. Curr Eye Res. 2014 Aug; 39(8):759-74. PMID: 24559320; PMCID: PMC4278647; DOI: 10.3109/02713683.2013.877936;

Contreras-Ruiz L, Ghosh-Mitra A, Shatos MA, Dartt DA, Masli S. Modulation of conjunctival goblet cell function by inflammatory cytokines. Mediators Inflamm. 2013; 2013:636812. PMID: 24453426; PMCID: PMC3877636; DOI: 10.1155/2013/636812;

Contreras-Ruiz L, Regenfuss B, Mir FA, Kearns J, Masli S. Conjunctival inflammation in thrombospondin-1 deficient mouse model of Sjögren's syndrome. PLoS One. 2013; 8(9):e75937. PMID: 24086667; PMCID: PMC3781083; DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075937;

Cursiefen C, Maruyama K, Bock F, Saban D, Sadrai Z, Lawler J, Dana R, Masli S. Thrombospondin 1 inhibits inflammatory lymphangiogenesis by CD36 ligation on monocytes. J Exp Med. 2011 May 9; 208(5):1083-92.View Related Profiles.

Masli, Sharmila
Sadrai, Zahra

PMID: 21536744; PMCID: PMC3092349; DOI: 10.1084/jem.20092277;

Hos D, Saban DR, Bock F, Regenfuss B, Onderka J, Masli S, Cursiefen C. Suppression of inflammatory corneal lymphangiogenesis by application of topical corticosteroids. Arch Ophthalmol. 2011 Apr; 129(4):445-52. PMID: 21482870; DOI: 10.1001/archophthalmol.2011.42;

Masli S, Vega JL. Ocular immune privilege sites. Methods Mol Biol. 2011; 677:449-58. PMID: 20941626; DOI: 10.1007/978-1-60761-869-0_28;

Vega JL, Saban D, Carrier Y, Masli S, Weiner HL. Retinal pigment epithelial cells induce foxp3(+) regulatory T cells via membrane-bound TGF-ß. Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2010 Dec; 18(6):459-69. PMID: 20887202; DOI: 10.3109/09273948.2010.509532;

Hori J, Vega JL, Masli S. Review of ocular immune privilege in the year 2010: modifying the immune privilege of the eye. Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2010 Oct; 18(5):325-33. PMID: 20849282; DOI: 10.3109/09273948.2010.512696;

Saban DR, Bock F, Chauhan SK, Masli S, Dana R. Thrombospondin-1 derived from APCs regulates their capacity for allosensitization. J Immunol. 2010 Oct 15; 185(8):4691-7. PMID: 20844200; PMCID: PMC3090006; DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1001133;

Vega JL, Keino H, Masli S. Surgical denervation of ocular sympathetic afferents decreases local transforming growth factor-beta and abolishes immune privilege. Am J Pathol. 2009 Sep; 175(3):1218-25. PMID: 19700755; PMCID: PMC2731140; DOI: 10.2353/ajpath.2009.090264;

Turpie B, Yoshimura T, Gulati A, Rios JD, Dartt DA, Masli S. Sjögren's syndrome-like ocular surface disease in thrombospondin-1 deficient mice. Am J Pathol. 2009 Sep; 175(3):1136-47. PMID: 19700744; PMCID: PMC2731132; DOI: 10.2353/ajpath.2009.081058;

Ng TF, Turpie B, Masli S. Thrombospondin-1-mediated regulation of microglia activation after retinal injury. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2009 Nov; 50(11):5472-8.View Related Profiles.

Masli, Sharmila
Ng, Tatfong

PMID: 19494207; DOI: 10.1167/iovs.08-2877;

Masli S, Turpie B. Anti-inflammatory effects of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha are mediated via TNF-R2 (p75) in tolerogenic transforming growth factor-beta-treated antigen-presenting cells. Immunology. 2009 May; 127(1):62-72. PMID: 18795974; PMCID: PMC2678182; DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2008.02933.x;

Ghafoori P, Yoshimura T, Turpie B, Masli S. Increased IkappaB alpha expression is essential for the tolerogenic property of TGF-beta-exposed APCs. FASEB J. 2009 Jul; 23(7):2226-34. PMID: 19237504; PMCID: PMC2704595; DOI: 10.1096/fj.08-124545;

Yang K, Vega JL, Hadzipasic M, Schatzmann Peron JP, Zhu B, Carrier Y, Masli S, Rizzo LV, Weiner HL. Deficiency of thrombospondin-1 reduces Th17 differentiation and attenuates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. J Autoimmun. 2009 Mar; 32(2):94-103. PMID: 19181483; PMCID: PMC2735759; DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2008.12.004;

Saban DR, Cornelius J, Masli S, Schwartzkopff J, Doyle M, Chauhan SK, Peck AB, Grant MB. The role of ACAID and CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells on CTL function against MHC alloantigens. Mol Vis. 2008; 14:2435-42. PMID: 19104677; PMCID: PMC2605729

Almulki L, Noda K, Amini R, Schering A, Garland RC, Nakao S, Nakazawa T, Hisatomi T, Thomas KL, Masli S, Hafezi-Moghadam A. Surprising up-regulation of P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) in endotoxin-induced uveitis. FASEB J. 2009 Mar; 23(3):929-39. PMID: 19050046; PMCID: PMC2653986; DOI: 10.1096/fj.08-118760;

