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Immune biology homes in on gene blockade
Researchers at the University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and the German Research Center for Environmental Health, Helmholtz Zentrum München have discovered that too much of the oncogene Bcl-3 leads to chronic intestinal diseases. They describe in Nature Communications exactly how it throws the immune system off-balance.
Chronic intestinal disorders such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are caused by the body’s own immune defense system. Sufferers frequently experience episodic symptoms such as abdominal pain, cramps, and diarrhea. Researchers are still trying to identify the precise underlying origins of these problems. A team led by Dr. Nadine Hövelmeyer and Professor Ari Waisman of the Mainz University Medical Center in collaboration with Dr. Elke Glasmacher of Helmholtz Zentrum München has discovered a new mechanism that causes intestinal inflammation.
"With the help of our cooperation partners, we were able to demonstrate that the level of the Bcl-3 protein, which also plays a role in the development of various cancerous diseases, is elevated in the intestinal tract of colitis patients and is indeed a trigger of the disease," said Dr. Nadine Hövelmeyer, head of the work group at the Mainz-based Institute for Molecular Medicine. According to the study, Bcl-3 develops its effect on intestinal health through interaction with the so-called regulatory T-cells (Tregs). Their main task is to prevent overreaction of the immune system and to develop a level of tolerance towards the body they serve.
Gene blockade in the spotlight
"We were able to demonstrate that Bcl-3 suppresses the activation of Tregs by preventing the necessary genes from being read," explained Dr. Elke Glasmacher, head of the team at the Institute for Diabetes and Obesity in Munich. "Bcl-3 interacts with the transcription factor p50, which is otherwise responsible for activation, and blocks it."
"Consequentially, the regulatory T-cells remain passive, the immune system is no longer regulated, and inflammatory processes begin to take place. Experiments using various models have revealed that elevated quantities of Bcl-3 cause certain cells to migrate to the intestines, where they trigger a severe inflammatory response," Dr. Sonja Reissig, lead author of the publication and research associate at Mainz University Medical Center, pointed out.
"The results represent a major contribution towards our understanding of chronic intestinal inflammation and hopefully over the long-term will help us discover aspects that we can target with new therapies," concluded Hövelmeyer. Her colleague Professor Ari Waisman, Director of the Institute for Molecular Medicine at the Mainz University Medical Center, added: "We are currently focusing on the search for new active agents that will prevent the interaction between Bcl-3 and p50, thus maintaining normal Treg functionality."
Original publication:
Reissig, S. et al. (2017): Bcl-3 Inhibits NF-κB Gene Activity in Regulatory T cells and Modulates their Suppressive Capacity. Nature Communications, DOI: 10.1038/NCOMMS15069
Further information:
Caption: The protein Bcl-3 (red) leads to chronic intestinal diseases
Source: Mainz University Medical Center
Contact Mainz University Medical Center:
Professor Dr. Ari Waisman,
Director of the Institute for Molecular Medicine at the Mainz University Medical Center, phone +49 6131 17-9129, fax +49 6131 17-9039,
e-mail: waisman@uni-mainz.de
Dr. Nadine Hövelmeyer, Group leader at the Institute for Molecular Medicine at the Mainz University Medical Center, phone +49 6131 17-9205, fax +49 6131 17-9039,
e-mail: hoevelme@uni-mainz.de
Contact Helmholtz Zentrum München:
Dr. Elke Glasmacher,
German Research Center for Environmental Health, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764 Neuherberg,
phone +49 89 3187 2038, e-mail: elke.glasmacher@helmholtz-muenchen.de
Press contact Mainz University Medical Center:
Barbara Reinke, Press and Public Relations, Mainz University Medical Center,
phone +49 6131 17-7428, fax +49 6131 17-3496, e-mail: pr@unimedizin-mainz.de
Press contact Helmholtz Zentrum München:
Communication Department, German Research Center for Environmental Health,
Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764 Neuherberg,
phone +49 89 3187-2238, e-mail: presse@helmholtz-muenchen.de
About the University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
The University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz is the only medical facility providing supramaximal care in Rhineland-Palatinate while also functioning as an internationally recognized hub of medical science. It has more than 60 clinics, institutes, and departments that collaborate across the various disciplines. Highly specialized patient care, research, and teaching form an integral whole at the Mainz University Medical Center. Approximately 3,300 students are trained in medicine and dentistry in Mainz. With its approximately 7,500 personnel, the Mainz University Medical Center is also one of the largest employers in the region and an important driver of growth and innovation. Further information is available online at www.unimedizin-mainz.de
As the German Research Center for Environmental Health, Helmholtz Zentrum München pursues the goal of developing personalized medicine for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of wide-spread common disorders such as diabetes mellitus and pulmonary diseases. For this purpose, it conducts research at the points where genetics, environmental factors and lifestyle interact. The center is headquartered in Neuherberg in the north of Munich. Helmholtz Zentrum München employs around 2,300 staff and is a member of the Helmholtz Association, a union of 18 scientific-technical and biological-medical research centers with around 37,000 personnel. www.helmholtz-muenchen.de
The Institute for Diabetes and Obesity (IDO) adopts systems biology and translational approaches to investigate the mechanisms involved in metabolic syndrome. Cellular systems, genetically modified mouse models and clinical intervention studies are employed in order to identify new signal routes and target structures. The goal is the interdisciplinary development of innovative therapeutic approaches to the personalized prevention and treatment of obesity, diabetes and concomitant diseases. The IDO is a part of the Helmholtz Diabetes Center (HDC). www.helmholtz-muenchen.de/ido
Caption: The protein Bcl-3 (red) leads to chronic intestinal diseases Source: Mainz University Med ...
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Caption: The protein Bcl-3 (red) leads to chronic intestinal diseases Source: Mainz University Med ...
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