 |
|
Integrins as receptors give insight into rotavirus and diarrhea
July 01, 2008Eleven years ago, Dr. Mary Estes of Baylor College of Medicine and her colleagues discovered the first viral enterotoxin, rotavirus NSP4, a toxic protein that affects the intestines, causing diarrhea.
The next step was to find the cellular receptor on intestinal cells through which the enterotoxin interacts to cause diarrhea.
"We knew that identifying the receptor might not be straightforward," said the professor of molecular virology and microbiology at BCM. In a report online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Estes and her colleagues describe two receptors for the enterotoxin, both of them integrins.
The two, integrin alpha1 beta1 and integrin alpha2 beta1, are members of a class of molecules that are involved in attaching cells to other cells and to the extracellular matrix (a part of tissue that is not part of any cell). Integrins also are involved in transforming or translating cell signals.
In looking for the receptor, Estes and her colleagues also learned more about the enterotoxin itself.
"It's a new ligand for binding to integrins," she said. "It begins to give us an understanding of how the enterotoxin works in the intestine. Two different domains of the enterotoxin are involved in this interaction. One domain is for binding and the other domain is for signaling through the receptor."
She said she hopes to study the signaling aspect of the enterotoxin more closely because it could hold the clue to the mechanism of induction of diarrheal disease.
"There may be ways to block the interaction between the enterotoxin and the receptor to treat diarrheal disease," said Estes, who is also director of the Texas Medical Center Digestive Diseases Center.
Rotavirus is one of the most common causes of diarrhea, resulting in approximately 3 million cases of diarrhea and 55,000 hospitalizations for diarrhea and dehydration in children under the age of 5 each year in the United States alone. Worldwide, it causes nearly half a million deaths each year. Finding out how rotavirus causes diarrhea and looking for ways to block it is a major aim of Estes' research.
Baylor College of Medicine
The two, integrin alpha1 beta1 and integrin alpha2 beta1, are members of a class of molecules that are involved in attaching cells to other cells and to the extracellular matrix (a part of tissue that is not part of any cell). Integrins also are involved in transforming or translating cell signals.
In looking for the receptor, Estes and her colleagues also learned more about the enterotoxin itself.
"It's a new ligand for binding to integrins," she said. "It begins to give us an understanding of how the enterotoxin works in the intestine. Two different domains of the enterotoxin are involved in this interaction. One domain is for binding and the other domain is for signaling through the receptor."
She said she hopes to study the signaling aspect of the enterotoxin more closely because it could hold the clue to the mechanism of induction of diarrheal disease.
"There may be ways to block the interaction between the enterotoxin and the receptor to treat diarrheal disease," said Estes, who is also director of the Texas Medical Center Digestive Diseases Center.
Rotavirus is one of the most common causes of diarrhea, resulting in approximately 3 million cases of diarrhea and 55,000 hospitalizations for diarrhea and dehydration in children under the age of 5 each year in the United States alone. Worldwide, it causes nearly half a million deaths each year. Finding out how rotavirus causes diarrhea and looking for ways to block it is a major aim of Estes' research.
Baylor College of Medicine
Diarrhea Current Events and Diarrhea News RSSGenetic mutation causes familial susceptibility for degenerative brain disease
Mutation of a gene that helps proteins migrate in and out of the cell's genetic command center - the nucleus - puts some families at higher risk for the degenerative brain disease acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE).
Old gastrointestinal drug slows aging, McGill researchers say
Recent animal studies have shown that clioquinol - an 80-year old drug once used to treat diarrhea and other gastrointestinal disorders - can reverse the progression of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases.
New genetic markers for ulcerative colitis identified, researchers report in Nature Genetics
An international team led by University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers has identified genetic markers associated with risk for ulcerative colitis.
New study shows that a cough medicine ingredient could effectively treat prostate cancer
A study published today in the December issue of the European medical journal Anticancer Research demonstrates that an ingredient used in a common cough suppressant may be useful in treating advanced prostate cancer.
Einstein researchers find convincing evidence that probiotics are effective
Up to one in five people on antibiotics stop taking their full course of antibiotic therapy due to diarrhea. Physicians could help patients avoid this problem by prescribing probiotics, according to a study by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University published in American Family Physician.
Iressa proves just as effective as chemotherapy for lung cancer
Gefitinib, also known as Iressa, the once-promising targeted therapy for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer, has proven as effective as chemotherapy as a second-line therapy for the disease with far fewer side effects, according to an international Phase III clinical trial, led by researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.
