Paulo Filipe Lab

Dermatology, Skin Biology and Pathology

The skin is a complex organ providing the interface between the external environment and the internal milieu. In humans, the skin ranks first as a source of pathology.

Psoriasis and non-melanoma skin cancers are highly prevalent and share in common a hyperproliferative state, increased angiogenesis and a prominent host immune response. Psoriasis is indeed an autoimmune disease mostly driven by immune cells that produce, or respond to, the cytokines IL-17 and IL-23. The disease is characterized by frequent relapse, typically in previously affected body areas, invoking some sort of tissue immune memory. We are currently testing whether disease memory is altered in immunodeficient individuals, and why the increased cellular proliferation associated with psoriasis does not directly translate into increased incidence of skin cancers. We are also searching for biomarkers (eg complement factor H) that can predict disease relapse.

Non-melanoma skin cancers, namely basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas, trigger a strong host immune response. We have found that the inflammatory infiltrates within these tumours comprise a high fraction of IL-17-producing cells. We are addressing whether the IL-23/IL-17 axis is involved in the increased angiogenesis associated with these tumours.

Finally, we are identifying the photoproducts of widely used drugs that act as photo-carcinogens and their mechanisms of skin carcinogenesis.

Research Team

Research Areas

• Psoriasis
• NMSC (Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer)
• Inflammation
• Cell Cycle
• Phototoxicity

Ongoing Research Projects

2020/2023 Apoio Janssen. Coordinator: Paulo Filipe. Funding Agency: Janssen - Cilag Farmacêutica, Lda.

2019/2022 Study of changes in human skin microbiome induced by phototheraply treament in AD. Coordinator: Paulo Filipe. Funding Agency: Sanofi.

2019/2021 The IL-23/IL-17 axis and angiogenesis in non-melanona skin cancer. Coordinator: Daniela Cunha. Funding Agency: Almirall, S.A.

2018/2021 Apoio Novartis. Coordinator: Paulo Filipe. Funding Agency: Novartis Consumer Health SA.

2018/2021 Do differences in the lymphocytic inflammatory infiltrate account for the variations between the aggressiveness of SCCs vs BCCs? Coordinator: Daniela Cunha. Funding Agency: Almirall.

2017/2021 Vascular patterns in non-melanoma skin cancer assessed by reflectance confocal microscopy and 3D imaging. Coordinator: Paulo Filipe. Funding Agency: Sociedade Portuguesa de Dermatologia e Vernerologia and Several Laboratories.

2016/2021 Th9-IL9R axis: a role in tissue memory in plaque-type psoriasis? Coordinator: Paulo Filipe. Funding Agency: Novartis.

Selected Publications

Alpalhão M, Sousa D, Frade JV, Patrocínio J, Garrido PM, Correia C, Brazão C, Mancha D, Núncio MS, Carvalho IL, Pelerito A, Borrego MJ, Filipe P (2022). Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection may be a contributing factor to Monkeypox infection: analysis of a 42-case series. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology S0190-9622(22)02772-4. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2022.09.029.

de Sousa D, Frade J, Patrocínio J, Borges-Costa J, Filipe P (2022). Monkeypox infection and bacterial cellulitis: a complication to look for. International Journal of Infectious Diseases 123:180-182. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2022.08.024. Online ahead of print. PMID: 36055636

Alpalhão M, Frade JV, Sousa D, Patrocínio J, Garrido PM, Correia C, Brazão C, Mancha D, Borrego MJ, Filipe P (2022). Monkeypox: a new (sexually transmissible) epidemic? Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology 2022 Jul 16. doi: 10.1111/jdv.18424.

Queirós C, Filipe P, Soares-Almeida L (2020). Cutaneous Metastases from Solid Neoplasm in the 21st Century: A Retrospective Study from a Portuguese Tertiary Care Centre. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology 34(6):1218-1224.

Morlière P, Silva AMS, Seixas RSGR, Boscá F, Mazière J-C, Ferreira J, Santus R, Filipe P (2018). Photosensitisation by voriconazole-N-oxide results from a sequence of solvent and pH-dependent photochemical and thermal reactions. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B-Biology 187:1-9.

Pereira PD, Serra-Caetano A, Cabrita M, Bekman E, Braga J, Rino J, Santus R, Filipe PL, Sousa AE, Ferreira JA (2017). Quantification of cell cycle kinetics by EdU (5-ethynyl-2?-deoxyuridine)-coupled-fluorescence-intensity analysis. Oncotarget 8:40514-40532.

Teixeira A, Morlière P, Ferreira J, Conte MA, Galmiche A, Mazière JC, Santus R, Filipe P. (2016) Interplay Between Membrane Lipid Peroxidation and Photoproduct Formation in the Ultraviolet A-Induced Phototoxicity of Vemurafenib in Skin Keratinocytes. Toxicol Sci. 154, 289-295.

Pereira PD, Serra-Caetano A, Cabrita M, Bekman E, Braga J, Rino J, Santus R, Filipe PL, Sousa AE, Ferreira JA. (2017) Quantification of cell cycle kinetics by EdU (5-ethynyl-2?-deoxyuridine)-coupled-fluorescence-intensity analysis. Oncotarget 8, 40514-40532.

Morlière P, Hug GL, Patterson LK, Mazière JC, Ausseil J, Dupas JL, Ducroix JP, Santus R, Filipe P. (2014) Chemistry of free radicals produced by oxidation of endogenous aminoketones. A study of 5 aminolevulinic acid and aminoacetone by fast kinetics spectroscopy. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2014 Oct; 1840 (10): 3190-7. doi: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2014.07.002. Epub 2014 Jul 10. 1840, 3190-7.

Pinheiro T, Silva R, Fleming R, Gonçalves A, Barreiros MA, Silva JN, Morlière P, Santus R, Filipe P. (2014) Acta Derm Venereol. 2014 Jan; 94 (1): 14-9. doi: 10.2340/00015555-1601. Distribution and quantitation of skin iron in primary haemochromatosis: correlation with total body iron stores in patients undergoing phlebotomy. Acta Derm Venereol. 2014 Jan; 94 (1): 14-9. doi: 10.2340/00015555-1601. 94, 14-9.

Morlière P, Silva AMS, Seixas RSGR, Boscá F,. Mazière J-C, Ferreira J, Santus R, Filipe P. (2018) Photosensitisation by voriconazole-N-oxide results from a sequence of solvent and pH-dependent photochemical and thermal reactions. Journal of Photochemistry & Photobiology, B: Biology, 187 (2018) 1-9.doi:10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2018.07.023 .