Enrichment, Differentiation And Functional Analysis Of Growth Hormone Progenitor Cells From The Adult Mouse Pituitary
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$469,500.00
Summary
Many important bodily functions including growth, metabolism, onset of puberty, fertility, lactation and the ability to cope with stress are controlled by hormones secreted by the pituitary gland. Consequently, insufficient hormone production by the pituitary gland (hypopituitarism) results in life-threatening conditions which are a significant clinical problem. Growth Hormone (GH) deficiency is the most common form of pituitary hormone deficiency, affecting 1:3,500 individuals. Currently, GH de ....Many important bodily functions including growth, metabolism, onset of puberty, fertility, lactation and the ability to cope with stress are controlled by hormones secreted by the pituitary gland. Consequently, insufficient hormone production by the pituitary gland (hypopituitarism) results in life-threatening conditions which are a significant clinical problem. Growth Hormone (GH) deficiency is the most common form of pituitary hormone deficiency, affecting 1:3,500 individuals. Currently, GH deficiency is treated by daily injections of growth hormone at a cost of $30,000 to $50,000 per patient per annum. However, even with daily injections and despite the cost, it is difficult to mimic the naturally fluctuating hormone levels in the body, resulting in incomplete growth rescue. Long term injections also have severe side effects that can lead to cardiovascular problems, abnormal bone density, diabetes and cancers of various types. To overcome the disadvantages of hormone therapy we are investigating a new cell replacement therapy to treat GH deficiency. This approach requires knowledge about the mechanism by which GH-secreting cells are generated and maintained in the adult pituitary. For the first time, we have isolated a type of progenitor (unspecialised) cell from adult mouse pituitary that is capable of dividing and generating GH-secreting cells. Our current research aims to further purify these cells and to show that they are capable of secreting GH in response to biologically relevant signals. In addition, we will test whether these cells can grow and develop into functional cells when introduced into mice. In particular, we will test whether the progenitor cells can rescue dwarfism using a mouse model of GH deficiency. This pioneering study will provide the first insight into the possibility of cell therapy for the pituitary, and may ultimately lead to the development of better therapies for patients with GH deficiency.Read moreRead less
The Mechanism By Which Apical-basal Polarity Complexes Regulate The Salvador-Warts-Hippo Pathway
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$540,099.00
Summary
Cancer is a multi-hit process involving the activation of critical signaling pathways leading to increased proliferation, survival and increased invasion-metastasis. We have discovered that a neoplastic tumour suppressor gene, lgl, acts though the Salvador-Warts-Hippo (SWH) tumour suppressor pathway to inhibit cell proliferation and cell survival. Here we use the model organism, Drosophila, and mammalian epithelial cells to determine the mechanism by which Lgl activates the SWH pathway.
UNDERSTANDING THE MOLECULAR MECHANISMS CONTROLLING NUCLEOLAR SURVEILLANCE IN DISEASE
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$855,972.00
Summary
Alterations in the ability of cells to make ribosomes, the cellular factories that make protein, contribute to a range of diseases including cancer and a class of inherited disorders called ribosomopathies that are rare but largely untreatable. These changes cause disease by controlling the “nucleolar surveillance pathway” that causes cells to either stop dividing or die. Here we propose to identify new genes that regulate this pathway to identify new targets for treating these diseases.
Modulating Inflammation As A Therapy For Harlequin Ichthyosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$718,739.00
Summary
Harlequin Ichthyosis is a severe inherited skin disease caused by mutations in a protein which regulates how skin cells control their levels of lipids. Treatments for this disease are limited and do little to improve patients condition. We believe we have found a new way to treat this condition by altering tissue inflammation. This grant will undertake important experiments aimed at developing new therapies for this currently incurable disease.
Molecules and mechanisms regulating axonal degeneration and regeneration in Caenorhabditis elegans neurons. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying nerve degeneration and regeneration is essential to tackle and provide treatment for neurodegenerative diseases and injury of the nervous system. This project aims to discover, using a genetic approach and a simple animal model system, the molecules regulating these crucial biological processes.
Determining the molecular regulation of blood vessel development and angiogenesis. Abnormal blood vessel growth is associated with diseases including cancer, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and chronic inflammation. This project focuses on understanding normal blood vessel growth in order to gather clues to help discover ways of preventing abnormal blood vessel growth during disease.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE110100172
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$330,000.00
Summary
Comprehensive cell imaging facility. This facility will provide Australian biological science researchers with equipment for in-depth analyses of cell function in vitro and in vivo. It will enable innovative research targeted at important questions in fields including cancer, immunology, stem cell biology, infectious disease and tissue regeneration.
Characterisation of p14ARF intracellular trafficking pathways. Over 3500 new cases of melanoma are diagnosed in NSW each year, and one of the most important proteins involved in suppressing melanoma initiation or growth is p14ARF. This project will characterise the movement and functions of this protein with the aim of identifying novel targets for more effective drug therapies.
Controlling apoptotic cell death in health and disease. Regulating how and when cells die is crucial for the development and maintenance of a healthy body and mind. This project will investigate the proteins that are responsible for controlling cell death with the view to identifying novel ways to target these proteins for the treatment of disorders such as cancer, neurodegenerative disease and autoimmunity.
Controlling apoptotic cell death in health and disease. Regulating how and when cells die is crucial for the development and maintenance of a healthy body and mind. This project will investigate the proteins that are responsible for controlling cell death with the view to identifying novel ways to target these proteins for the treatment of disorders such as cancer, neurodegenerative disease and autoimmunity.