Lead researcher
A/Professor Robert Ramsay, A/Professor Ivan Bertoncello, Professor Evan Stanley
Institution
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Years funded
2006-2008
During a human's lifetime the intestines produce an extraordinary
number of cells. This requires almost unimaginable numbers of cell
divisions. The factors that control this process are largely unknown
despite many years of intense investigation. We have discovered that a
factor (CSF-1) long known to be important in the regulation of
phagocytic or macrophage cells also has potent activity in both the
small and large intestine.
Using genetic evidence where mice with mutations in the gene that
encodes this factor or in the gene that encodes the receptor for the
factor we have been able to gather convincing evidence that this factor
is an essential intestine growth factor. Three consequences of
disrupting the action of this factor are reduced growth of the cells in
the crypts where new cells are born, loss of intestinal structure or
architecture and finally in the small intestine, the complete absence
of Paneth cells.
These cells are now considered to be very important in the pathogenesis
or cause of disorders like inflammatory bowel disease. However, very
little about what specifically drives their production is known so the
discovery of CSF-1 as a factor involved in their genesis is very
exciting.
Finally, the type of growth signals that molecules like CSF-1 provide
cells are also those which are subverted in the process of carcer. We
are now in position to investigate this perspective of growth
signalling by CSF-1 in intestinal cells for the first time.
Studies on an essential factor for gut growth
Award / Duration
Research Grant: 2006-2008
Funding
$70,000 per annum