Role of the Nuclear Growth Hormone Receptor in Cell Proliferation and Function

Funded Activity Summary

In addition to final height, growth hormone regulates many tissues in the body, and through these, regulates metabolism, body composition, vitality and aspects of ageing. However, there is some evidence that GH can also promote cancer, notably colon and blood cell cancers. Our discovery of the receptor for growth hormone in the cell nucleus, notably in many cancers, has led us to investigate the role of the nuclear GH receptor. We have found that targeting this receptor to the nucleus allows the cell to divide without the need for the normal factors which initiate cell division and survival. We have also found that a part of the GH receptor acts as a gene activator, and have identified some of the nuclear proteins which bind to the receptor and make this so. This proposal aims to establish the link between the nuclear GH receptor and cell division, both mechanistically, and in live animals. We also plan to establish if nuclear localizing the receptor artificially results in cancer formation. The outcome would provide an index of risk from current GH therapy, and could lead to a new cancer therapy.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2004

End Date: 01-01-2006

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $477,750.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Nutritional science

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

ageing | cell cycle regulation | cell proliferation | childhood growth | cytokine receptor | endocrine tumours | growth hormone | growth hormone treatment | nuclear transport | transcriptional regulation

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