June 21, 2017 by Becky Freemal Treatments targeting a gene known as NLRX1 could help provide relief to the estimated 1.6 million Americans currently suffering from inflammatory bowel disease. Credit: Virginia Tech
Researchers at the Biocomplexity Institute of Virginia Tech have discovered a new therapeutic target for inflammatory bowel diseaseand it's right inside our immune cells.
The research at the Nutritional Immunology and Molecular Medicine Laboratory (NIMML), at the Biocomplexity Institute of Virginia Tech, targeted the gene known as NLRX1 as one that has potential therapeutic effects to aid in the treatment of gastrointestinal inflammation.
This investigation into how immunology and metabolism interface may hold critical answers for next generation nutritional immunology. The findings from the team's most recent research were published in the Journal of Immunology.
It's this sort of discovery that has the potential to customize healthcare for the individual, from personalized nutrition to precision medicine. The team uncovered new mechanistic insights into the role of NLRX1, targeting cellular metabolism and offering new therapeutic possibilities beyond traditional targets in autoimmune disease treatment.
"For decades, immunologists have applied reductionist approaches to studying the smallest details of the immune response without considering crucial system-wide interactions with nutrition and metabolism," said Josep Bassaganya-Riera, director of NIMML, a professor of immunology, and CEO of BioTherapeutics. "Our laboratory has built predictive computational and mathematical models and artificial intelligence pipelines capable of analyzing complex, massively interacting systems, including interactions between immunity and metabolism. This study not only elucidates novel mechanisms of immunoregulation in IBD, but it also validates transcriptomic and computational modeling studies that predicted the importance of NLRX1 in regulating gastrointestinal inflammation and its potential as a therapeutic target for infectious and immune-mediated diseases."
Due to an incomplete understanding of how NLRX1 works to decrease inflammation, scientific attempts to target this molecule as a treatment for the disease had previously stalled. The lab team's findings provide a deeper understanding of this gene's role in mucosal immunity and metabolism. This levels the playing field for both nutritional interventions that target NLRX1 and the development of NLRX1-based drugs.
"This seminal work, while impactful independently, sets the stage for the next lines of applied investigation on the role of NLRX1 in IBD," said Andrew Leber, scientific director of BioTherapeutics. "It highlights the need to understand not only the immediately relevant pathways for novel immunoregulatory genes, but their global effect on all of the cohesive metabolic and immunological processes within a cell, a goal that we will continue to pursue."
This work builds upon NIMML's successful track record in leading innovative transdisciplinary research at the interface of nutrition, immunity, and metabolism that dates back to its founding in 2002. The NIMML team has been involved in establishing spinoff companies that translate new scientific discoveries into the development of marketable products that address unmet consumer or clinical needs.
Explore further: Solving the immunity puzzle takes collaboration among different fields
More information: Andrew Leber et al. NLRX1 Regulates Effector and Metabolic Functions of CD4T Cells, The Journal of Immunology (2017). DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1601547
Studying the human immune system is like trying to work a vast, multidimensional jigsaw puzzle with pieces that are constantly changing shape. Billions of microbes interact with the host, shaping the processes that keep us ...
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers have discovered that a deficiency in a key protein that regulates immune system warning signals could be a new biomarker for colorectal cancer, the second largest cancer ...
Scientists at the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine and Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) have identified a human (host) protein that weakens the immune response to HIV and other ...
The human immune system is a double-edged sword. While it is finely adapted to fighting potentially deadly viruses, such as the H1N1 influenza, the mechanisms it uses to fight pathogens can have negative effects such ...
Building on previous work with the botanical abscisic acida, researchers in the Nutritional Immunology and Molecular Medicine Laboratory (NIMML) have discovered that abscisic acid has anti-inflammatory effects in the lungs ...
The Nutritional Immunology and Molecular Medicine Laboratory (NIMML) research team at Virginia Tech has discovered important new information on the efficacy of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in treating Crohn's disease, a ...
Scientists from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have developed an algorithm that functions like a Rosetta Stone to help decipher how the immune system recognizes and binds ...
