BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Joseph M. Ahearn Associate Professor of ...

NAME
Joseph M. Ahearn
eRA COMMONS USER NAME
jahearn
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
POSITION TITLE
Associate Professor of Medicine, with Tenure
EDUCATION/TRAINING (Begin with baccalaureate or other initial professional education, such as nursing, and include postdoctoral
t i i )
INSTITUTION AND LOCATION
DEGREE
(if applicable)
YEAR(s) FIELD OF STUDY
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY BS 1977 Anatomy & Physiology
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 1981 Medicine
Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD Intern 1982 Medicine
Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD Resident 1984 Medicine
A. Positions and Honors
Positions
1984-86 Fellowship Rheumatology, The Johns Hopkins Hospital
1984-87 Fellowship Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics
1986-87 Instructor Department of Medicine; The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
1987-92 Assistant Professor Department of Medicine; The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
1992-96 Associate Professor Department of Medicine; The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
1993-96 Joint Appointment Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics;
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
1993-96 Member The Graduate Immunology Training Program;
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
1993-96 Co-director Rheumatology Fellowship Training Program;
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
1996- Associate Professor Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology; Department of Medicine
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
1996- Director of Research University of Pittsburgh Arthritis Institute
2000- Member Cardiovascular Institute of the UPMC Health System
2001- Co-Director Lupus Center of Excellence, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
2000-2004 Member NIH Study Section – Allergy and Immunology
2003- Member NIH NIAMS Council AMS 1
2004- Chair NIH Special Emphasis Panel: Elements of Innate Immunity
2006 Chair NIAMS Special Emphasis Panel: K awards
2004- Member NIH SBIR/STTR Special Emphasis Panel; NIH National Center for
Research Resources (NCRR) Special Emphasis Panel; NIH GCRC Special Emphasis Panel;
NIH Special; Emphasis Panel:Topics in Gut and Brain Innate Immunity; NIH Special Emphasis
Panel: Innate Immunity; NIH Study Section: Innate Immunity and Inflammation; NIH Special
Emphasis Panel: SLE; NIH Special Emphasis Panel: SLE; Lupus Panel; Department of
Defense; Scientific Peer Advisory and Review; NIH Special Emphasis: Immunology IRG Special
Study Section; NIH NIAMS Special Emphasis Panel: Centers for Research Translation; NIH
NIAMS Special Emphasis Panel: R03; NIH Special Emphasis Panel: CNS Injury; NIH Special
Emphasis Panel: NIAID; NIH Special Emphasis Panel: Kidney Monitoring and Therapeutics;
Wellcome Trust Clinical Infrastructure Research Grants, Clinical and Translational Science
Study Section; Executive Editor Clinical and Translational Science
2005 Co-Founder Stagemark, Inc. (became Cellatope in 2007)
Honors
1977 Phi Beta Kappa; Phi Kappa Phi
1981 The Johns Hopkins Medical Student Research Award
1983 Alpha Omega Alpha
1984 W. Barry Wood Scholarship; NIH Physician Scientist Training Award
1990 Hilda Irene Duggan Arthritis Investigator * Given annually to the highest ranked Arthritis Investigator grant proposals
1994-2000 Associate Editor, Journal of Immunology
2005 Pitt Innovator Award

2006 Pitt Innovator Award
B. Selected Publications
1. Lowell CA, Klickstein LB, Carter RH, Mitchell JA, Fearon DT, Ahearn JM. Mapping of the Epstein
Barr virus and C3dg binding sites to a common domain on complement receptor type 2. J Exp Med.
1989;170:1931-1946.
2. Tuveson DA, Ahearn JM, Matsumoto AK, Fearon DT. Molecular interactions of complement receptor
on B lymphocytes: A CR1/CR2 complex distinct from the CR2/CD19 complex. J Exp Med. 1991;173:1083-
1089.
3. Kalli KR, Ahearn JM, Fearon DT. Interaction of iC3b with recombinant isotypic and chimeric forms of
CR2. J Immunol. 1991;147:590-594.
4. Hebell T, Ahearn JM, Fearon DT. Suppression of the immune response by a soluble complement
receptor of B lymphocytes. Science. 1991;254:102-105.
