Morten Aagaard Nielsen
Morten is a trainee in rheumatology and a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Rheumatology Aarhus University Hospital. His major interests include basic and translational science, stromal involvement in arthritis, VEXAS and autoinflammatory diseases. Morten is a board member of the Young Danish Rheumatology Society. He is the EMEUNET Country Liaison for Denmark and a member of the Peer Mentoring Sub-Committee.
| Oral OP0023 | Wednesday 11.06.2025 5.30pm Basic Abstract Sessions: Understanding Basic and Translational Science in Vasculitis Author: M Sandovici (Netherlands) Title: Crosstalk between macrophages and fibroblasts likely contributes to inflammation and damage in giant cell arteritis  This study provides evidence of crosstalk between macrophages and fibroblasts in GCA. Local production of GM-CSF and M-CSF by fibroblasts may contribute to tissue skewing of infiltrating monocytes towards CD206+ and FRβ+ macrophages. Conversely, particular macrophage subtypes may influence the phenotype of vascular fibroblasts in GCA. |
| Oral OP0151 | Thursday 12.06.2025 10.50am Basic Abstract Sessions: The good, the bad and the ugly – Novel insights into RA mechanisms Author: F Tariq (UK) Title: Upregulation of type 1 interferon stimulated genes in circulating innate immune cells precedes the onset of subclinical synovitis in anti-CCP+ at-risk individuals who imminently progress to rheumatoid arthritis The study demonstrates that in anti-CCP+ individuals who develop RA within 2 years, altered circulating innate immune cell gene expression occurs prior to the onset of subclinical and clinical synovitis. Specifically, an increased frequency of circulating classical monocytes with upregulated type I interferon-stimulated genes was described, suggestive of a potential early role for type 1 IFN in arthritis development. |
| Oral OP0230 | Thursday 12.06.2025 2.30pm Dendritic Cells – orchestrators of tissue immunity Author: A Khmelevskaia (Switzerland) Title: Synovial fibroblasts, macrophages and dendritic cells form an inflammatory niche in rheumatoid arthritis, but not in psoriatic arthritis synovium This study demonstrates the close interactions between inflammatory dendritic cells, fibroblasts and macrophages in RA synovium and importantly, compare these to PsA and OA. The study proposes that disease-specific cellular interactions is central for the formation of the inflammatory niche that may drive inflammation in RA, but not in PsA. |
| Poster POS0246 | Friday 13.06.2025 9.30am Basic Poster Tours: Systemic Sclerosis Author: L Li (Switzerland) Title: Single-Cell RNA sequencing identifies a prominent pro-inflammatory gene signature in fibroblasts of very early systemic sclerosis This study demonstrates distinct cellular and molecular alterations in very early SSc. Specifically, a prominent pro-inflammatory fibroblast signature could be assigned to one particular fibroblast cluster. The cellular and molecular alterations preceded clinically evident fibrosis, hereby highlighting the potential for targeted anti-inflammatory interventions to prevent fibrotic disease onset. |
| Oral OP0246 | Friday 13.06.2025 11.00am Basic Abstract Sessions: Big data and small molecules – Novel rheumatoid arthritis mechanisms Author: S Perniola (Italy) Title: Synovial tissue enrichment of oxylipins and their mediators provides insight into remission maintenance in rheumatoid arthritis This study demonstrates that distinct synovial tissue macrophages contribute to oxylipin metabolism in RA synovium, with differences in oxylipins and precursors reflecting disease status and degree of synovitis. Furthermore, synovial concentrations of inflammatory oxylipins effectively distinguish RA patients in sustained clinical remission who experience disease flare. |