Roberto Pacifici MD
- Department of Medicine
Professor
- (404) 712-8420
- roberto.pacifici@emory.edu
-
Emory University
Division of Endocrinology
101 Woodruff Circle
Overview
Dr. Pacifici is the director of the Division of Endocrinology.
The Pacifici laboratory has pioneered the field of osteoimmunology and osteomicrobiology. The current main focus of the laboratory is the role of the microbiome in bone in health and disease. We are also interested in the mechanism of action of probiotics in bone. The laboratory is specialized in conducting in vivo studies in mice treated with PTH or subjected to ovariectomy. We use genetic models, retroviral transduction, bone marrow transplantation, T cell transfer and in vivo treatments with hormones, cytokines, antibodies and probiotics. Typical end points include sophisticated flow cytometric analysis of bone marrow cells and microCT and histomorphometric analysis of bone structure. The lab is equipped with in vivo and in vitro microCT scanners.
We have been the first to recognize that T cells play a pivotal role in the mechanism of action of estrogen and PTH in bone by regulating osteoclast and osteoblast development and function. More recently we have shown that the gut microbiome plays a role in mediating the skeletal response to estrogen deficiency and PTH. We have shown that mice lacking T cells are protected against the bone loss induced by estrogen deficiency and hyperparathyroidism. We have has also shown that T cells regulate the number and function of mesenchymal stem cells. We have investigated the mechanism by which T cells mediate the expansion of hemopoietic stem cells caused by estrogen deficiency and PTH. Another main focus is to understand why intermittent PTH treatment causes bone anabolism while continuous PTH treatment causes bone loss. We hypothesize that the response to PTH depends on the effects of this hormone on T cell production of Wnt10b and TNF. We are currently investigating the mechanism of action of probiotics in bone, and conducting a clinical trial to determine the efficacy of the probiotic VSL#3 in preventing postmenopausal bone loss.
The Pacifici laboratory is currently supported by 3 RO-1 grants, 1 DOD grant and a T32 grant.
Employment
2003 - current - Division Director; Endocrinology and Metabolism Herndon Professor of Medicine Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine
2002 - 2003 - Professor of Radiology, Mallinkrodt Institute of Radiology
2000 - 2003 - Sydney M. and Stella H. Shoenberg Professor of Medicine
Division of Bone and Mineral Metabolism, Washington University School of Medicine
1993 - 2000 - Associate Professor of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine
1995 - 2000 - Assistant Professor of Radiology, Mallinkrodt Institute of Radiology
1988 - 1993 - Assistant Professor of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine
1984 - 1988 - Fellowship in Endocrinology and Metabolism, Div.of Bone & Mineral Metabolism, The Jewish Hospital of St. Louis at the Washington University Medical School
Academic Appointment
- Garland Herndon Professor of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipids, Emory University School of Medicine
Education
Degrees
- MD from Perugia University School of Medicine
Research
Focus
- Mechanism of action of estrogen and PTH in bone. Osteoimmunology. Estrogen and PTH regulation of T cell function. Osteoclast and Osteoblast differentiation. Bone densitometry, Management of osteoporosis.
Publications
-
Gender-affirming hormone therapy preserves skeletal maturation in young mice via the gut microbiome.
J Clin Invest Volume: 134
03/26/2024 Authors: Pal S; Morgan X; Dar HY; Gacasan CA; Patil S; Stoica A; Hu Y-J; Weitzmann MN; Jones RM; Pacifici R -
Differences in hepatocellular iron metabolism underlie sexual dimorphism in hepatocyte ferroptosis.
Redox Biol Volume: 67 Page(s): 102892
11/01/2023 Authors: Tao H; Dar HY; Tian C; Banerjee S; Glazer ES; Srinivasan S; Zhu L; Pacifici R; He P -
Inflammation and gut dysbiosis as drivers of CKD-MBD.
Nat Rev Nephrol Volume: 19 Page(s): 646 - 657
10/01/2023 Authors: Evenepoel P; Stenvinkel P; Shanahan C; Pacifici R -
Dietary phosphorus consumption alters T cell populations, cytokine production, and bone volume in mice.
JCI Insight Volume: 8
05/22/2023 Authors: Roberts JL; Yu M; Viggeswarapu M; Arnst JL; Pacifici R; Beck GR -
Callus T cells and microbe-induced intestinal Th17 cells improve fracture healing in mice.
J Clin Invest Volume: 133
04/17/2023 Authors: Dar HY; Perrien DS; Pal S; Stoica A; Uppuganti S; Nyman JS; Jones RM; Weitzmann MN; Pacifici R -
A two-cohort study on the association between the gut microbiota and bone density, microarchitecture, and strength.
Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) Volume: 14 Page(s): 1237727
01/01/2023 Authors: Okoro PC; Orwoll ES; Huttenhower C; Morgan X; Kuntz TM; McIver LJ; Dufour AB; Bouxsein ML; Langsetmo L; Farsijani S -
A TrkB agonist prodrug prevents bone loss via inhibiting asparagine endopeptidase and increasing osteoprotegerin.
Nat Commun Volume: 13 Page(s): 4820
08/16/2022 Authors: Xiong J; Liao J; Liu X; Zhang Z; Adams J; Pacifici R; Ye K -
Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate (cAMP)-Dependent Phosphodiesterase Inhibition Promotes Bone Anabolism Through CD8+ T Cell Wnt-10b Production in Mice.
JBMR Plus Volume: 6 Page(s): e10636
07/01/2022 Authors: Roser-Page S; Weiss D; Vikulina T; Yu M; Pacifici R; Weitzmann MN -
The microbiome restrains melanoma bone growth by promoting intestinal NK and Th1 cell homing to bone.
J Clin Invest Volume: 132
06/15/2022 Authors: Pal S; Perrien DS; Yumoto T; Faccio R; Stoica A; Adams J; Coopersmith CM; Jones RM; Weitzmann MN; Pacifici R -
The Microbiome Contributes to Endochondral Heterotopic Ossification in FOP Mice by Regulating Innate Immune Cell Recruitment and Polarization
Volume: 37 Page(s): 197 - 198
02/01/2022 Authors: Pierce JL; Hohl MS; Roberts RL; Pal S; Pacifici R; Perrien DS