5. Martin DR, Kalli KR, Yuryev A, Fearon DT, Ahearn JM. Determination of the structural basis for selective
binding of Epstein-Barr virus to human complement receptor type 2. J Exp Med. 1991;174:1299-1311.
6. Kalli KR, Hsu P, Bartow TJ, Ahearn JM, Matsumoto AK, Klickstein LB, Fearon DT. Mapping of the
C3b-binding site of CR1 and construction of a (CR1)2-F(ab)2 chimeric complement inhibitor. J Exp Med.
1991;174:1451-1460.
7. Montefiore DC, Stewart K, Ahearn JM, Zhou J, Zhou J. Complement-mediated binding of naturally
glycosylated and glycosylation-modified HIV-1 to human CR2 (CD21). J Virol. 1992;67:2699-2706.
8. Matsumoto AK, Martin DR, Carter RH, Klickstein LB, Ahearn JM, Fearon DT. Functional dissection of
the CD21/CD19/TAPA-1/Leu-13 complex of B lymphocytes. J Exp Med. 1993;178:1407-1417.
9. Martin DR, Marlow RL, Ahearn JM. Determination of the role for CD21 during Epstein-Barr virus
infection of B lymphoblastoid cells. J Virol. 1994;68:4716-4726.
10. Montefiore DC, Graham BS, Zhou JY, Zhou JT, Ahearn JM. Binding of human immunodeficiency virus
type 1 to the C3b/C4b receptor CR1 (CD35) and red blood cells in the presence of envelope-specific
antibodies and complement. J Infect Dis. 1994;170:429-432.
11. Rosen A, Casciola-Rosen L, Ahearn JM. Novel packages of viral and self antigens are generated
during apoptosis. J Exp Med. 1995;181:1557-1561.
12. Croix DA, Ahearn JM, Rosengard AM, Han S, Kelsoe G, Ma M, Carroll MC. Antibody response to a Tdependent
antigen requires B cell expression of complement receptors. J Exp Med. 1996;183:1857-1864.
13. Ahearn JM, Fischer MB, Croix DA, Goerg S, Ma M, Xia J, Zhou X, Rothstein T, Carroll MC. Disruption of
the Cr2 locus results in a reduction in B-1a cells and in an impaired B cell response to T-dependent
antigen. Immunity. 1996;4:251-262.
14. Karp CL, Wysocka M, Wahl LM, Ahearn JM, Cuomo PJ, Sherry B, Trinchieri G, Griffin DE. Inhibition
of interleukin-12 production by viral and complement ligands for CD46. Science. 1996;273:228-231.
15. Korb LC, Ahearn JM. C1q binds directly and specifically to surface blebs of apoptotic human
keratinocytes: Complement deficiency and systemic lupus erythematosus revisited. J Immunol (Cutting
Edge). 1997;158:4525-4528.
16. Navratil JS, Korb LC, Ahearn JM. Systemic lupus erythematosus and complement deficiency: Clues
to a novel role for the classical complement pathway in the maintenance of immune tolerance.
Immunopharm. 1999;42:47-52.
17. Rosengard AM, Ahearn JM. Viral complement regulatory proteins. Immunopharm. 1999;42:99-106.
18. Rosengard AM, Alonso LC, Korb LC, Baldwin MW III, Sanfilippo F, Turka LA, Ahearn JM. Functional
characterization of soluble and membrane-bound forms of vaccinia virus complement control protein
(VCP). Mol Immunol. 1999;36:684-697.
19. Johnson AA, Rosengard AM, Skjodt K, Ahearn JM, Leslie GQ. The structural basis for complement
receptor type 2 (CR2, CD21)-mediated alternative pathway activation of complement: Studies with CR2
deletion mutants and vaccinia virus complement-control protein-CR2 chimeras. Eur J Immunol.
1999;29:3837-3844.
20. Navratil JS, Ahearn JM. Apoptosis and autoimmunity: Complement deficiency and systemic lupus
erythematosus revisited. Curr Rheum Reports. 2000;2:32-38.
21. Navratil JS, Watkins SC, Wisnieski JJ, Ahearn JM. The globular heads of C1q specifically recognize
surface blebs of apoptotic vascular endothelial cells. J Immunol. 2001;166:3231-3239.
22. Navratil JS, Ahearn JM. Apoptosis, clearance mechanisms, and the development of SLE. Curr

Rheum Reports. 2001;3(3):191-198.
