Download the 2005 pdf - UHN Research

The majority of
Wiskott-Aldrich
Syndrome patients
are male, as it is
One Step Further to
Finding the Cause
of a Rare Genetic
Disorder
Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome
is a rare, inherited disorder
TGRI’s Dr. Katherine
Siminovitch is a world
expert in this disease and is
particularly interested in its
genetic basis. As part of her
studies, she and her team
immune cell functions.“Any
mutations in Abi-1 would
therefore impede these
important functions—
including those required to
fight infection,” says Dr.
inherited as an
that is characterized by
repeated infections due
recently examined the role
of WASP by studying the
Siminovitch.“Knowing this,
we are one step closer to
X-linked genetic
disorder.
to malfunctions in the
immune system. Scientists
have identified defects in
interactions of WAVE-2—
a WASP-related molecule—
with the molecule Abi-1
understanding how the
immune system works and
how it might be manipulat-
the WASP (Wiskott-Aldrich
in immune cells.
ed to prevent disease.”
Syndrome protein family)
Her team showed that
Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci.USA.
gene to be a key factor in
Abi-1 association to WAVE-2
2005 Jan; 102(4): 1098-1103.
the cause of this disorder.
is essential for many
Coxsackieviruses
are part of the
enterovirus family,
which also includes
Molecule Critical
for Fighting Viral-
Induced Heart
Disease
Myocarditis is an inflammatory
disease of the heart
indicated that the immune
molecule called IFN-beta
plays an important role
in fighting the virus, and
Drs. Eleanor Fish and Peter
Liu further assessed its role
“Our results clearly show
that the viral infection was
more aggressive in mice
missing IFN-beta,”says Dr.
Fish.“The data confirm a critical
role for IFN-beta in medi-
polio and hepatitis A
muscle that is often caused
by infection by coxsack-
by comparing the severity
of infection in mice missing
ating protection from coxsackievirus
infection and
viruses.
ievirus. In serious cases, it
can lead to heart failure.
the IFN-beta molecule, to
mice with the IFN-beta
subsequent heart problems.”
Circulation. 2004 Dec;
Previous studies by others
molecule intact.
110(23): 3540-3.
Hepatitis C can lead
to liver damage,
Genes Predicting
Hep C Treatment
Response Identified
niques and microarray
technology to identify a
subset of 18 genes that can
respond to therapy, and
it suggests that these
genes may be important
cirrhosis and cancer.
The current therapy
New research by UHN’s Drs.
Ian McGilvray and Jenny
Heathcote has put health
predict a patient’s response
to therapy. The study followed
31 patients with the
for helping the patient
eliminate the virus. In the
future we might be able
has negative side
care providers one step
closer to providing person-
disease who were treated
at TWH.
to manipulate the products
of these genes to improve
effects and isn’t effective
in many patients.
alized care for the 230,000
Canadians with hepatitis C.
The research team used
Says Dr. McGilvray,
“Our results show that a
small number of genes can
how patients respond
to treatment.”
Gastroenterology. 2005
advanced genomics tech-
predict how a patient will
May; 128(5): 1437-44.
26 RESEARCH REPORT 2005