Our Research is Producing Exciting Results
normal mouse colon under the microscope
The Immunology Research Centre at St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne has developed a unique mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Dr. Greg Moore's Research Update
In previous editions of Ostomy Australia Dr. Steven Brown reported on a unique mouse model of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, (IBD). This hFUT1 transgenic mouse was created by Professor Tony d'Apice, head of the Immunology Research Centre at St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne. Through his research into these mice, Dr. Brown has been appointed as a research fellow at the prestigious Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, a world leader in IBD research. I am continuing on from his work to try to further characterize what causes IBD in these mice, and how it can help us to understand and treat human IBD. The Gutsy Group are generous and enthusiastic supporters, who help to make our research possible.
These hFUT1 mice, as they are known, have an extra gene inserted which alters the normal sugars on the surface of cells. These mice have an abnormal immune system and develop inflammation of the colon, or colitis, at a young age.
hFUT1 mouse colon showing inflammation
We have shown that fixing the immune system in these mice with a bone marrow transplant prevents colitis. Other experiments have shown that using treatments that block important signalling molecules in the immune system can also treat disease. Recent work has focussed on which particular cells of the immune system are critically absent and we have managed to cure disease by giving these mice specific immune cells that regulate the function of the other cells. If kept in a germ free environment, these mice do not develop colitis.
This would suggest that in these mice, as is suspected in humans, there is an inability to shut off the immune response to the normal bacteria in the intestines that leads to the ongoing inflammation that characterises IBD. We are now looking at ways to restore the function of the regulating immune cells in the mice and to see if there are abnormalities in the same cells of patients with IBD.
We are also looking at new treatments that can alter the bacteria in the bowel and new anti-inflammatory agents. Hopefully these exciting results will in the future lead to new therapies for patients with IBD.
Our Experimental Model of Colitis is Unique
So, in summary, our experimental model of colitis is unique, and suggests a new mechanism by which IBD may result from sugar-related changes in the immune system. We have presented this data at national and international gastroenterology conferences, and one of our papers has been recently accepted by the American Inflammatory Bowel Disease Journal. With more resources, we could move much faster towards finding a cure. Our urgent objective is to ensure the continuation of our recurrent research project, and to enlarge the research effort.
RESEARCH GRANTS AWARDED 2000-2007 | ||
Research Project | Total Payments | Payments 2007 |
St Vincent’s Hospital Immunology Centre Mouse Model | 110,000.00 | 26,000.00 |
Health Ecomonics Group Cost of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Australia | 14,750.00 |
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*Geelong IBD Incidence Study | 40,000.00 | 20,000.00 |
* This study is jointly funded by the Bennelong Foundation which is providing $20,000.00 p.a. for 2 years. | ||