“Intracellular Signalling in Inflammatory Processes”

STUDY OF INTERLEUKIN-23 SIGNALLING PATHWAYS INVOLVED IN INFLAMMATORY DISEASES

The incidence of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases has increased among developed countries in the past 30 years, creating a burden to national health systems. Therefore, there is a need for development of economic and effective therapies to treat these diseases. Interleukin 23 (IL-23) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that has a key role in several autoimmune diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) and psoriasis in humans, but the molecular mechanisms downstream of IL-23 signalling that contribute to the development of these pathologies remain largely unknown. The overall objective of this research is to uncover the IL-23 signalling cascade and to identify the key signalling events relevant for the development of IL-23-associated pathologies. This knowledge will contribute to the generation of novel drug targets for the therapeutic treatment of IL-23-mediated diseases.