Anderson MG, Nair KS, Amonoo LA, Mehalow A, Trantow CM, Masli S, John SW. GpnmbR150X allele must be present in bone marrow derived cells to mediate DBA/2J glaucoma. BMC Genet. 2008; 9:30. PMID: 18402690; PMCID: PMC2373794; DOI: 10.1186/1471-2156-9-30;

Miyahara S, Almulki L, Noda K, Nakazawa T, Hisatomi T, Nakao S, Thomas KL, Schering A, Zandi S, Frimmel S, Tayyari F, Garland RC, Miller JW, Gragoudas ES, Masli S, Hafezi-Moghadam A. In vivo imaging of endothelial injury in choriocapillaris during endotoxin-induced uveitis. FASEB J. 2008 Jun; 22(6):1973-80. PMID: 18216288; DOI: 10.1096/fj.07-096891;

Zamiri P, Masli S, Kitaichi N, Taylor AW, Streilein JW. Thrombospondin plays a vital role in the immune privilege of the eye. 2005. Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2007 May-Jun; 15(3):279-94.View Related Profiles.

Taylor, Andrew
Masli, Sharmila

PMID: 17613842

Masli S, Streilein JW, Ghafoori PA. Antigen-Presenting cells and the eye. Antigen presenting cells and molecular mechanisms underlying induction of immune deviation. Informa Healthcare USA. Inc. 2007; 121.

Zamiri P, Masli S, Streilein JW, Taylor AW. Pigment epithelial growth factor suppresses inflammation by modulating macrophage activation. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2006 Sep; 47(9):3912-8.View Related Profiles.

Taylor, Andrew
Masli, Sharmila

PMID: 16936104

Keino H, Masli S, Sasaki S, Streilein JW, Stein-Streilein J. CD8+ T regulatory cells use a novel genetic program that includes CD103 to suppress Th1 immunity in eye-derived tolerance. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2006 Apr; 47(4):1533-42. PMID: 16565389

Masli S, Turpie B, Streilein JW. Thrombospondin orchestrates the tolerance-promoting properties of TGFbeta-treated antigen-presenting cells. Int Immunol. 2006 May; 18(5):689-99. PMID: 16569680

Kim CY, Masli S, Streilein JW. Qa-1, a nonclassical MHC molecule with immunomodulatory functions, is ubiquitously expressed in the immune-privileged anterior chamber of the eye. Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2005 Jul-Aug; 13(4):271-7. PMID: 16159717

Zamiri P, Masli S, Kitaichi N, Taylor AW, Streilein JW. Thrombospondin plays a vital role in the immune privilege of the eye. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2005 Mar; 46(3):908-19.View Related Profiles.

Taylor, Andrew
Masli, Sharmila

PMID: 15728547

Cursiefen C, Masli S, Ng TF, Dana MR, Bornstein P, Lawler J, Streilein JW. Roles of thrombospondin-1 and -2 in regulating corneal and iris angiogenesis. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2004 Apr; 45(4):1117-24.View Related Profiles.

Masli, Sharmila
Ng, Tatfong

PMID: 15037577

Streilein JW, Masli S, Takeuchi M, Kezuka T. The eye's view of antigen presentation. Hum Immunol. 2002 Jun; 63(6):435-43. PMID: 12039518

Masli S, Turpie B, Hecker KH, Streilein JW. Expression of thrombospondin in TGFbeta-treated APCs and its relevance to their immune deviation-promoting properties. J Immunol. 2002 Mar 1; 168(5):2264-73. PMID: 11859114

Masli S, De Fazio SR, Gozzo JJ. Requirement for early donor cell chimerism during prolonged survival of murine skin allografts. Transplantation. 2000 Apr 27; 69(8):1667-75. PMID: 10836379

Gozzo J, Masli S, De Fazio S. Extension of graft survival with pulsed administration of donor dendritic cells. Transplant Proc. 1999 Feb-Mar; 31(1-2):1196. PMID: 10083534

Streilein JW, Masli S. Biochemical Modulation of Skin Reactions. Future prospects and areas of promising research. CRC Press. 1999; 313.

Masli S, De Fazio SR, Gozzo JJ. Expression of dendritic cell markers on bone marrow cells in a fraction enriched for the ability to prolong skin allograft survival in ALS-treated murine recipients. Transplant Proc. 1997 Feb-Mar; 29(1-2):1147-8. PMID: 9123242

De Fazio SR, Masli S, Gozzo JJ. Effect of monoclonal anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 on skin allograft survival in mice treated with donor bone marrow cells. Transplantation. 1996 Jan 15; 61(1):104-10. PMID: 8560547

Khouri W, Masli S, De Fazio SR, Gozzo JJ. Effect of asialofetuin on prolongation of skin allograft survival by donor bone marrow cells. Transplantation. 1994 Feb; 57(3):440-6. PMID: 7509090

This graph shows the total number of publications by year, by first, middle/unknown, or last author.

Bar chart showing 63 publications over 25 distinct years, with a maximum of 8 publications in 2015