UNC scientists describe protein that protects against colon cancer

The NLR family of proteins is very complex and scientists have determined that the majority of them act as activators of inflammation. However, scientists at UNC and elsewhere have recently reported that one NLR protein, NLRP12, actually functions to reduce disease by inhibiting a major inflammatory pathway mediated by a protein called NF-Kappa B. NF-Kappa B activation has been long associated with inflammation and cancer promotion. But NF-Kappa B has an alternate signaling pathway that is not as well understood.  This alternative pathway was the focus of the UNC team’s study.  Their study was published in the April 12, 2012  online issue of the journal Immunity.

Coy, Allen, PhD, first author of the paper and a Research Associate at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, explains, “The role of the alternate NF-Kappa B pathway was unexpected. We discovered that in the absence of NLRP12, the alternative NF-kappa B pathway was activated and promoted inflammation and cancer. This was a highly novel finding.  Additionally, we were able to identify two proteins that are regulated by the alternative NF-Kappa B pathway that appear to be correlated to cancer development.  Further studies will be directed at targeting these proteins to see if we can reduce the development of colitis-associated cancer.”

Allen is a research associate in the laboratory of Jenny Ting, PhD. Ting, UNC Alumni Distinguished Professor of Microbiology and Immunology and director of the Inflammation Center at UNC, is a pioneer in the understanding of the NLR family of proteins. She is co-leader of UNC Lineberger’s immunology program and senior author of the Immunity paper.

There are over 24 distinct NLR proteins in humans and only about half are well characterized.  Allen says the next steps are to better define the contribution of these proteins to human diseases and identify other NLR proteins that may influence important cell signaling pathways in novel ways, such as those described here for NF-Kappa B.  

More information: Other UNC authors are: Justin Wilson, PhD, Monika Schneider, PhD, John D. Lich, PhD, Reid A. Roberts, MD/PhD graduate student, Janelle C. Arthur, PhD, Rita-Marie T. Woodford, PhD graduate student, Bekley K. Davis, PhD, Joshua M. Uronis, PhD, Hans Herfarth, MD, Christian Jobin, PhD, Arlin Rogers, DVM, PhD, and Jenny P-Y Ting. Funding for the study was provided by grants from the National Institutes of Health.

Provided by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine