The role of PAC-1 in leukocyte activation and inflammatory responses

Funded Activity Summary

The MAP kinase pathway is fundamental for signalling a variety of cellular responses. This pathway is particularly important for immune responses ie. cytokine signalling, chemotaxis, and proliferation. PAC-1, a MAP kinase phosphatase, is an important regulator of this pathway. Extensive gene profiling of various immune cells using Affymetrix GeneChips identified PAC-1 as a highly regulated molecule in activated mast cells. Mast cells are important inflammatory cells, particularly for rheumatoid arthritis and asthma. We have shown that PAC-1 deficient mice are highly protected from inflammation and disease in a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis. This grant aims to extend these exciting initial findings to other inflammatory diseases, particularly asthma and type 1 Diabetes, and to establish the basis for PAC-1 inhibition of disease. This research should establish PAC-1 as a new and important target for inflammatory disease, provide understanding on inflammatory processes, and possibly lead to improved therapies for diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2004

End Date: 01-01-2006

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $465,750.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Clinical sciences not elsewhere classified

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

Animal models of disease | Asthma | Autoimmune disease | Diabetes | Inflammation | MAP kinase phosphatase | Mast cells | Rheumatoid arthritis | Signal transduction

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