23. Liu C-C, Ahearn JM. Apoptosis of skeletal muscle cells and the pathogenesis of myositis: A
perspective. Curr Rheum Reports 2001;3:325-333.
24. Manzi S, Ahearn JM, Salmon J. New insights into complement: A mediator of injury and marker of
disease activity in SLE. Lupus. 2004;13:298-303.
25. Liu CC, Manzi S, Danchenko N, Ahearn JM. New advances in measurement of complement activation:
Lessons of systemic lupus erythematosus. Curr Rheumatol Rep 2004;6:375-381.
26. Liu CC, Ahearn JM, Manzi S. Complement as a source of biomarkers for SLE: Past, present and future.
Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2004;6:85-88.
27. Manzi S, Navratil JS, Ruffing MJ, Liu CC, Danchenko N, Nilson S, Krishnaswami S, King DE, Kao AH,
Ahearn JM. Measurement of erythrocyte C4d and complement receptor 1 in systemic lupus
erythematosus. Arthritis Rheum. 2004;50:3596-3604.
28. Liu CC, Navratil JS, Sabatine JM, Ahearn JM. Apoptosis, complement and systemic lupus
erythematosus: A mechanistic view. Curr Directions in Autoimmunity. 2004;7:49-86.
29. Liu CC, Ahearn JM. Acute-phase proteins and inflammation: immunological and clinical implications. In:
Lotze, MT, Thomson AW, editors. Measuring Immunity: Basic Biology and Clinical Assessment. London:
Elsevier Academic Press;2005. p.131-134.
30. Liu CC, Ahearn JM. Complement in Health and Disease. In: Lotze MT, Thomson AW, editors. Measuring
Immunity: Basic Biology and Clinical Assessment. London: Elsevier Academic Press;2005. p.144-147.
31. Liu CC, Manzi S, Kao AH, Ruffing MJ, Ahearn JM. Reticulocytes bearing C4d as biomarkers of disease
activity for systemic lupus erythematosus.Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52:3087-3099.
32. Liu CC, Manzi S, Ahearn JM. Biomarkers for systemic lupus erythematosus: a review and prospective.
Curr Opinion Rheumatol. 2005;17:543-549.
33. Liu C-C, Danchenko N, Navratil JS, Nilson SE, Manzi S, Ahearn JM. Mining the complement system
for lupus biomarkers. Clinic Appl Immunol Rev. 2005;5:185-106.
34. Navratil JS, Manzi S, Kao AH, Krishnaswami S, Liu CC, Ruffing MJ, Shaw PS, Nilson AC, Dryden ER,
Johnson JJ, Ahearn JM. Platelet C4d is highly specific for systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis
Rheum. 2006;54:670-674.
35. Calano, S, Shih Pei-an B, Liu, CC, Kao AH, Navratil JS, Manzi, S, Ahearn JM. Cell-bound complement
activation products (CB-CAPs) as a source of lupus biomarkers. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2006;586:381-90.
36. Liu CC, Ahearn JM. Complement and Systemic lupus erythematosus. In: Wallace DJ, Hahn BH, editors.
Dubois’ Lupus Erythematosus. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2006.
37. Piao W, Liu CC, Kao A, Manzi S, Vogt M, Ruffing M, Ahearn JM. Mannose-Binding Lectin is a
Disease-Modifying Factor in North American Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. J. Rheum.
2007; 34(7):1506-1513.
38. Santelices LC, Calano SJ, Erhart JC, Prantil RL, Haney JL, Vorp DA, Ahearn JM. Experimental system
for ex vivo measurement of murine aortic stiffness. Physiol Meas. 2007. 28: N39-N49.
39. Santelices LC, Calano SJ, Prantil RL, Vorp DA, Ahearn JM. Relative Contributions of Age and
Atherosclerosis to Vascular Stiffness. Clinical and Translational Science. 2008; 1(1): 62-66.
40. Mehta N, Uchino K, Fakhran S, Sattar A, Branstetter BF, Au K, Navratil JS, Paul B, Lee M, Gallagher K,
Manzi S, Ahearn JM, Kao AH. Platelet C4d is Associated with Severity of Acute Ischemic Stroke. Stroke.
2008;39: 3236-3241.
