Mechanisms and Molecular Therapeutics for Autoimmune-Inflammatory Disease and Atherosclerosis

Autoimmune disease occurs when one's own body mounts an immune-inflammatory response against its own tissues. This set of diseases includes Graves' disease and Hashimoto's disease, both pathologies of the thyroid; colitis, which is a pathological inflammation of the intestine; and diabetes. A highly collaborative group involving Kelly McCall, assistant professor of specialty medicine, Ramiro Malgor, assistant professor of biomedical sciences, Fabian Benencia, assistant professor of biomedical sciences, Frank Schwartz, J.O. Watson Endowed Chair for Diabetes Research and professor of endocrinology, and Douglas Goetz, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, seeks to identify the molecular mechanisms that underlie autoimmune-inflammatory disease, then exploit the understanding to develop novel diagnostics and therapeutics.

The current focus is on the role of Toll-Like Receptors (TLRs) in pathogenesis and progression. Recently, this group has found evidence that TLRs may be operative in certain cancers, suggesting a link between autoimmunity and cancer. TLRs have also been implicated in atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), and the group is actively exploring the molecular alterations that occur in the vasculature as an atherosclerotic plaque develops. This latter effort involves Mitch Silver, DO, of MidOhio Cardiology and Vascular Consultants.

The driving force behind this entire effort was  Leonard Kohn, who is now Emeritus Distinguished Senior Research Scientist at the Edison Biotechnology Institute, and continues to be actively involved in this work.