Genetics of autoimmune gastritis

Funded Activity Summary

Autoimmune diseases are those caused by the body's immune system attacking the body's own tissues. One group of autoimmune diseases, termed the thyrogastric cluster appear to share genetic risk factors, because they tend to occur together - either in the same patient, or else in families. Some of the diseases within the thyrogastric cluster are known to be very complex genetically, while others appear to be much less complex. Furthermore, some animal models of autoimmune diease are genetically simpler still. We have chosen to study the genetics of gastritis in mice that have had their thymuses removed on the third day of life, because this model has relatively few genes involved; we have found that only 4 genes affect the risk of disease. This means that it will give us the optimum chance of identfiying at least one of these genes. The methods used involve both selective breeding techniques and generating special gene transfer mice in which individuals from one strain will carry the inserted genes from another. In this way, we can identify exactly which genes affect the risk of disease. Once identified, the gene sequences will help us determine if the same gene plays a role in human disease, and if so, to develop new diagnostic tests and therapies.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2005

End Date: 01-01-2007

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $288,000.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Immunogenetics (incl. Genetic Immunology)

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

Inherited disease | autoimmune disease | autoimmune gastritis | autoimmunity | cellular immunity | cellular immunology | gastritis | genetic susceptibility | immunogenetics | mouse genetics

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