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Human autoimmune disease: learning from models you will
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Chair : Dr. Richard Williams, Imperial College London, UK
9:00 – 9:45 Registration
9:45 – 10:00 Introduction by the Chair: Dr. Richard Williams, Imperial College London, UK
10:00 – 10:30 Immunotherapy of rheumatoid arthritis: lessons learnt from animal models
Dr Steven Thompson, Kings College London, UK
Stress proteins are upregulated at the site of inflammation such as that found within the joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Initially these proteins were identified as autoantigens and hence targets for immune attack. However, subsequent studies both in man and mouse have characterised these antigens as either stimulators of anti-inflammatory mediators or are themselves in fact targets of regulatory T cells. Both these observations make stress proteins attractive candidates for the development of novel immunotherapeutics. The translational research aimed at developing such biologics for the treatment of inflammatory arthritis will be discussed.
10:30 – 11:00 Autoimmune Models of Multiple Sclerosis
Professor David Baker, Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London
For many years multiple sclerosis (MS) has been thought to be an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS). This concept has been underpinned by numerous studies in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) models of MS. Although autoimmune CNS disease can be induced in many different rodent strains and primates, there has been quite poor translation from models to the clinic. Whilst this in part may represent frailties of the models systems themselves it also reflects the way in which models are interpreted and used. Multiple sclerosis is a disease of complex pathology that probably needs complex modelling.
11:00- 11:15 Speakers photo
11:15 – 11:45 Mid-morning break
11:45 – 12:15 Inflammatory mediators and lupus autoimmunity
Professor Rizgar A Mageed, William Harvey Research Institute,
St Barts and the Royal London, UK
It is established that the immune and inflammatory responses cross-regulate each other. In this study we show that manipulation of the immune system in murine lupus by administration of recombinant TNFa, or blocking endogenous TNFa with antibody profoundly influences lupus autoimmunity. The studies have also shown that in this setting TNFa/anti-TNFa act directly on T and B-lymphocytes and profoundly affect their proliferation, cytokine production and a number of other vital functions with consequent effects on autoimmunity. We explore the pathways through which these responses are effected. Further, the relevance of the studies to human diseases will be discussed.
12:15 – 12:45 Selected Abstracts
12:45 – 13:00 Brief introduction to the Biopark
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch and Poster Viewing
14:00 – 14:30 Animal models for autoimmune diabetes
Dr Lucienne Chatenoud, Hôpital Necker, France
14:30 – 15:00 What knockout mice have taught us about the pathogenesis of lupus
Professor Marina Botto
15:00 – 15:30 Afternoon Tea/Coffee and Last Poster Viewing
15:30 - 16:00 Talk title to be confirmed
Professor David Abraham, University College London ¸UK
16:00 – 16:30 Selected Abstracts
16:30 – 17:00 Chairman’s summing up.
18:00 Soiree at *The Best Western Homestead Court Hotel for all the participants (further details provided on the day of the event)
About the Chair
Richard Williams has been working for many years at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology on the immunotherapy of rheumatoid arthritis using animal models. His work contributed to the successful development of TNF blocking biologics, which are now widely used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases.
About the Speakers
Rizgar Mageed was awarded his PhD at London University in 1985. His interests are in understanding causes of autoimmunity and relationship with chronic inflammation. He worked at the Department of Immunology University of Birmingham until 1990 when he joined the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology Division at Imperial College as a senior lecturer. In 2000, Prof. Mageed was awarded an Arthritis Research Campaign Fellowship and appointed Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Rheumatology at University College London. He was appointed to his current post at the Bone and Joint Research Unit at the William Harvey Institute in December 2002.
David Baker received his B.Sc. in Zoology from Bedford College, University of London in 1983. He trained in immunology at The Hunterian Institute, University of London and received his Ph.D. in 1987 for studies on control of immune responses in delayed hypersensitivities of the skin. Through support of post-doctoral fellowships he began studying delayed hypersentitivities of the central nervous system, particularly as they relate to control of multiple sclerosis. He developed a novel relapsing-remitting model of multiple sclerosis (MS) and has been examining ways of disease modification relevant to MS. He moved from the Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London to its sister Institute at Neurology and teamed up with a clinical Neurologist. He is currently based at the Barts and the London Medical School and is
currently involved in the basic:clinical interface for the development of novel treatments for multiple sclerosis and targets autoimmunity, neuroprotection and symptom control.
Marina Botto is Professor of Rheumatology in the Division of Medicine, Imperial College, London. Her research focuses on complement biology and systemic autoimmunity. Over the years she has developed several animal models of complement deficiency which have helped to understand the role of complement in SLE and renal diseases
Stephen Thompson received his B.Sc. in Cellular Pathology from the University of Bristol in 1984. He received his PhD in 1989 for studies characterising the role of House Dust Mite allergens in children with asthma and eczema. After these studies he began working on murine models of inflammatory arthritis, most notably pristane-induced arthritis, where he and his group were one of the first to characterise the immunopathology of this disease. Through the award of Arthritis Research Campaign post-doctoral fellowships (both in the UK and at the Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, USA) he developed his interests in the role of stress proteins as inducers or targets of regulatory T cells and their potential use as anti-inflammatory immune modulators. He is currently based at Kings College London, Department of Rheumatology at Guys Hospital where he and his colleagues continue translational research to evaluate novel immunotherapeutic strategies for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
This meeting was organised by Euroscicon (www.euroscicon.com), a team of dedicated professionals working for the continuous improvement of technical knowledge transfer to all scientists. Euroscicon believe that they can make a positive difference to the quality of science by providing cutting edge information on new technological advancements to the scientific community. This is provided via our exceptional services to individual scientists, research institutions and industry. The event was hosted by 'BioPark (www.biopark.co.uk), a research and development centre in Welwyn Garden City providing specialist facilities and support for bioscience and health technology businesses to grow, and to develop new products and technologies
*To book your accommodation at BEST WESTERN HOMESTEAD COURT HOTEL and any travel arrangements please download the booking form or contact us with your requirements to accommodationandtravel@euroscicon.com / + 44 (0) 1926 888027. We will negotiate the best rates for you