Project acronym SiCMetabol
Project Signaling Cascades in Metabolic Diseases
Researcher (PI) Grzegorz Piotr Sumara
Host Institution (HI) INSTYTUT BIOLOGII DOSWIADCZALNEJ IM. M. NENCKIEGO POLSKIEJ AKADEMII NAUK
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), LS4, ERC-2015-STG
Summary Over 380 million people suffer from diabetes worldwide, with majority of cases being attributed to type 2 diabetes (T2D). Obesity is a major risk factor predisposing to the development of this disease. T2D is characterized by peripheral insulin resistance in combination with relative insulin deficiency that results in hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia. Liver and adipose tissue are central for regulation of glucose and lipids levels. However, during T2D the hepatic glucose uptake is reduced while rates of gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis are increased. In the adipose tissue, T2D leads to decreased glucose uptake, perturbations in secretion of adipokines and increased lipolysis. Importantly, dysfunction of the liver and the adipose tissue during T2D is caused by defective phosphorylation signaling cascades and normalization of these pathways was shown to attenuate the course of T2D. However, the specific roles of different classes of signaling molecules in these organs remain poorly characterized. We hypothesize that the cross-talk of different classes of signaling molecules determines regulation of metabolism.
Thus, we aim to identify the signaling networks regulating metabolism. The results generated in my own laboratory suggest that the Pkd family kinases are the crucial regulators of metabolic homeostasis. Specifically, Pkd1 and Pkd2 promote obesity and diabetes while Pkd3 controls liver function. Thus, we plan to characterize the molecular mechanisms controlling Pkds signaling. In parallel, we will utilize screening approaches to identify novel, non-canonical signaling modules (phosphatases and components of the ubiquitin system) regulating abundance, localization and phosphorylation of targets of Pkds and, in the long term, also other kinases implicated in T2D.
By identifying and characterizing the essential signaling networks in liver and adipose tissue the project will contribute to more targeted pharmacological strategies for the treatment of T2D.
Summary
Over 380 million people suffer from diabetes worldwide, with majority of cases being attributed to type 2 diabetes (T2D). Obesity is a major risk factor predisposing to the development of this disease. T2D is characterized by peripheral insulin resistance in combination with relative insulin deficiency that results in hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia. Liver and adipose tissue are central for regulation of glucose and lipids levels. However, during T2D the hepatic glucose uptake is reduced while rates of gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis are increased. In the adipose tissue, T2D leads to decreased glucose uptake, perturbations in secretion of adipokines and increased lipolysis. Importantly, dysfunction of the liver and the adipose tissue during T2D is caused by defective phosphorylation signaling cascades and normalization of these pathways was shown to attenuate the course of T2D. However, the specific roles of different classes of signaling molecules in these organs remain poorly characterized. We hypothesize that the cross-talk of different classes of signaling molecules determines regulation of metabolism.
Thus, we aim to identify the signaling networks regulating metabolism. The results generated in my own laboratory suggest that the Pkd family kinases are the crucial regulators of metabolic homeostasis. Specifically, Pkd1 and Pkd2 promote obesity and diabetes while Pkd3 controls liver function. Thus, we plan to characterize the molecular mechanisms controlling Pkds signaling. In parallel, we will utilize screening approaches to identify novel, non-canonical signaling modules (phosphatases and components of the ubiquitin system) regulating abundance, localization and phosphorylation of targets of Pkds and, in the long term, also other kinases implicated in T2D.
By identifying and characterizing the essential signaling networks in liver and adipose tissue the project will contribute to more targeted pharmacological strategies for the treatment of T2D.
Max ERC Funding
1 499 128 €
Duration
Start date: 2016-06-01, End date: 2021-05-31
Project acronym STIMUNO
Project Searching for novel strategies improving cancer immunotherapy
Researcher (PI) Magdalena WINIARSKA
Host Institution (HI) WARSZAWSKI UNIWERSYTET MEDYCZNY
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), LS4, ERC-2018-STG
Summary The main goal of this project is to explore new fundamental pathways involved in the regulation of antitumor immune response. Since the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment constitutes a key barrier to effective immunotherapy, our predominant ambition is to characterize novel, hitherto unknown metabolic changes that can support the survival of tumor cells and the escape from the immune surveillance.
We have recently discovered a new metabolite within tumor microenvironment with a robust ability to inhibit the activity of immune cells and their potential to kill target tumor cells. Within the project, we plan to corroborate on our preliminary findings in order to establish the role of this factor in mitigating antitumor immune response. To this end, we will determine the level of its production within tumors in murine models. Moreover, we will relate these findings to human data by analysing the immune milieu and the expression of enzymes involved in generation of this metabolic agent in a cohort of cancer patients. We will also investigate the mechanisms by which this factor could perturb the functions of tumor-infiltrating effector cells.
Finally, we aspire to use the knowledge gained during the implementation of this project to propose innovative therapeutic solutions. Specifically, we will investigate whether and how the inhibition of selected enzymes involved in the generation of this new metabolic checkpoint can impact on the efficacy of immunotherapeutic agents, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, arginase inhibitors as well as adoptive therapy with CAR-T cells and CAR-NK cells. We strongly believe that by achieving the goals of our project we will make a significant step forward in order to develop and to design cutting-edge therapeutic strategies. These compelling solutions would further improve the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy, thus contributing to a breakthrough advance in cancer treatment.
Summary
The main goal of this project is to explore new fundamental pathways involved in the regulation of antitumor immune response. Since the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment constitutes a key barrier to effective immunotherapy, our predominant ambition is to characterize novel, hitherto unknown metabolic changes that can support the survival of tumor cells and the escape from the immune surveillance.
We have recently discovered a new metabolite within tumor microenvironment with a robust ability to inhibit the activity of immune cells and their potential to kill target tumor cells. Within the project, we plan to corroborate on our preliminary findings in order to establish the role of this factor in mitigating antitumor immune response. To this end, we will determine the level of its production within tumors in murine models. Moreover, we will relate these findings to human data by analysing the immune milieu and the expression of enzymes involved in generation of this metabolic agent in a cohort of cancer patients. We will also investigate the mechanisms by which this factor could perturb the functions of tumor-infiltrating effector cells.
Finally, we aspire to use the knowledge gained during the implementation of this project to propose innovative therapeutic solutions. Specifically, we will investigate whether and how the inhibition of selected enzymes involved in the generation of this new metabolic checkpoint can impact on the efficacy of immunotherapeutic agents, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, arginase inhibitors as well as adoptive therapy with CAR-T cells and CAR-NK cells. We strongly believe that by achieving the goals of our project we will make a significant step forward in order to develop and to design cutting-edge therapeutic strategies. These compelling solutions would further improve the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy, thus contributing to a breakthrough advance in cancer treatment.
Max ERC Funding
1 498 750 €
Duration
Start date: 2019-03-01, End date: 2024-02-29
