Treating and preventing painful fractures could be improved by strengthening cortical bone – the hard outer shell of all bones in the skeleton. We don’t know how cortical bone forms, but if we did, we could improve its strength. We have found that a brain-like network of cells inside the skeleton, called osteocytes, use a specific signal, called SOCS3, to make strong cortical bone. This study will find out how SOCS3 works and find new ways to make cortical bone strong and healthy.
IL21, B-cell Proliferation And The Mechanism Of Memory Formation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$981,896.00
Summary
Our immune system can ‘remember’ old infections, which is why we do not suffer from the same pathogen multiple times and why vaccines work. Much of this protection is due to memory B-cells, of which there are different kinds. We think the different memory B-cell subsets have different functions and understanding how they are made and how this is controlled will help us improve responses to critical infections – HIV, Flu – and in critical patient groups – aged people and transplant recipients.
We have identified a microRNA (miRNA) which can elicit the functional outcome of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. miRNAs constitute a novel mechanism used by cells to regulate gene expression and have shown much promise as a therapeutic tool. Our finding suggests that modulation of miRNAs through the use of miRNA mimics or antisense technology may serve as an alternative and/or synergistic approach for the use of IL-10 as therapy in chronic inflammation.
Dissecting Apoptosis And IL-15 Dependent Homeostasis Pathways Of Natural Killer (NK) Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$423,809.00
Summary
We will investigate how the cytokine IL-15 regulates the homeostasis of natural killer (NK) cells. NK cells are critical for immune responses against invading viruses or bacteria or upon detection of transformed cells. NK cells are primed to attack infected or transformed cells and are rapidly activated by direct interaction or by soluble signals. Knowledge of how NK cells development and how their numbers and function are controlled is paramount to understanding infectious disease immunology an ....We will investigate how the cytokine IL-15 regulates the homeostasis of natural killer (NK) cells. NK cells are critical for immune responses against invading viruses or bacteria or upon detection of transformed cells. NK cells are primed to attack infected or transformed cells and are rapidly activated by direct interaction or by soluble signals. Knowledge of how NK cells development and how their numbers and function are controlled is paramount to understanding infectious disease immunology and developing better immuno-therapies.Read moreRead less
Interleukin-1β Biology: Mechanisms Of Regulation, Activation And Secretion
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$641,979.00
Summary
The protein called intelreukin-1 (IL-1) is required to fight off invading pathogens but more recently has been implicated as contributing to diverse diseases characterised by excessive inflammation, such as arthritis, gout, atherosclerosis and even cancer. This project aims to understand how IL-1 is made within cells and then activated to cause inflammation, which will enable these processes to be therapeutically targeted.
Chemokine Receptors And The Control Of Th17-mediated Inflammation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$801,229.00
Summary
Controlling persistent inflammation in autoimmune diseases is a major challenge and current therapeutics have significant side effects. Thus, novel targets must be identified. We have discovered a previously unknown level of control of autoimmune inflammation that may represent a more specific and effective means of controlling ongoing inflammation in these diseases.
During injury or infection, our body’s immune system protects us by launching inflammation. But uncontrolled inflammation drives common diseases such as cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer’s. This project will reveal how the body produces interleukin-1? – a protein at the heart of inflammation and disease – so we can design better strategies for treating patients with inflammation-driven disease.
Development Of An Interleukin-11 Signalling Antagonist
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$625,830.00
Summary
Interleukin (IL)-11 is a soluble signalling molecule that is associated with many types of cancer. We have recently discovered that IL-11 signalling is a novel and tractable therapeutic target for the treatment of colon cancer. The aims of this proposal are to understand the structural details of IL-11 signalling. We will use this information to develop new and improved therapeutics for colon cancer.
Targeting Translational Control By Modulating MiRNA Function As A Novel Way To Treat Respiratory Infections And Inflammatory Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$700,623.00
Summary
Among the major health issues of today is our inability to effectively treat bacterial infections and the emergence of antibiotic resistant microbes. MicroRNA are small molecules that control the levels of proteins in immune cells that fight infections. In this project we will determine if inhibiting miRNA function in the lung enhances defence against microbial invasion and is a new therapeutic approach to treat infection driven diseases of the airways such asthma and emphysema.
The Regulation And Function Of Strawberry Notch In Neuroinflammation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$733,598.00
Summary
Inflammation is a response to injury and infection that may cause significant damage to the brain. This project will study the regulation and function of a novel gene called strawberry notch that we have identified is a major target of the protein IL-6 which is a central mediator of inflammation in the brain. The findings will advance our understanding of the function of Sbno2 in the context of the actions of IL-6 and will provide crucial new mechanistic insights into a cause of neurological dis ....Inflammation is a response to injury and infection that may cause significant damage to the brain. This project will study the regulation and function of a novel gene called strawberry notch that we have identified is a major target of the protein IL-6 which is a central mediator of inflammation in the brain. The findings will advance our understanding of the function of Sbno2 in the context of the actions of IL-6 and will provide crucial new mechanistic insights into a cause of neurological disease.Read moreRead less