RESEARCH AREA F
IRN Cytokine Signaling via gp130
The scientific goal is to study the biology of gp130 cytokines, to define the role of these cytokines in inflammatory states and to develop molecules to inhibit gp130 signaling. Chronic inflammatory diseases are driven by dysregulated cytokine networks. The interruption of selected cytokine responses results in disease remission. The gp130 cytokines are centrally involved in chronic inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis and peritonitis, and in colon cancer. Trans-signaling, which is the activation of membrane-bound gp130 through a soluble IL-6/IL-6 receptor complex, can be specifically inhibited without affecting classic IL-6 signaling, which is needed for the innate immune response.
Five independent young scientists and group leaders will analyze the pathophysiologic role of gp130 cytokines in model systems and in patients with inflammatory diseases and cancer, using the interdisciplinary scientific Research Areas A-E. The integrative research network aims to gain structural insights into the molecular mechanisms by which cytokines stimulate target cells, leading to new generations of inhibitors of trans-signaling to be evaluated in proofof-concept clinical studies.
Spotlight on facilities: A 600MHz NMR-spectrometer at the University of Kiel and a 600MHz NMR-spectrometer at the FzB for structural analysis of proteins. A Mass Spectrometer (MALDI TOF/TOF Proteomics Analyzer 4700, AppliedBiosystems) has been installed at the University of Kiel. A Circular Dichroism Spectrometer is in use at the Biochemistry Department of the University of Kiel. Animal facilities at the University of Kiel and at the UKSH. An Infection animal facility of the safety level 3 is installed at the FzB.
Participating institutions: Universities Kiel (Biology, Medicine) and Lübeck (TNF, Medicine), the FzB and the CONARIS Research Institute AG, Kiel
Spotlight on people: two young professors and several junior research groups through cluster funding
Coordinator:
Stefan Rose-John, University Kiel
Phone: +49 431 8803336 (8802018 secretary), E-Mail: Stefan Rose-John
Junior Research Group I-f: Chlamydial-host interactive proteins (Chip)
Protein-protein interactions are the source of inflammatory cell activation and sequelae in intracellular bacterial infections. To identify interactive proteins at the interface between host cell and pathogen on the inclusion membrane of intracellular chlamydiae, will allow us to define novel drug targets.
Coordinator:
Jan Rupp, (Medical Microbiology), University Lübeck
Phone: +49 451 5004409, E-Mail: Jan Rupp
