The Immune Response Corporation Utilizes Functional Genomics to Identify Genes Associated With Processes of Nerve Growth and Repair
Company Scientists Present Results of Genomics Research at Keystone Symposia
CARLSBAD, Calif., March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The Immune Response Corporation (Nasdaq: IMNR - news) announced today the identification of genes that appear to be associated with biological processes of nerve growth and repair. Results of the Company's genomics research were presented at the Keystone 2000: Fulfilling the Promises of Genomics Research meeting in Taos, New Mexico.
``By combining the latest 'gene chip' (microarray) technology with various in vitro and in vivo biological animal models, we have been able to identify genes possibly involved in nerve growth and repair. We are attempting to build a portfolio of genes that appear to be involved in these biological processes,' said C. Richard Ill, Ph.D., Sr. Director of Molecular and Cellular Biology of The Immune Response Corporation. ``The challenge now is to determine the roles, or functions, of these genes. Then we may identify which, if any, of these genes could serve as drug targets for the treatment of diseases or trauma to the nervous system, such as spinal cord injury or stroke.'
Genes were identified using ``gene expression microarrays,' a genomics tool that contains thousands of human genes arranged on a glass chip. The chips were used to catalogue gene activity in different nerve tissues or different experimental situations.
``Regeneration of neurons in the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) is the long term goal in restoring function following spinal cord injury, stroke, or neurodegenerative disease. Therefore, to identify genes involved in neuronal repair, we generated profiles of gene expression before and during the healing process of experimentally-injured nerves in both the central and peripheral nervous system,' said Dr. Ill. ``Because the peripheral nervous system can regenerate itself, while the central nervous system cannot, we can compare the gene expression profiles to determine which genes are differentially activated during initiation of the repair process.' Dr. Ill added that gene expression data have also been compiled for the neonatal opossum spinal cord model in which the spinal cord of a newborn to 9-day-old animal will regenerate after severe injury.
Other experiments were performed to catalogue genes that are activated or shut off during the time when an immature ``stem cell' grows or differentiates into a fully mature neuron of the central nervous system. The identification of genes involved in the differentiation process of neuronal cells may lead to ways of actually manipulating the fate of such cells, which may hold therapeutic benefit in regeneration of an injured spinal cord.
``The large-scale analysis of genes that are involved in neurotrauma, neuronal differentiation and regeneration has enabled the Company to assemble significant gene expression databases of these processes,' said Dennis J. Carlo, Ph.D., President and CEO. ``This genomics effort complements our non-viral gene delivery program by providing a source of genes potentially useful in the treatment of neurological diseases or injury.'
The Immune Response Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company based in Carlsbad, California, developing immune-based therapies to induce specific T-cell responses for the treatment of HIV, autoimmune diseases and cancer. In addition, the Company is working on several projects in gene therapy using proprietary delivery technology. |
