Mechanisms Of Action Of The Trefoil Peptides In Promoting Healing In Models Of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,270.00
Summary
Preliminary experiments from our laboratory have shown that members of a family of small proteins called trefoil peptides, found naturally in the stomach, intestine and colon, are able to shorten the healing time of ulcers and reduce inflammation, in an animal model of inflammatory bowel disease. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis together make up the human inflammatory bowel diseases, or IBD for short. They afflict many members of the community, are debilitating, expensive to treat, and cur ....Preliminary experiments from our laboratory have shown that members of a family of small proteins called trefoil peptides, found naturally in the stomach, intestine and colon, are able to shorten the healing time of ulcers and reduce inflammation, in an animal model of inflammatory bowel disease. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis together make up the human inflammatory bowel diseases, or IBD for short. They afflict many members of the community, are debilitating, expensive to treat, and current treatments like corticosteroids and suppressors of the immune system have unpleasant and health-threatening side effects. There are therefore good reasons for the development of new forms of therapy which will be better tolerated and which are specific in their actions. We believe that the trefoil peptides may be good candidates on which new treatments for inflammatory disease might be based. The studies outlined in this proposal will test the best route of administration, and how often to give trefoil peptides in order to relieve the symptoms of experimental IBD. In addition the effectiveness of the trefoils will be compared to other agents currently used in IBD treatment, or which are known to relieve inflammation or speed the healing of the ulcerated colon. We will also carry out experiments designed to work out the mechanisms by which the trefoils' healing effects are mediated, and finally we will characterise a new member of the trefoil peptide family which we have recently discovered.Read moreRead less
Physiology And Pathology Of Novel Forms Of Progastrin
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$589,175.00
Summary
Gastrin is a stomach hormone which increases acid secretion and the growth of the stomach and bowel. This growth promoting effect may be involved in a number of cancers especially colon cancer. The different types of gastrins have different effects but we do not know which forms are important and whether all are active. The types and activity of the different gastrins will be investigated using cell lines, animal models and colon cancer patients with the view of establishing new treatments.
Bombesin Like Peptides As Autocrine Growth Factors In Colorectal Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$406,980.00
Summary
Colorectal carcinoma (cancer of the large bowel) is the second most common cause of cancer death. Colorectal carcinomas in common with other cancer types such as cancer of the prostate and lung often produce its own growth factors and receptors. Activation of the receptor by the growth factor further stimulates the tumour's growth and spread throughout the body. The objective of this project is to determine the potential roles of a growth factor termed Bombesin Like Peptide. This peptide, now kn ....Colorectal carcinoma (cancer of the large bowel) is the second most common cause of cancer death. Colorectal carcinomas in common with other cancer types such as cancer of the prostate and lung often produce its own growth factors and receptors. Activation of the receptor by the growth factor further stimulates the tumour's growth and spread throughout the body. The objective of this project is to determine the potential roles of a growth factor termed Bombesin Like Peptide. This peptide, now known as GRP in mammalian systems, is an established growth factor in certain lung cancers but little is known about its role in tumours of the large bowel. We will study the expression and production of GRP and its receptors at the gene and protein level, the ability of GRP to stimulate growth, the chemical structures of GRP, and the potential of antagonists of GRP to modulate growth. Studies will be performed in patients with bowel cancer, in animal models of bowel cancer, and with bowel tumours removed from patients and bowel cancer cell lines. A successful outcome will result in the development of assays for the early diagnosis and monitoring of bowel cancer and the potential for novel treatments such as GRP receptor antagonists and radiolabelled GRP analogues for radiotherapy.Read moreRead less
Novel Applications Of Ghrelin Peptides In Mouse Models Of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$243,116.00
Summary
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a debilitating, chronic condition that often affects patients in the primes of their lives. A limited number of treatments are currently available for these patients and those that are available often have serious side effects, including growth restriction in children. Ghrelin is a natural hormone that has been shown to suppress many features of IBD. This project will investigate the potential of ghrelin as a new treatment for inflammatory bowel disease.