Research

Our goal is to understand mechanisms of resistance and discover potential molecular targets in leukemia to develop and propose novel therapies, with special interest in intercellular interactions and their role within the leukemia microenvironment.


We focus on investigation of the cytoprotective pathways, stress response and DNA repair mechanisms in order to propose and verify novel prospective targets and potential therapeutic treatments, including personalized therapies.  A high priority is to understand the intercellular cross-talk between the leukemic and surrounding cells and the role of leukemia microenvironment - bone marrow stroma or immune system cells in development of disease and resistance. 

We achieve these aims in in vitro and in vivo models by studies at the genomic, proteomic and cellular levels, together with a diverse array of techniques, ranging from biochemical and molecular biology methods to cellular biology, multicolor flow cytometry, cell sorting and microscopy techniques, including confocal, EM, SEM, CLEM to visualize cellular processes and molecules. 

Currently we investigate: 

Integrated Stress Response pathways in leukemia

Non-classical mechanisms of BRCA1/2 deficiencies in leukemia and sensitivity to personalized therapy by PARP inhibitors

The leukemia-bone marrow stroma interactions

Direct intercellular connections within leukemia microenvironment by tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) 

Leukemic extracellular vesicles and influence on immunosuppression   

Protein markers for BRCA1/2 deficiency and PARP1 inhibitors in cancer 

For details go to the Research.

Core facility service

Our mission is to provide leading edge service, expertise and instrumentation in flow cytometry for in-house and outside investigators. Our vision is to meet reserchers' specific needs by providing dedicated help with design of experiments, aquisition and data analysis.


We offer the state-of-the-art expertise in flow cytometry and sorting, with a wide range of flow cytometry techniques, hands-on service, data analysis and training.  We are also involved in the research and innovative projects, based on the high-tech flow cytometry applications. We are using modern flow cytometry applications to study different cellular processes, immune cells subsets, rare events, apoptosis, proliferation, signal transduction, ROS production and many others. One of our big expertise is cell sorting, including sorting from demanding tissues, e.g. microglia or organisms, e.g. zebrafish. Additionally we perform single-cell sorting into the 96-well plates or microscope slides. Our goal is to meet reserchers' specific needs by providing dedicated help with design of experiments, aquisition and data analysis. 

 

Lab members provide training, organize courses and workshops in basic and advanced flow cytometry techniques. Being part of the ISAC (International Society for Advancement of Cytometry) Life Education Task, we organize ISAC Warsaw Workshops. We participate in the ISAC  initiatives to provide opportunities for collaboration with expertise laboratories.

Wolczyk M, Serwa R, Kominek A, Klejman A, Milek J, Chwałek M, Turos-Korgul L, Charzyńska A, Dabrowski M, Dziembowska M, Skorski T, Piwocka K, Podszywalow-Bartnicka P. TIAR and FMRP shape pro-survival nascent proteome of leukemia cells in the bone marrow microenvironment. iScience. 2023 Mar 31;26(4):106543. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106543. PMID: 37123244; PMCID: PMC10140000. 


Swatler J, Lo Tartaro D, Borella R, Brewinska-Olchowik M, Paolini A, Neroni A, Turos-Korgul L, Wiech M, Kozlowska E, Cysewski D, Grabowska-Pyrzewicz W, Wojda U, Basak G, Argüello RJ, Cossarizza A, De Biasi S, Piwocka K. Dysfunctional subsets of CD39+ T cells, distinct from PD-1+, driven by leukemic extracellular vesicles in myeloid leukemias. Haematologica. 2023 Mar 1;108(3):909-916. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2022.281713. PMID: 36384249; PMCID: PMC9973468. 


Dudka W, Hoser G, Mondal SS, Turos-Korgul L, Swatler J, Kusio-Kobialka M, Wołczyk M, Klejman A, Brewinska-Olchowik M, Kominek A, Wiech M, Machnicki MM, Seferynska I, Stoklosa T, Piwocka K. Targeting integrated stress response with ISRIB combined with imatinib treatment attenuates RAS/RAF/MAPK and STAT5 signaling and eradicates chronic myeloid leukemia cells. BMC Cancer. 2022 Dec 2;22(1):1254. doi: 10.1186/s12885-022-10289-w. PMID: 36460969; PMCID: PMC9719211. 


For more go to Publications.

2022-2026 National Science Center (NCN) OPUS: "Verification of personalized therapeutic strategy based on Integrated Stress Response inhibition for myeloid neoplasms with PTPN11 mutations" (PI - Katarzyna Piwocka)

NCN Preludium Bis, Katarzyna Piwocka “Cell adhesion molecules as regulators of tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) formation and protein transfer in leukemia microenvironment; role in therapy resistance” (2020-2024)

National Science Center (NCN) HARMONIA 10, Paulina Podszywałow-Bartnicka „Role of RBPs in the therapy resistance of leukemia cells” (2019-2022)

National Science Center (NCN) OPUS 15 Katarzyna Piwocka „Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) within the leukemia microenvironment; influence of metabolic remodeling and implications for therapy" (2019-2022)

National Science Center (NCN) PRELUDIUM, Julian Swatler "BCR-ABL-containing leukemic extracellular vesicles as a novel, immunosuppressive factor controlling function of regulatory T cells" (2019-2022)

Foundation for Polish Science TEAM TECH Core Facility Plus/2017-2/2: "Flow-PROSPER – Flow Cytometry Protein Signature Platform for Personalised Therapies" (2018 - 2021, PI - Katarzyna Piwocka) - see Flow-PROSPER


 

NEWS

Polish researchers on the trail of "long COVID" mystery

The syndrome of prolonged symptoms that affects people who have been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus can affect up to half of all infected individuals. However, the question of what causes many of the symptoms of the post-acute COVID syndrome (PACS) remains unanswered. Dr hab. Katarzyna Piwocka, prof. of the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS in Warsaw, provides new insights on the basis of multiparameter spectral cytometry. Her research is financed from European Funds from the Intelligent Development Operational Program as part of the TEAM-TECH Core Facility program of the Foundation for Polish Science.

To access the entire article in Polish go to FNP Press Releases or click one of the links below:

Audycja Eureka PR1 Polskiego Radia 

Artykuł Nauka w Polsce: „FNP: przedłużające się skutki infekcji COVID-19 może mieć nawet połowa wszystkich zakażonych” 

Artykuł: „FNP o przedłużających się skutkach COVID-19”


SAMPLE PREPARATION FOR SORTING 

CORE FACILITY SERVICE 

FLOW CYTOMETRY APPLICATIONS 

RESERVATIONS