Pathways to Discovery: Autoimmune Diseases
To assist researchers in investigating molecular commonalities among different autoimmune diseases, in silico data mining and pathway software were used to integrate the gene/pathway interactions between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, multiple sclerosis (MS), and psoriasis.
This new, comprehensive resource facilitates the identification of novel therapeutic targets, or the exploration of alternate therapeutic areas for existing targets, by providing the following:
- Schematics of gene/pathway associations common to IBD, arthritis, asthma, MS, and psoriasis
- Descriptions of JAX® In Vivo Services for autoimmune disease research
- Over 100 JAX® Mice strains linked to multiple autoimmune diseases
- Gene- and disease-specific references
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| Common genetic pathway interactions exist between different autoimmune diseases. Pathways were adapted from IPA (Ingenuity Systems Inc, USA) software diagrams. Genes were included if they were associated with two or more disease areas. Enlarge diagram |
JAX® In Vivo Services for Autoimmune Disease Research
We provide fully customizable target validation and efficacy testing services with access to the world's largest collection of specialized mouse models of autoimmune disease. Newly available models and customized protocols supplement our standard services to provide an individualized experience. Our study directors and research scientists bring their expertise and collective knowledge of mouse physiology and genetics to work for you.
JAX® Mice
We distribute more than 4,000 mouse models of disease, including the most commonly used, well-characterized inbred mouse strains, such as C57BL/6J (000664), FVB/NJ (001800), DBA/2J (000671), and BALB/cJ (000651). These commonly used strains are available on demand in large quantities (hundreds or thousands) from both our East and West Coast facilities, and their use supports the collection, preservation, and distribution of the thousands of specialty mutant JAX® Mice strains to the research community.
| Gene | Therapeutic disease areas | Gene/protein function and details |
|---|---|---|
| Ccl2 | Asthma, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis | Small cytokine belonging to the CC chemokine family; also known as monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1). Recruits monocytes, memory T cells, and dendritic cells to sites of tissue injury and infection. |
| Cd4 | IBD, Psoriasis, Rheumatoid Arthritis | Glycoprotein expressed on the surface of helper T lymphocytes and other immune cells. CD4 functions to initiate or augment the early phase of T cell activation. |
| Cd40 | IBD, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis | A costimulatory protein found on antigen presenting cells and is required for their activation |
| Cd40lg | IBD, Rheumatoid Arthritis | Protein expressed on both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells that aids in stimulating B cells in the immune response. |
| Cd80 | Asthma, IBD, Multiple Sclerosis, Psoriasis, Rheumatoid Arthritis | Cd80 encodes B7-1, which provides a costimulatory signal necessary for T cell activation and survival. Expressed on a variety of hematopoietic cell types. Also known as Ly53 and CD28LG. |
| Cd86 | Asthma, IBD, Multiple Sclerosis, Psoriasis, Rheumatoid Arthritis | Cd86 encodes B7-2, which provides a costimulatory signal necessary for T cell activation and survival. Expressed on a variety of hematopoietic cell types. Also known as Ly58 and CD28LG2. |
| Ciita | Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis | Positive regulator of Class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) gene transcription. Considered the "master control factor", needed for expression of MHC Class II genes. |
| Fas | IBD, Multiple Sclerosis, Psoriasis | TNF-receptor superfamily, death domain containing member. Plays a central role in the physiological regulation of programmed cell death and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diseases of the immune system. Also known as CD95 and TNFR6. |
| H2-Eb1 | Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriasis | No data is available as there are no relevant JAX® Mice strains at this time. |
| Ifng | Asthma, Multiple Sclerosis, Psoriasis, Rheumatoid Arthritis | Cytokine critical for innate and adaptive immunity. Aberrant expression is associated with a number of autoinflammatory and autoimmune diseases. |
