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Controlling the level of calcium in the cell is crucial for many physiological Finding Will Lead to Targeted Therapies for Heart Disease and Brain Disorders A groundbreaking discovery by Dr. Mitsu Ikura and PhD of calcium in our cells. Says Dr. Ikura,“This is a big step towards understanding how the calcium level in the cell is controlled so precisely. IP3R functions in the brain and the RyR functions in the heart, this information could be used to develop drugs for heart problems and brain functions including candidate Ivan Bosanac will lead to the development of The structure of this part of the IP3R is the same in the disorders in the future.” Mol Cell. 2005 Jan 21; the regulation of our heart beat and new therapies for treating and preventing heart and brain disorders. RyR receptor. Since the 17(2): 193-203. brain function. In collaboration with Dr. Katsuhiko Mikoshiba of the University of Tokyo, Dr. Ikura used special molecular imaging techniques to visualize the IP3 receptor (IP3R) molecule in three dimensions. Along with its cousin receptor the ryanodine receptor (RyR), the IP3R is responsible for regulating the levels Inflammation is the way in which the Inflammatory Switch May Turn Off Disease In a paper called a land- Genetics, the researchers found that mice missing the Timp3 gene were shown to increase Timp3 in the body, and this finding has important implications body defends itself against injury and mark in the inflammation field, UHN researchers have identified a switch impor- unable to turn off their inflammatory response following tissue injury. for treating a multitude of diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, infection, but if it is tant in controlling the body’s inflammatory “Our research has identified the gene we hepatitis, and cancer, to name just a few.” not switched off when the job is done, response. The switch— actually a gene called Timp3—was identified need to target to gain control of an excessive inflammatory response,” Nat Genet. 2004 Sep; 36(9): 969-77. it can cause more by Drs. Rama Khokha and Wen-Chen Yeh and says Dr. Khokha.“Also, it points to Timp3 as a poten- harm than good. graduate student Dr. Fazilat Mohammed. tial treatment for inflammatory conditions. At least As reported in Nature one arthritis drug has been 22 RESEARCH REPORT 2005
A woman with an altered BRCA1 Group Therapy Eases Breast Cancer Fears Group therapy improves or BRCA2 gene is estimated to have anxiety, depression, and psychosocial functioning in women who are at higher a 3-7 times greater risk for breast and ovarian cancer because they carry risk of developing breast cancer mutations in BRCA1/ BRCA2, according to a recent study conducted by over her lifetime. Dr. Mary Jane Esplen. To determine if psychosocial supports would help women deal with their diagnosis, 70 women were recruited to take part in 12 sessions of group therapy. port group is extremely decisions regarding All 67 women who com- beneficial for women who prophylactic surgery, pleted the sessions had carry mutations in BRCA1/ it decreased their stress fewer cancer worries and BRCA2. By giving them an significantly.” less depression and anxiety. opportunity to discuss their Cancer. 2004 Nov 15; Says Dr. Esplen,“Our concerns and also share 101(10): 2327-40. findings reveal that a sup- thoughts around their DJ-1 has been intensely studied due DJ-1 Molecule Newly Implicated in Cancer A team of researchers its job. With PTEN out of commission, cell growth can rage out of control and represent a valuable new target for cancer therapy.” Cancer Cell. 2005 Mar; to its role in familial Parkinson’s disease. including Drs. Tak Mak, Fei- Fei Liu, Armen Manoukian, Ming Tsao and student cancer can develop. Human breast and lung cancer cells also have high levels of the 7(3): 263-273. This is the first study Raymond Kim have discovered that a molecule called molecule, and lung cancer patients with high levels to determine its mechanism of action DJ-1 plays a role in the development of cancer. Using a genetic screening of DJ-1 are more likely to suffer a relapse. Says Dr. Mak,“Our in cancer. method in fruit flies, they discovered that DJ-1 prevents results suggest that DJ-1 does play a role in the the tumour suppressor development of cancer, molecule PTEN from doing and in the future it may UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK 23
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