Investigator Profile

Primary Affiliation:
Dr. Rupesh K. Srivastava,
Associate Professor,
Department of Biotechnology,
All India Institute of Medical Sciences,
Ansari Nagar, New Delhi-110029

Secondary Affiliation:
Shared FACS Facility
Centralized Core Research Facility (CCRF),
All India Institute of Medical Sciences,
Ansari Nagar, New Delhi-110029

Email ID: rupesh_srivastava13@yahoo.co.in, rupeshk@aiims.edu

Phone(O): +91-11-26593548

Current Research Focus:

My research focuses on the cellular and molecular interactions between the Immune and Bone systems i.e., “Osteoimmunology”, a recent branch of modern biology which specifically deals with the interplay between the immune cells and bone cells. Under physiological condition both the systems are at homeostasis but during an imbalance due to various stimuli (infection, autoimmunity, environment, ageing, hormones etc.), it leads to various inflammatory conditions such as Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis-RA & Osteoporosis (viz. post-menopausal osteoporosis-PMO). Thus, a molecular understanding of these interactions is at the heart of my research which would ultimately lead to the discovery of novel therapeutics for various inflammatory bone conditions (Figure 1). My Translational Immunology, Osteoimmunology & Immunoporosis Lab (TIOIL) at AIIMS-New Delhi, for the first time highlighted and established the specific role of immune system in the development and pathophysiology of Osteoporosis leading to establishment of a new field of biology proposed/coined by me as “Immunoporosis: The Immunology of Osteoporosis” with special emphasis on the role of both Innate and Adaptive immune system in pathophysiology of Osteoporosis (Frontiers in Immunology, 2018; PNAS-India, 2021 & J. of Inflammation Research, 2022). Moreover, we for the first time reported that reduction in Bregs number observed in osteoporotic mice model is one of the prime contributing factors towards inflammatory bone loss observed in osteoporosis (Frontiers in Immunology, 2021 & 2022). Thus our group is pioneer in establishing the pivotal role of immunoporotic “Breg-Treg-Th17” cell axis in maintaining bone health under physiological and osteoporotic conditions. Moreover, recently, our group is also focusing on dissecting the role of innate counterpart of T helper cells such as innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) in the pathophysiology of osteoporosis.

Our group is at the forefront in therapeutically managing bone loss in post-menopausal osteoporotic mice model via dietary changes (Osteonutrition-salt and sugar intake, food preservatives) (Scientific Reports, 2018) along with identifying various probiotic strains for enhancing bone health a field called as “Osteomicrobiology” (Bone Reports, 2018; Nutrition, 2018 & Scientific Reports, 2021). We have already published and established the anti-osteoporotic properties of Cissus quadrangularis (Hadjod, Cells, 2023), Moringa oleifera (Drumstick) and Crocus sativus (Saffron, Phytomedicine Plus, 2022) in mice. We are further emphasizing on the role of GUT-associated metabolites (GAMs) such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), indole derivates, bile acids, etc., in regulating the energetics of bone cells and their plausible role in maintaining bone health. Emphasis is importantly placed on highlighting knowledge gaps in this novel field of skeletal biology, i.e., “Osteometabolism” (proposed by me) (Cells, 2022) that need to be further explored to characterize the physiological importance of skeletal cell bioenergetics in the context of human health and bone related metabolic diseases. My lab in currently also focusing on dissecting the role of immune system in the development of osteoporosis as a comorbidity (Secondary Osteoporosis) in the diverse range of diseases such as type I diabetes (T1D), chronic kidney diseases (CKD), inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) etc. Another initiative from the lab is in dissecting the role of Osteoimmune system in Bone Metastasis and Osteosarcoma.

We are pioneer in dissecting the effect of various environmental pollutants (Cyanotoxins, Particulate Matter-PM etc.) on the Osteoimmune system with immense future implications in the field, a point of major concern with increase in worldwide pollution on all fronts. We for the first time have demonstrated the direct effect of MC-LR on bone health via affecting the host osteo-immune system (Environmental Pollution, 2018). Our study for the first time has established a direct link between the intake of cyanotoxin viz. MC-LR (a WHO categorized carcinogen, present in all water bodies) and enhanced bone loss thereby giving a strong impetus to the naïve field of “Osteo-toxicology”, a termed coined by my group.

Recently we are also exploring the Immunology of COVID-19 with emphasis on managing Cytokine Storm induced by COVID-19 via both Biotics and Phytotherapeutic interventions (International Reviews of Immunology, 2021 & Frontiers in Bioscience, 2021) and Uveitis (Immunology Letters, 2024). Moving ahead recently we have established the prophylactic role of LR and its associated metabolites (Butyrate) in the prevention and management of both pulmonary and extrapulmonary (Sepsis) ARDS via targeting neutrophils (Clinical Immunology, 2024). Lastly, we are further looking into the implications of long-COVID, ARDS and Sepsis on Bone Health (Inflammation Research, 2022).