41. Manzi S and Ahearn J. The Lupus Center of Excellence: A Model for Integrated Patient Care and Clinical-
Translational Research. Clinical and Translational Science. 2008; 1(2): 96-98.
C. Research Support
Ongoing Research Support
5 R01 HL074335-05 (Ahearn) 07/01/03 – 06/30/09
NIH/NHLBI
Erythrocytes as Time Capsules of Disease Activity in SLE
The long-term goals of this proposal are to verify the hypothesis that erythrocyte-bound complement may serve
as a novel biomarker of SLE disease activity, and to investigate human C4 polymorphism and SLE.
Role: PI
Department of Defense (Tsokos) 05/31/07 - 04/30/10
W81XWH-06-2-0038

T Cell Lipid Rafts and Complement Ligands for Diagnosis and Monitoring of SLE
The major goals of this study are to: 1) characterize the phenotype and function of T cells in SLE patients
with respect to deposition of complement activation products, 2) investigate the functional consequence of
complement deposition on T cells, and 3) correlate complement deposition on T cells with SLE disease
activity.
Role: Co-Investigator
5R01 AR046588-07 (Manzi) 07/01/01 – 08/30/11
NIH/NIAMS
Progression of Cardiovascular Disease in Lupus
A longitudinal study to determine the risk factors of CVD in SLE and the role of active inflammation.
Role: Co-Investigator
U01 A1077867 (Weber) 03/01/08 – 02/28/13
NIH/NIAID/NHLBI
Alloantibodies in Cardiac Transplantation – Intervention, Outcomes, and Mechanisms
This application brings together a group of six leading heart transplant centers, and leading transplantation
scientists, to study the impact of preformed and de novo alloantibodies on pediatric heart transplant outcomes.
We will investigate the development of a non-invasive marker of humoral rejection and complement activation:
quantitative measurement of cell bound complement activation products (CB-CAP’s).
Role: Co-Investigator
1 R01 AI077591-01 (Liu)
NIH/NIAID 09/25/08 – 08/31/12
Lymphocyte-Bound Complement Activation Products: Clues to SLE Pathogenesis
The specific aims of the proposal are: 1) to characterize the CAP-bearing phenotype of T cells in SLE patients
and elucidate the mechanism(s) causing this phenotype, focusing particularly on the ALA-dependent
mechanism, 2) to characterize ALAs and identify their candidate antigen targets, 3) to investigate the impact of
ALA and T cell-bound CAPs (T-CAP) on T cell function in SLE and 4) to determine the correlation between
ALA/T-CAP levels, T cell dysfunction, and SLE disease activity.
Role: Co-Investigator
Lupus Foundation of America (Ahearn) 10/01/08 – 09/30/09
Biomarkers for Diagnosis, Monitoring and Prognosis in Pediatric SLE
In this collaborative multi-center study, we propose to conduct a longitudinal investigation of
CB-CAPs as potential biomarkers in pediatric patients with SLE.
Role: PI
Department of Defense (Ahearn) Priority 1.2, Rank #1 07/01/09-06/30/12
Molecular and Functional Characterization of the Lupus Platelet
The specific aims of the proposal are: 1) to investigate functional differences between PC4d-positive and
PC4d-negative platelets with regard to thrombogenesis and atherogenesis, 2) to investigate the functional effect
of PC4d-positive versus PC4d-negative PMP on immune cells and other cellular components of the vasculature,
and 3) to identify specific protein differences in C4d-positive platelets compared to C4d-negative platelets in
patients with SLE and in healthy controls.
Role: PI
Completed Research Support
5 R01 AR050809-05 (Ahearn) 09/30/03 – 05/31/08
NIH/NIAMS
Complement, Cardiovascular Disease, and SLE
These studies will represent the first rigorous investigation of the role of the complement system in
atherosclerosis, using SLE as a model of accelerated coronary vascular disease. Ultimately, the data
generated by the proposed studies should identify therapeutic targets in SLE and in atherosclerosis in general.
Role: PI
Alliance for Lupus Research (Ahearn) 03/01/05 – 02/28/07
Mining the Complement System for Lupus Biomarkers
The specific aims of this project are to determine the capacity of cell-bound complement activation products
(CB-CAPs) to serve as biomarkers for diagnosis and disease monitoring of systemic lupus erythematosus.
Role: PI