Discovery of gene will likely lead to new treatments for inflammatory diseases, cancer

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Public release date: 28-Mar-2005[

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| Close Window ]Contact: Mari Megiasmegias@...617-638-5147Boston University

Discovery of gene will likely lead to new treatments for inflammatory diseases, cancer

(Boston) -- In a paper featured today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS), researchers from Boston University School of Dental Medicine report the discovery of a new gene, STAT6(, that helps regulate production of the potentially deadly tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) cytokine. TNF-alpha is involved in inflammatory disorders such as Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and irritable bowel syndrome. The paper is the first by a dental school researcher to be chosen as a featured article in PNAS. The new gene also regulates vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which is responsible for new blood vessels. Blocking excess amounts of VEGF has already led to the cancer therapeutic Avastin; STAT6( works through a different mechanism and thus will offer new opportunities for treating cancer. The researchers are publishing this finding in a separate paper. STAT6(, which is similar to the previously known STAT6 gene, works closely with a gene known as LITAF, discovered by the same Boston University researchers in 1999. The STAT6( and LITAF proteins (which are coded for by their respective genes) bind to form a complex that moves into the cell's nucleus to regulate the transcription of cytokines. The recent Boston University findings will offer new ways to regulate TNF-alpha, whose overexpression causes inflammatory and immunological problems. Drugs regulating TNF-alpha such as Remicade, Embrel, and Humira are a multibillion dollar market. "Because STAT6( and LITAF affect TNF-alpha through a different pathway, we expect to develop more efficient therapeutics to help people with rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and inflammatory bowel syndrome," says Boston University School of Dental Medicine Professor Salomon Amar, the leading author of the paper. The Boston University researchers are now working on animal models to control LITAF and thus TNF-alpha overproduction in inflammatory syndromes.

http://www2.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-03/bu-dog032805.php

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[Guest guest]

AND THEN THEY WILL MAKE ANOTHER NEW DRUG THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD. ( ...... i know

they have to make money. but there is people out there who don't have insurrance

and can't afford it. i know if i didn't have ins. there would be no way i could

afford $3666 for 3 mos. suppy of enbrel. and it's sad that there's people out

there that can't afford it. if it wasn't for enbrel i would most lilkely be in a

wheelchair by now. mike

a <a54@...> wrote:Discovery of gene will likely lead to new

treatments for inflammatory

diseases, cancer

(Boston) -- In a paper featured today in Proceedings of the National

Academy of Science (PNAS), researchers from Boston University School of

Dental Medicine report the discovery of a new gene, STAT6(, that

helps regulate production of the potentially deadly tumor necrosis

factor alpha (TNF-alpha) cytokine. TNF-alpha is involved in

inflammatory disorders such as Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis,

and irritable bowel syndrome. The paper is the first by a dental school

researcher to be chosen as a featured article in PNAS.

The new gene also regulates vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF),

which is responsible for new blood vessels. Blocking excess amounts of

VEGF has already led to the cancer therapeutic Avastin; STAT6( works

through a different mechanism and thus will offer new opportunities for

treating cancer. The researchers are publishing this finding in a

separate paper.

STAT6(, which is similar to the previously known STAT6 gene, works

closely with a gene known as LITAF, discovered by the same Boston

University researchers in 1999. The STAT6( and LITAF proteins (which

are coded for by their respective genes) bind to form a complex that

moves into the cell's nucleus to regulate the transcription of

cytokines. The recent Boston University findings will offer new ways to

regulate TNF-alpha, whose overexpression causes inflammatory and

immunological problems.

Drugs regulating TNF-alpha such as Remicade, Embrel, and Humira are a

multibillion dollar market. " Because STAT6( and LITAF affect

TNF-alpha through a different pathway, we expect to develop more

efficient therapeutics to help people with rheumatoid arthritis,

Crohn's disease, and inflammatory bowel syndrome, " says Boston

University School of Dental Medicine Professor Salomon Amar, the

leading author of the paper.

The Boston University researchers are now working on animal models to

control LITAF and thus TNF-alpha overproduction in inflammatory

syndromes.

