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Mechanisms Underlying The Effects Of Retinoic Acid Receptor Gamma In Haemopoiesis And Bone Homeostasis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$366,801.00
Summary
My recent studies have demonstrated that a model of vitamin A deficiency results in impaired blood cell production and contributes to a blood cell disorder that can progress to leukaemia. There are also reduced numbers of blood stem cells (which give rise to all blood cells) and bone (which helps to regulate blood cell production) in this mouse model. In these studies I seek to understand more on how vitamin A deficiency causes these defects, which may lead to better treatment of such diseases.
The Roles Of Retinoic Acid Receptors In Regulating Haemopoiesis And Bone
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$601,484.00
Summary
My research has shown that vitamin A is very important to the normal function of blood and bone cells. I will further explore the uses of vitamin A products to improve the treatment of patients with a range of different blood and bone diseases. These studies may lead to better treatments of patients with a wide range of blood cell diseases. It may also reveal better treatments for patients with bone diseases such as cancer and osteoporosis.
Colon cancer causes about 4,000 deaths per year in Australia. A better understanding of the biology of colon cancer will lead to new therapeutics that will aim to overcome the treatment resistance. This project is focused on understanding how a novel protein SLIRP regulates colon cancer growth, and will investigate the mechanisms for its protective effects on the disease. If successful, these studies could provide the foundation for targeting SLIRP for therapeutics.
The Sertoli Cell: Master Regulator Of Hormone-induced Spermatogenic Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$563,536.00
Summary
This project will determine the key roles of major hormones (testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, Vitamin A) in Sertoli cells, unique highly specialised cells found in the testis that provide essential nutritional and structural support for sperm production. This research will provide new understanding of the biological pathways controlling sperm development, leading to new molecular targets for infertility or cancer treatment or diagnosis, or new contraceptive strategies for men.
The Roles Of Retinoids And Their Receptors In Haemopoiesis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$474,750.00
Summary
Haemopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are the most widely studied adult somatic stem cell. HSCs have huge potential, sustaining blood cell production throughout an individual's life. Cancers (leukaemias) and other disorders of the blood are largely treated by transplantation of HSCs. However, due to their rare occurrence, it is often difficult to obtain large numbers of HSCs for transplantation, especially from sources of HSCs such as cord blood. Furthermore, protocols requiring manipulation of HSCs, s ....Haemopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are the most widely studied adult somatic stem cell. HSCs have huge potential, sustaining blood cell production throughout an individual's life. Cancers (leukaemias) and other disorders of the blood are largely treated by transplantation of HSCs. However, due to their rare occurrence, it is often difficult to obtain large numbers of HSCs for transplantation, especially from sources of HSCs such as cord blood. Furthermore, protocols requiring manipulation of HSCs, such as gene therapy, have been largely unsuccessful, in part due to the lack of success in growing HSCs outside of the body. In such situations, therefore, determining culture conditions that would enable us to grow HSCs outside of the body are highly desirable. This application is based on the studies of CIA, who recently made the novel discoveries that the vitamin A derivative, all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) has different effects in the regulation of blood cell production. ATRA is currently used in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukaemia, as it enhances the maturation of the leukaemic cells. CIA has demonstrated that ATRA has the opposite effect on HSCs, with recent data strongly suggesting that ATRA induces the expansion of HSCs outside of the body. The studies outlined in this proposal seek to further define the mechanisms involved in these effects of ATRA and other vitamin A derivatives (collectively termed retinoids) in the regulation of blood cell production. The first specific aim will determine how retinoids expand HSCs. The second specific aim will explore the roles of the different RARs in the regulation of blood cell production. These studies have direct clinical relevance in improving protocols for transplantation and gene therapy of HSCs. Furthermore, insight gained into the roles of retinoids in blood cell production may also lead to the improvement of treatments of various types of blood disorders.Read moreRead less
Differentiation Therapy Of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia: Combining RAR-agonists And G-CSF.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$449,500.00
Summary
The application of cancer treatments that target specific molecules hold significant promise. However to apply these treatments detailed knowledge is required of the how the molecular targets function in cells. Our previous work using normal blood cells has identified two genes ( MAD1 and p27KIP1 ) that are required for the effects of one such targeted treatment that is aimed at the retinoic acid receptor alpha. We propose to test this treatment in mouse models of human leukaemia and in human le ....The application of cancer treatments that target specific molecules hold significant promise. However to apply these treatments detailed knowledge is required of the how the molecular targets function in cells. Our previous work using normal blood cells has identified two genes ( MAD1 and p27KIP1 ) that are required for the effects of one such targeted treatment that is aimed at the retinoic acid receptor alpha. We propose to test this treatment in mouse models of human leukaemia and in human leukemia cells grown in the laboratory. By deleting the genes for MAD1 and p27KIP1 we will determine if leukaemias lacking these genes fail to respond to treatments targeting the retinoic acid receptor alpha. We will also test if treatments that target retinoic acid receptors in combination with G-CSF, a protein that has previously been demonstrated to have anti-leukaemic activity, can work together to block growth of leukaemic and genetically modified cells. Together these studies will help define classes of leukamias that either will or will not respond to treatments aimed at retinoic acid receptor to better target future leukemia treatments.Read moreRead less