Chemokine News and Research

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Chemokines are a family of small cytokines, or proteins secreted by cells. Proteins are classified as chemokines according to shared structural characteristics such as small size (they are all approximately 8-10 kilodaltons in size), and the presence of four cysteine residues in conserved locations that are key to forming their 3-dimensional shape.

Microglia contribute to loss of neurons linked with Alzheimer's disease

Microglia are the cells responsible for immune surveillance in the brain, and they initiate protective inflammatory reactions in response to tissue damage and infection. An international team under the leadership of LMU neuroscientist Professor Jochen Herms has now shown that these cells may actually make a significant contribution to the loss of neurons associated with Alzheimer's disease.

22 Mar 2010

Blocking GM-CSF could reduce inflammation and deleterious effects of cigarette smoke exposure

Researchers in Australia have demonstrated that blocking a certain protein can reduce or prevent cigarette smoke-induced lung inflammation in mice. Inflammation underlies the disease process of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and many other smoking-related ailments.

18 Mar 2010

Idera Pharmaceuticals presents IMO-3100 TLR antagonist mechanism of action data at Keystone conference

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today presented data on the mechanism of action of IMO-3100, an antagonist of Toll-like Receptor (TLR) 7 and TLR9, in a preclinical primate model at the Keystone Symposia conference “Tolerance and Autoimmunity” being held February 21-26 in Taos, New Mexico. Idera is developing IMO-3100 for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. The presentation entitled “IMO-3100, a novel antagonist, suppresses TLR7- and TLR9-mediated immune responses in non-human primates” was made by Idera scientists.

24 Feb 2010

Study shows CEL-2000 vaccine blocks RA progression in mice

CEL-SCI Corporation and their scientific collaborators announced today that the Company's CEL-2000 vaccine demonstrated that it is able to block the progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a mouse model.

23 Feb 2010

Researchers study new ways to block movement of cells that cause autoimmune diseases and cancer

University of Adelaide researchers in Australia are finding new ways to block the movement of cells in the body which can cause autoimmune diseases and the spread of cancer.

10 Feb 2010

Study on the role of MCP-1 in obese patients with pancreatic cancer

The levels of an inflammatory chemokine were significantly elevated in patients with pancreatic cancer who were extremely obese, according to research conducted by scientists at the Jefferson Pancreatic, Biliary and Related Cancers Center. They presented their data at the 5th Annual Academic Surgical Congress, held in San Antonio.

4 Feb 2010

ChemoCentryx announces the initiation of Phase I clinical trial of CCX168

ChemoCentryx, Inc., today announced the initiation of a Phase I clinical trial of CCX168, an orally-administered small molecule designed to treat autoimmune diseases.

28 Jan 2010

Elevated cytokine levels are early indicator of rheumatoid arthritis

Researchers from University Hospital in Umea, Sweden, have identified several cytokines, cytokine-related factors, and chemokines that increase significantly prior to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease onset. These findings confirm those of earlier studies which suggest that the risk of developing RA can be predicted and disease progression may be prevented.

28 Jan 2010

Babraham Institute research may lead to new means of making purified T cells

Research from the Babraham Institute, reported today in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, provides new insights into how our immune system produces T cells, a type of white blood cell that is an essential part of the body's immune surveillance system for fighting infection. The findings pave the way for a new means of making purified T cells, which gets over one of many hurdles faced in the use of T cells in regenerative medicine and transplantations, and in addition will open up new avenues of research and applications in drug and toxicity testing in industry.

18 Jan 2010

GSK exercises option to obtain exclusive license to develop and commercialize Traficet-EN

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and ChemoCentryx, Inc. today announced that GSK has exercised its option to obtain an exclusive license for further development and worldwide commercialization of Traficet-EN(TM) (CCX282-B), a specific CCR9 antagonist with the potential to offer a new approach for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases, including Crohn's disease.

12 Jan 2010

Inovio Biomedical expands existing license agreement with the University of Pennsylvania

Inovio Biomedical Corporation, a leader in DNA vaccine design, development and delivery, announced today that it has expanded its existing license agreement with the University of Pennsylvania, adding exclusive worldwide licenses for technology and intellectual property for novel DNA vaccines against pandemic influenza, Chikungunya, and foot-and-mouth disease.

11 Jan 2010

Funxional Therapeutics completes Phase I study of FX125L

Funxional Therapeutics Ltd (Funxional) has announced today the successful completion of the Phase I programme of its novel anti-inflammatory, FX125L, an orally available small molecule that belongs to a new therapeutic class named Broad Spectrum Chemokine Inhibitors (BSCIs).

8 Jan 2010

Positive interim results from Idera Pharmaceuticals' IMO-2125 Phase 1 clinical trial for HCV

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced positive interim results from a Phase 1 clinical trial of IMO-2125 in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection (HCV). IMO-2125 is an agonist of Toll-like Receptor 9 that Idera designed to treat HCV by inducing endogenous interferon-alpha and other Th1-type cytokines and chemokines.

21 Dec 2009

UAB professors honored for scientific contributions and outstanding mentorship

Three University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) professors have been elected fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

18 Dec 2009

ChemoCentryx commences enrollment in CCX354 Phase 2 clinical trial for RA

ChemoCentryx, Inc. today announced that it has begun enrolling patients in a Phase 2 clinical trial of CCX354, an orally-bioavailable, novel, small molecule drug designed to specifically target the CCR1 chemokine receptor for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

16 Dec 2009

Cardiologists receive K23 research grant from NIH

Brian H. Annex, M.D., chief of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Virginia Health System, says he feels like the coach of a championship team. "Going three for three is truly extraordinary," he says with a mixture of pride and awe in his voice.

10 Dec 2009

Updated clinical data of Calistoga Pharmaceuticals’ delta selective PI3K inhibitor presented

Calistoga Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the leader in the development of isoform-selective phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitors for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases, today announced updated clinical data on CAL-101, the Company’s oral, delta selective PI3K inhibitor, presented during two oral presentations at the 51st American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting in New Orleans.

8 Dec 2009

Additional data from ChemoCentryx' study of Traficet-EN in Crohn's disease patients

In addition to data released in late November, ChemoCentryx, Inc., announced today more data from the Company's PROTECT-1 (the Prospective Randomized Oral Therapy Evaluation in Crohn's disease Trial) of Traficet-EN(TM) (CCX282-B) in patients with moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease.

8 Dec 2009

Preclinical and Phase I data for TG-0054 presented by TaiGen Biotechnology

TaiGen Biotechnology Co., Ltd. announced today the presentation of Phase I and preclinical data for TG-0054, the Company's chemokine receptor CXCR4 antagonist and a novel, potent stem cell mobilizer, at the ASH Annual Meeting held in New Orleans, the US, from December 5 to 8, 2009.

7 Dec 2009

Positive Phase II/III clinical data from ChemoCentryx' PROTECT-1 Traficet-EN trial

ChemoCentryx, Inc., announced today that Phase II/III clinical data from the Company's PROTECT-1 (the Prospective Randomized Oral Therapy Evaluation in Crohn's disease Trial) of Traficet-EN(TM) (CCX282-B) in patients with moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease demonstrated clinical efficacy with a favorable safety and tolerability profile. The

25 Nov 2009