Researchers at the Biocomplexity Institute of Virginia Tech have discovered a new therapeutic target for inflammatory bowel diseaseand it's right inside our immune cells.
A subpopulation of immune cells that normally fend off pathogens can turn against the host during certain infections, a new study publishing on June 20 in the open access journal PLOS Biology reveals.
In recent years, immunotherapy, a new form of cancer therapy that rouses the immune system to attack tumor cells, has captivated the public's imagination. When it works, the results are breathtaking. But more often than not ...
Exposure to sunlight releases a compound from the skin that can alleviate symptoms of eczema, research has found.
Racial discrimination experienced by African-American children and young adults exacerbates a type of asthma known to be resistant to standard treatment, according to a study headed by researchers at UC San Francisco.
Please sign in to add a comment. Registration is free, and takes less than a minute. Read more
The rest is here:
Researchers target gene to treat inflammatory bowel disease - Medical Xpress
- Podcast 9 Athens part 3 and news - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Podcast 10 Athens part 4 - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Podcast 11 Athens Part 5 - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Episode 12 Cardiac Nuclear Medicine in the UK - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Podcast 13 Choline PET and prostate cancer - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Episode14 ED function and Dysponea - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- ep 15 Collimator Choice and Reconstruction algorithm - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Episode 16 Dr Strauss on vulnerable plaque - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Episode17 Chemical Stress - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Episode 18 Myocardial Perfusion Imaging and Diabetes - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Episode 19 The INSPIRE trial - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- 20 Dual isotope with a difference - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Episode 21 The real effect of stress - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Episode 22 D-SPECT - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Episode 23 VQ Reprise - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Episode 24 Hepatobiliary Nuclear Medicine - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Episode 25 Sleep Apnea - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Episode 26 Imaging Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Episode 27 Cardiac Stem Cells - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Episode 28 Molly Supply - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Episode 29 Melanoma therapy interview with Dr Ekaterina Dadachova - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Episode 30 Viral Therapy - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Episode 31 breast radiotherapy using radioisotopes - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Episode 32 news from snm - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Episode 33 EBV Imaging and Therapy - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Episode 34 Dr Lele SNM India 2009 - December 14th, 2009 [December 14th, 2009]
- Episode 35 Dr Andrew Scott from the Ludwig institute - January 10th, 2010 [January 10th, 2010]
- Episode 36 CardiArc - February 25th, 2010 [February 25th, 2010]
- Episode 37 Dr Modder Radiosynoviorthesis (Radiation Synovectomy) - March 31st, 2010 [March 31st, 2010]
- Episode 38 Indian Nuclear Medicine With Dr Malhotra and Dr Krishna - May 28th, 2010 [May 28th, 2010]
- Episode 39 Prof Ora Israel The Utility of Hybrid Imaging - July 13th, 2010 [July 13th, 2010]
- Episode 40 New V/Q SPECT developments - October 11th, 2010 [October 11th, 2010]
- Episode 41 scintimun - February 14th, 2011 [February 14th, 2011]
- Episode 42 Radio-Isotope Supply into the future - March 6th, 2011 [March 6th, 2011]
- Podcast 4: DNA therapy - April 24th, 2011 [April 24th, 2011]
- Sorry about the delay a new podcast will be out soon! - April 24th, 2011 [April 24th, 2011]
- Podcast 5 Flash 3D - April 24th, 2011 [April 24th, 2011]
- Podcast 6 Affibody - April 24th, 2011 [April 24th, 2011]
- Podcast 7 EANM 2006 Athens Part 1 - April 24th, 2011 [April 24th, 2011]
