Share

JAX publishes online tool for exploring autoimmune disease gene networks

New tool to accelerate discovery of autoimmune disease mechanisms and therapies

		IMAGE: The gene networks illustrated in "Pathways to Discovery: Autoimmune Diseases " promise to facilitate the discovery of targeted therapies for many autoimmune diseases. Click here for more information.

Bar Harbor, Maine - Currently, 5-8% of the U.S. population is afflicted with an autoimmune disease (www.niaid.nih.gov). Many of these are chronic and require life-long care. Moreover, different autoimmune diseases aggregate within a single family, suggesting they are caused by disruptions in common biological pathways.

To help researchers investigate these common pathways, The Jackson Laboratory has published "Pathways to Discovery: Autoimmune Diseases" (www.jax.org/jaxmice/pathways/autoimmune), a unique, interactive, and publicly accessible online resource that illustrates the genetic networks involved in five common autoimmune diseases: inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, multiple sclerosis, and psoriasis.

The backbone of the new tool is five "spider-web" diagrams that depict the gene/proteins involved in two or more of the five diseases. The symbols in the diagrams represent cytokines, transmembrane receptors, enzymes, nuclear receptors, and transcriptional regulators. The resource also provides gene- and disease-specific references, links to JAX® Mice strains (including inducible mouse models) that can be used to research the five diseases, and descriptions of JAX® In Vivo Services for compound efficacy testing.

"Pathways to Discovery: Autoimmune Diseases" promises to accelerate the discovery of autoimmune disease mechanisms and therapeutic interventions for both new and existing targets. Check it out today at www.jax.org/jaxmice/pathways/autoimmune.

For more information or a brief tour of this new tool, contact JAX Technical Information Services at 1-800-422-6423, or your Jackson Laboratory regional representative (contact information at www.jax.org/jaxmice/support/regionalcontacts).

Share

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.