Adalimumab may reduce health-care costs for Crohn's disease patients
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term that refers to both ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). IBD occurs most frequently in people in their late teens and twenties. There have been cases in children as young as two years old and in older adults in their seventies and eighties; men and women have an equal chance of getting the disease.
Tibotec presents interim findings for TMC435, an investigational genotype 1 hepatitis C treatment
New clinical data show antiviral activity of TMC435, an investigational protease inhibitor (PI) being developed by Tibotec BVBA for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.
A rare case of collagenous colitis presenting as protein-losing enteropathy
Since the first report in 1976, collagenous colitis has been associated with a variety of conditions, including use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and proton pump inhibitors.
Pakistan introduces vaccine to prevent top child killer
This month, Pakistan is introducing a new combination vaccine that will protect its children against the bacterium Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and four other common childhood diseases.
More Diarrhea Current Events and Diarrhea News Articles
 | Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus: Diagnosis, Management,and Control For almost 60 years, continual research on the subject of Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) has raised as many questions as that research has answered. This common disease continues to cause sickness, death, abortion and fetal anomalies despite the millions of vaccination doses used each year to prevent its spread. Written by international experts on the subject of the BVD virus, BVDV: Diagnosis,... |
 | The Complete Guide to Digestive Health: Plain Answers about IBS, Constipation, Diarrhea, Heartburn, Ulcers and More For those who frequently or even occasionally suffer from digestive problems here is a book offering natural ways to fight all types of intestinal ailments, without risky surgery or dangerous drugs. Using carefully researched information about proven natural remedies, The Complete Guide to Digestive Health provides valuable, practical health information. Whether a person suffers from heartburn,... |
 | The Complete Guide to Digestive Health: Plain Answers About IBS, Constipation, Diarrhea, Heartburn, Ulcers, and More by Gayle K. Wood For those who frequently or even occasionally suffer from digestive problems here is a book offering natural ways to fight all types of intestinal ailments, without risky surgery or dangerous drugs. Using carefully researched information about proven natural remedies, The Complete Guide to Digestive Health provides valuable, practical health information. Whether a person suffers from heartburn,... |
 | Diarrhea by Brandy Lynn McDevitt Diarrhea. When you see this word on a book's cover, your view of the book may be a little distorted. When you open this book and read, you will learn about Brandy through the ups and downs of her life. Then you will see that the human mind can conquer anything. Brandy grew up without a mother. She had a father who worked nonstop to give her everything she desired. She has matured into a happy,... |
| The Complete Guide to Digestive Health: Plain Answers About IBS, Constipation, Diarrhea, Heartburn, Ulcers and More | |
 | Traveller's Diarrhea by Charles D. Ericsson MD; Herbert L. Dupont ; Robert Steffen Charles D. Ericsson, MD, Herbert L. DuPont, MD, Robert Steffen, MD Travelers Diarrhea aims to convey a thorough history, a basic understanding of the discipline, state-of-the-art management recommendations and thoughts for future research. Substantial understanding of the risks of acquiring travelers diarrhea exists and we continue to learn about differences in host susceptibility. Recent... |
 | Gut Help: Guide to Breaking Free of IBD and IBS by Stephen Demirjian Now an official selection of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. An inspirational reference for anyone struggling with IBD (Crohn's, colitis) or IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), Demirjian documents his successful effort to break free of ulcerative colitis without surgery. In an honest and uplifting tone, he reveals valuable insight into living a better quality life, as well as his Gut... |
 | Living with IBD & IBS: A Personal Journey of Success by Elizabeth A Roberts You may not think anything about IBD or IBS is funny, until you read Elizabeth Roberts’ account of her emotional roller-coaster ride as she learned to live successfully with these illnesses. After spending most of her honeymoon on St. Bart’s in the bathroom, Roberts returned home determined to find out what had happened to her dream life. After months of tests, her doctors told her she had... |
 | Mayo Clinic on Digestive Health, Second Edition (Mayo Clinic) Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Practical consumer text offers proven strategies for managing common digestive problems, including gas, heartburn, ulcers, constipation, and diarrhea. Also addresses irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, colorectal cancer, and more. Practical tips are included throughout. Previous edition: c2000.... |
 | Diarrhea (Telford Press) by Michael Gracey This book helps bring the busy practitioner up to date with recent developments in research on diarrhea that has taken place over the past 10 years. The causes of diarrhea are very diverse and include infections, allergies, chronic inflammatory diseases, tumors and inborn errors of intestinal digestion and transport. The global importance of diarrheal deaths and illnessess, as well as the rapid... |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |