This week we profile a recent publication in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology from
Dr. Laura Sly (back row, middle) at BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute.
Can you provide a brief overview of your lab’s current research focus?
Our laboratory is interested in providing molecular insights into the cause(s) and pathogenesis of intestinal inflammation in people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and identifying and validating novel therapeutic strategies and targets to treat people with IBD.
What is the significance of the findings in this publication?
A MALT1 deficiency was identified as a cause of a primary immune deficiency accompanied by severe gastrointestinal inflammation in a child treated at BC Children’s Hospital. In this study, we determined the role of Malt1 in macrophage-mediated inflammation in vitro and in vivo in a mouse model of induced intestinal inflammation.
What are the next steps for this research?
In our next steps, we will determine whether Malt1 mRNA, protein, and activity are down-regulated in people with IBD and whether this correlates with increased IL-1beta production by macrophages as it did in vitro and in our animal model. It is exciting to note, that there are already drugs on the market that can target IL-1beta production (Canakinumab) or signaling (Anakinra), which could be rapidly translated into effective new therapies for people with IBD.
This research was funded by:
This work was funded by an operating grant to LMS from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR; MOP-133607).
