Carmelo Carmona-Rivera, PhD

2021 Awardee: Spatial-temporal definition of the pathogenic cell to cell interactions that promote dysregulation of the skin architecture in HS

Dr. Carmelo Carmona-Rivera conducts research at the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, in Bethesda, MD

Award amount: $10,000
Layman’s Statement
Hidradenitis suppurativa is a debilitating condition that affect mainly women of color and it is characterized by abscess in the axillae, groin and other areas of the body. This disease is classified based on its severity in Hurley Stage I-III. The severity of the condition is associated by the presence of small tunnels in the skin that interconnect lesions and are known as sinus tracts. We want to elucidate the formation of these tunnels and try to figure out how they are formed, what mechanism govern their formation and how we can stop them. To accomplish this, we will use techniques such as RNAscope that allows us to use a molecule called probe to identify specific cells. The use of multiple probes will allow identification a variety of cells in skin samples from patients with different degree of severity and to propose possible cell to cell pathogenic interactions that can lead to the formation of these tunnels. Combining RNAscope with other techniques help us to interrogate the presence of proteins and pathways involved in the tunnel formation and eventually to design strategies to stop them. Hopefully, the information generated in this project will lead to the generation of therapeutic treatments to stop the progression of this devastating disease.