CID seminar: "Targeted Treatment in Experimental Autoimmune anti-GBM disease" & "Cyclophilins in Renal Disease", 10 October

Tuesday 10 October, 12-1pm, Seminar Room 1, TRF  

Targeted Treatment in Experimental Autoimmune anti-GBM disease

Presented by Megan Huynh, Postgraduate Student, CID

Anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) disease is an autoimmune form of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. The standard treatment for anti-GBM disease uses toxic immunosuppressants that can have detrimental effects. To address the need for more specific treatment options, the potential of two targeted treatment methods has been explored using a mouse model of experimental autoimmune anti-GBM disease. One method takes advantage of the strong association between anti-GBM disease and HLA-DR15, an allele that carries an increased disease risk and is highly prevalent in patients. Selectively blocking DR15 MHC using a small molecule inhibitor prevents activation of autoreactive T cells by inhibiting presentation of the autoepitope. A different approach aims to induce antigen-specific immune suppression, by using liposomes to target antigen presenting cells and generate regulatory T cells. By inhibiting effector T cells or inducing regulatory T cells, development of an autoimmune response and subsequent disease may be avoided.

Cyclophilins in Renal Disease

Presented by Dr Khai Gene Leong, Postgraduate Student, CID

Inflammation and apoptosis are important underlying causes of renal injury/ dysfunction, and progressive renal fibrosis leading to chronic kidney disease. However, despite the large burden of acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), there is no current successful clinical therapeutics that halts the process of AKI, and progression of AKI to CKD. Cyclophilins are ubiquitously expressed proteins that are physiologically involved in protein folding. Of these, Cyclophilin A (CypA) has a key role in regulating the inflammatory process, and Cyclophlin D (CypD) is an essential component of the mitochondrial permeability membrane pore opening leading to cell death. I will explore the roles of CypA and CypD in contributing to renal disease to aid in future development of therapeutics that may lessen the incidence and prevalence of AKI and CKD.

Dr Leong is a Clinical Nephrologist currently undertaking her PhD studies at the Nephrology lab, Department of Nephrology, Monash Health. 

Lunch is served at 11.45am.