Understanding The Pharmacology Of G-CSF For Treating Myocardial Infarction
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$429,393.00
Summary
Heart attacks remain the most common cause of heart failure. Unlike many other tissues the heart is unable to repair itself. Recently it has been recognised that bone marrow cells promote to a small degree repair. Our research confirms these findings and indicates that these can be affected by substances that increase the circulating bone marrow cell numbers. This project will explore how bone marrow cells improve repair and ways to further improve efficacy.
Hematopoietic Cytokines For The Repair Of Myocardial Infarction
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$334,375.00
Summary
Heart attacks remain one of the most common causes of heart failure. Unlike many other tissues such as the skin or bone marrow, the heart is unable to repair itself following a heart attack. Recently it has been recognised that bone marrow cells can to a small degree repair the heart. How this is done is not known but it may be due to the formation of new blood vessels and perhaps new heart muscle. Unfortunately, the repair by bone marrow cells is not very efficient. One way of improving the eff ....Heart attacks remain one of the most common causes of heart failure. Unlike many other tissues such as the skin or bone marrow, the heart is unable to repair itself following a heart attack. Recently it has been recognised that bone marrow cells can to a small degree repair the heart. How this is done is not known but it may be due to the formation of new blood vessels and perhaps new heart muscle. Unfortunately, the repair by bone marrow cells is not very efficient. One way of improving the efficiency of heart repair by bone marrow cells is to give people bone marrow growth factors that increase the number of bone marrow cells in the blood and thus, increase the number at the site of heart injury. Our preliminary research shows that this is the case although the efficiency of repair is still not enough as a useful therapy. This project will examine how bone marrow growth factors improve heart repair following heart attacks and explore ways of improving the efficiency of repair to permit trials in humans.Read moreRead less
Molecular Cloning And Expression Of Cytokine Genes Related To Induction Of Allograft Transplantation Tolerance In Rats
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$212,371.00
Summary
Cytokines are soluble proteins produced by leucocytes, and in many cases other cell types, which act as chemical communicators between cells, but not as effector molecules in their own right. Most of the cytokines are growth or differentiation factors and they generally act on cells within the haematopoietic system. In this grant application we will focus on the production of cytokines and antibodies to these cytokines, that are likely to be important in organ transplantation tolerance or organ ....Cytokines are soluble proteins produced by leucocytes, and in many cases other cell types, which act as chemical communicators between cells, but not as effector molecules in their own right. Most of the cytokines are growth or differentiation factors and they generally act on cells within the haematopoietic system. In this grant application we will focus on the production of cytokines and antibodies to these cytokines, that are likely to be important in organ transplantation tolerance or organ rejection. We would like to synthesize these cytokines using molecular biological techniques. These biological materials will be used to treat animals and study their biological effect on transplanted graft survival. If the cytokine treatment does prolong graft survival, what is the mechanisms involved in the immune responses will be further studied. Our aim is to develop strategies that couold be applied to help pateints with organ transplants and receive most specific therapies.Read moreRead less
Unraveling IL-1F7: A Neglected IL-1 Family Member With Big-Stage Potential
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$349,590.00
Summary
Cytokines are messenger proteins used by most cells of the body. Since their role as master regulators of many biological processes was discovered, cytokines have enjoyed the limelight of biomedical research. Anti-inflammatory cytokines are particularly coveted as they could replace side effect-prone anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin. We identified an anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-1F7) and revealed its protective activity in common, severe diseases like myocardial infarction. We will now exp ....Cytokines are messenger proteins used by most cells of the body. Since their role as master regulators of many biological processes was discovered, cytokines have enjoyed the limelight of biomedical research. Anti-inflammatory cytokines are particularly coveted as they could replace side effect-prone anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin. We identified an anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-1F7) and revealed its protective activity in common, severe diseases like myocardial infarction. We will now explore how IL-1F7 exerts is protective properties.Read moreRead less
Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF): Pathological And Therapeutic Significance In Post- Infarct Inflammation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$547,577.00
Summary
Ischemic heart injury mediated by the inflammatory response has a significant impact on the prognosis. MIF is a central factor mediating and amplifying the inflammatory response but its role in heart disease remains largely untested. This project will study, for the first time, the crucial role of MIF in ischemic heart disease and will establish important experimental evidence for developing new anti-inflammation therapeutic strategies against ischemic heart injury.
Structural Studies On Cell Signalling Via The LIF Receptor And Gp130
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$453,943.00
Summary
The cytokines play important roles in the immune system during blood cell development and inflammation, and in nerve growth, bone remodeling, reproduction and heart development. Cell responses are initiated by a cytokine bringing together on the cell surface a receptor complex made up of multiple molecules. This project will investigate the atomic structure of the cell surface macromolecular complex, and hence the underlying mechanism by which cytokine signals are initiated.
Regulation Of Innate Immunity And Tumour Progression By Activating Transcription Factor 3
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$473,469.00
Summary
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an essential role in innate immune responses and are involved in initiating tumourigenesis via inflammatory pathways. We have shown that the transcription factor ATF3 is a negative regulator of TLR signalling. We will study how modulation of the activity of ATF3 affects the inflammatory response and tumour progression. This will provide a molecular basis on which to design therapeutic reagents for the treatment of cancer.