Targeting heme-oxygenase-1 or downstream processes : a new therapeutic approach for treatment of inflammation.

Objective

Inflammation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of many relevant diseases with major impact on our health system such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and glaucomatous diseases, acute and chronic transplant injury. Despite the recent development of new ant-inflammatory drugs, however, the present therapeutic opportunities are not satisfactory because of their limited efficacy and numerous side effects. Recently, a novel mechanism of cytoprotection and immunomodulation by over expression of the stress protein home oxygenise-1 (HO-1) was discovered. The network labs have access to new technologies for the rational design of drugs, modification of the mouse genome, gene transfer, signal transudation and disease models that offer excellent opportunities to study the mechanisms of HO-1 over expression including its downstream processes and to develop novel therapeutic drugs for acute and chronic inflammation.

Programme(s)

• FP5-LIFE QUALITY - Specific Programme for research, technological development and demonstration on "Quality of life and management of living resources", 1998-2002

Topic(s)

• 1.1.1.-3. - Key action The "Cell factory"

Funding Scheme

Coordinator

Participants (7)