- Podcast 8 Athens Part 2 - April 24th, 2011 [April 24th, 2011]
- Episode 43 Rapidscan Part 1, 720P high quality video version - May 1st, 2011 [May 1st, 2011]
- Episode 43 Rapidscan Part 1, Ipod quality video - May 1st, 2011 [May 1st, 2011]
- Episode 43 Rapidscan Part 1, Audio version - May 1st, 2011 [May 1st, 2011]
- Episode 45 Mummies with cardiovascular disease video - May 21st, 2011 [May 21st, 2011]
- Episode 45 Mummies with cardiovascular disease audio edition - May 21st, 2011 [May 21st, 2011]
- Episode 46 Dr Gordon DePuey Choosing Reconstruction clinical perspective - August 7th, 2011 [August 7th, 2011]
- Episode 46 Dr Gordon DePuey Choosing Reconstruction clinical perspective audio version - August 7th, 2011 [August 7th, 2011]
- Episode 47 Cardiac Image Fusion With Dr Kaufmann - September 18th, 2011 [September 18th, 2011]
- Episode 47 Cardiac Fusion with Dr Kaufmann video version - September 18th, 2011 [September 18th, 2011]
- Dear Steve, I am and many more like me are your one more thing. - October 9th, 2011 [October 9th, 2011]
- EPISODE 48 PET MRI camera from Siemens with Dr Georgi audio - October 23rd, 2011 [October 23rd, 2011]
- EPISODE 48 PET MRI camera from Siemens Dr Georgi video - October 23rd, 2011 [October 23rd, 2011]
- Silicon Biosystems to Present Single-Circulating Tumor Cell Molecular Characterization at the Fourth World CTC Summit - April 25th, 2012 [April 25th, 2012]
- Leukaemia cells have a remembrance of things past - April 25th, 2012 [April 25th, 2012]
- Technologist Education Requirements Can Help Cut Repeat Scans - April 25th, 2012 [April 25th, 2012]
- HKU Collaborative Research Discovers A Novel Molecular Mechanism Of A New Anti-HIV-1 Drug Candidate - April 25th, 2012 [April 25th, 2012]
- Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis and the Nephrotic Syndrome - Part 1 Clinical - Video - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- Electro-Medicine : Biological Physics - The Molecular Basis of Alzheimers Disease - Video - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- osdd heterocyclic compounds and molecular medicines - Video - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- Molecule to Medicine: The Biomarker Frontier - Video - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- Fulfilling the Promise of Molecular Medicine in a Developmental Brain Disorder - Video - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- Focus on Stefanie Dimmeler - Video - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- Dundee - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- Nanotechnology In Medicine: Huge Potential, But What Are The Risks? - May 5th, 2012 [May 5th, 2012]
- Cutting Edge Technology Coming To DMH - May 5th, 2012 [May 5th, 2012]
- This Week in Experimental and Molecular Pathology - May 5th, 2012 [May 5th, 2012]
- Researchers' discovery offers hope for cancer, heart disease miracle drugs - May 7th, 2012 [May 7th, 2012]
- Penn State student Zachary Hostetler from Garnet Valley is being honored as a student marshal - May 7th, 2012 [May 7th, 2012]
- NCKU Student Wins Prestigious Award for Anti-Cancer Research - May 10th, 2012 [May 10th, 2012]
- In-Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) Market (Clinical Chemistry, Immunoassays, Molecular Diagnostics, Hematology Analyzers ... - May 10th, 2012 [May 10th, 2012]
- Pitt team uses genomics to identify a molecular-based treatment for a viral skin cancer - May 10th, 2012 [May 10th, 2012]
- Genomics used to identify a molecular-based treatment for a viral skin cancer - May 10th, 2012 [May 10th, 2012]
- 2 molecular biologists get $500K medical prize - May 13th, 2012 [May 13th, 2012]
- 2 molecular biologists share $500K medical prize - May 13th, 2012 [May 13th, 2012]
- Lab21 Unveils New Molecular Analysis Services at Greenville Site - May 13th, 2012 [May 13th, 2012]
- 2 molecular biologists from NYC to share $500K medical prize for pioneering research on cells - May 13th, 2012 [May 13th, 2012]
- Two Molecular Biologists Get $500K Medical Prize - May 13th, 2012 [May 13th, 2012]
- Pair of molecular biologists receive Albany Medical Center Prize - May 13th, 2012 [May 13th, 2012]
- CNIO scientists successfully test the first gene therapy against aging-associated decline - May 16th, 2012 [May 16th, 2012]
- Cancer Institute of New Jersey Aims to Advance Personalized Cancer Treatments Through 'Precision Medicine' - May 16th, 2012 [May 16th, 2012]