###

The paper, " LPS induces the interaction of a transcription factor,

LPS-induced TNF-{alpha} factor, and STAT6( with effects on multiple

cytokines, " by Xiaoren Tang, Deborah Levy Marciano, E. Leeman,

and Salomon Amar, may be found at

http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/0501159102v1?etoc

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-03/bu-dog032805.php

a

[Guest guest]

AND THEN THEY WILL MAKE ANOTHER NEW DRUG THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD. ( ...... i know

they have to make money. but there is people out there who don't have insurrance

and can't afford it. i know if i didn't have ins. there would be no way i could

afford $3666 for 3 mos. suppy of enbrel. and it's sad that there's people out

there that can't afford it. if it wasn't for enbrel i would most lilkely be in a

wheelchair by now. mike

a <a54@...> wrote:Discovery of gene will likely lead to new

treatments for inflammatory

diseases, cancer

(Boston) -- In a paper featured today in Proceedings of the National

Academy of Science (PNAS), researchers from Boston University School of

Dental Medicine report the discovery of a new gene, STAT6(, that

helps regulate production of the potentially deadly tumor necrosis

factor alpha (TNF-alpha) cytokine. TNF-alpha is involved in

inflammatory disorders such as Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis,

and irritable bowel syndrome. The paper is the first by a dental school

researcher to be chosen as a featured article in PNAS.

The new gene also regulates vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF),

which is responsible for new blood vessels. Blocking excess amounts of

VEGF has already led to the cancer therapeutic Avastin; STAT6( works

through a different mechanism and thus will offer new opportunities for

treating cancer. The researchers are publishing this finding in a

separate paper.

STAT6(, which is similar to the previously known STAT6 gene, works

closely with a gene known as LITAF, discovered by the same Boston

University researchers in 1999. The STAT6( and LITAF proteins (which

are coded for by their respective genes) bind to form a complex that

moves into the cell's nucleus to regulate the transcription of

cytokines. The recent Boston University findings will offer new ways to

regulate TNF-alpha, whose overexpression causes inflammatory and

immunological problems.

Drugs regulating TNF-alpha such as Remicade, Embrel, and Humira are a

multibillion dollar market. " Because STAT6( and LITAF affect

TNF-alpha through a different pathway, we expect to develop more

efficient therapeutics to help people with rheumatoid arthritis,

Crohn's disease, and inflammatory bowel syndrome, " says Boston

University School of Dental Medicine Professor Salomon Amar, the

leading author of the paper.

The Boston University researchers are now working on animal models to

control LITAF and thus TNF-alpha overproduction in inflammatory

syndromes.

###

The paper, " LPS induces the interaction of a transcription factor,

LPS-induced TNF-{alpha} factor, and STAT6( with effects on multiple

cytokines, " by Xiaoren Tang, Deborah Levy Marciano, E. Leeman,

and Salomon Amar, may be found at

http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/0501159102v1?etoc

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-03/bu-dog032805.php

a

[Guest guest]

----- Original Message -----

From: mike nelson

> AND THEN THEY WILL MAKE ANOTHER NEW DRUG THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD. ( ...... i

know they have to make money. but there is people out there who don't have

insurrance and can't afford it. i know if i didn't have ins. there would be no

way i could afford $3666 for 3 mos. suppy of enbrel. and it's sad that there's

people out there that can't afford it. if it wasn't for enbrel i would most

lilkely be in a wheelchair by now. mike

You know what the drug companies say ... the first pill costs $4million. The

rest are 49 cents.

Nina

[Guest guest]

----- Original Message -----

From: mike nelson

> AND THEN THEY WILL MAKE ANOTHER NEW DRUG THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD. ( ...... i

know they have to make money. but there is people out there who don't have

insurrance and can't afford it. i know if i didn't have ins. there would be no

way i could afford $3666 for 3 mos. suppy of enbrel. and it's sad that there's

people out there that can't afford it. if it wasn't for enbrel i would most

lilkely be in a wheelchair by now. mike

You know what the drug companies say ... the first pill costs $4million. The

rest are 49 cents.

Nina