Studies on stem cell factor receptor (c-kit) control of chronic inflammation

本项目将阐明最近发现的基因c-kit的机制和生物学重要性，该基因在类风湿性关节炎（RA）大鼠模型中特异性控制慢性炎症。慢性炎症是许多人群广泛传播疾病的标志，例如风湿性关节炎、多发性硬化症和哮喘。因此，找到一种控制炎症“慢性成分”的方法是非常重要的。本项目数据显示，慢性炎症的机制和基因调控与急性炎症不同。c-kit基因被认为是慢性炎症的特异性调节因子。本项目旨在证实这一发现，并揭示c-kit调控背后的机制。我们的目标是找到能够消除慢性炎症的治疗方法，并找到易感标志物，以确定将从这种治疗中受益的患者。

This project will elucidate the mechanism and biological importance of a recently identified gene, c-kit, that specifically control chronic inflammation in a rat model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Chronic inflammation is a hallmark of many population wide-spread diseases, e.g. RA, Multiple Sclerosis and Asthma. Therefore, it is of great importance to find a way to control the “chronicity component” of inflammation. Data, in this project, show that the mechanism and genetic regulation of chronic inflammation is different from acute inflammation. The c-kit gene is identified as a specific regulator of chronic inflammation. This project aims to confirm the finding in human material and reveal the mechanism behind the c-kit regulation. The goal is to find therapeutics that specifically can turn off chronic inflammation and find predisposing markers to identify patients that will benefit from this therapeutics.