| Il2ra | Asthma, IBD, Multiple Sclerosis, Psoriasis, Rheumatoid Arthritis | The interleukin 2 receptor alpha (IL2RA), beta (IL2RB), and the common gamma chain (IL2RG) constitute the high-affinity IL2 receptor, expressed on immune cells, such as lymphocytes. Also known as Ly43 and CD25. |
| Il4 | Asthma, IBD, Multiple Sclerosis, Psoriasis, Rheumatoid Arthritis | Cytokine that induces differentiation of naive helper T cells. A key regulator of adaptive immunity. |
| Il6 | IBD, Rheumatoid Arthritis | An interleukin that acts as both a pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine. |
| Il7 | IBD, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis | Cytokine important for B and T cell development. Plays an essential role in lymphoid cell survival. |
| Il10 | Asthma, IBD, Multiple Sclerosis, Psoriasis, Rheumatoid Arthritis | An anti-inflammatory cytokine primarily produced by monocytes, which has pleiotrophic effects in immunoregulation and inflammation. |
| Il12a | IBD, Multiple Sclerosis, Psoriasis, Rheumatoid Arthritis | Cytokine which has a number of biological activities including T cell-independent induction of interferon (IFN)-gamma. Important for the differentiation of both Th1 and Th2 cells. |
| Il12b | Asthma, IBD, Psoriasis, Rheumatoid Arthritis | IL12 p40 subunit. Cytokine expressed by activated macrophages and important for Th1 cell development, regulation and memory. |
| Il13 | Asthma, IBD, Rheumatoid Arthritis | No data is available as there are no relevant JAX® Mice strains at this time. |
| Il23a | IBD, Psoriasis | No data is available as there are no relevant JAX® Mice strains at this time. |
| Il1rn | IBD, Rheumatoid Arthritis | This protein inhibits the activity of interleukin 1 alpha (IL1A) and beta (IL1B), and modulates a variety of interleukin 1 related immune and inflammatory responses. |
| Myd88 | Asthma, IBD, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis | Adapter protein involved in Toll-like receptor and interleukin 1 receptor signaling pathways within the innate immune response. Activates the transcription factor NF-kappa-B. |
| Nos2 | Asthma, IBD, Multiple Sclerosis | Encodes a nitric oxide synthase which is expressed in liver and is inducible by a combination of lipopolysaccharide and certain cytokines. |
| Rela | IBD, Psoriasis | NF-kappa-B or p65 is a pleiotropic transcription factor which is present in almost all cell types and is involved in many biological processes such as inflammation, immunity, differentiation, cell growth, tumorigenesis and apoptosis. |
| Nr3c1 | Asthma , IBD, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis | No data is available as there are no relevant JAX® Mice strains at this time. |
| Pomc | Asthma, IBD, Multiple Sclerosis, Psoriasis, Rheumatoid Arthritis | Encodes a polypeptide hormone precursor that undergoes extensive, tissue-specific, post-translational processing via cleavage. Gives rise to peptides with roles in pain and energy homeostasis, melanocyte stimulation, and immune modulation. |
| Pparg | Asthma, IBD, Multiple Sclerosis, Psoriasis, Rheumatoid Arthritis | Member of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) subfamily of nuclear receptors, which regulate transcription of various genes. Implicated in the pathology of numerous diseases. |
| Ptgs2 | IBD, Multiple Sclerosis, Psoriasis, Rheumatoid Arthritis | Participates in synthesizing prostanoids involved in pain and inflammation. Also known as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2). |
| Tlr2 | Asthma, IBD, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis | Surface receptor present on multiple immune cells. Binds diverse pathogenic substances and initiates innate immune responses. Also known as CD282 and Ly105. |
| Tlr4 | Asthma, IBD, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis | Surface receptor for lipopolysaccharides from Gram-negative bacteria. Receptor engagement initiates innate immune response. |
| Tnf | Asthma, IBD, Multiple Sclerosis, Psoriasis, Rheumatoid Arthritis | Pleiotropic cytokine promoting inflammation, cell death, proliferation and other responses. Synthesized by many cell types. |
| Vdr | Asthma, IBD, Multiple Sclerosis, Psoriasis, Rheumatoid Arthritis | Nuclear receptor capable of transactivating vitamin-D responsive genes. |
