Can we remove molecular factors that keep chronic inflammation switched on?

Coordinators: E. Wolf (CAU), P. Rosenstiel (CAU)

Persistent epigenetic changes may keep cells locked in an inflammatory state. Some of the proteins involved in maintaining these changes have been difficult to target with conventional drugs and were previously considered “undruggable”.

TI-5 explores a new technology called PROTACs (proteolysis targeting chimeras). Instead of simply inhibiting a target protein, these molecules use the cell’s own protein-degradation machinery to selectively remove it.

Focusing on inflammatory bowel disease, we will use this approach to identify and target epigenetic factors that may drive chronic inflammation, and investigate whether removing these factors can reprogramme inflammatory cells towards a healthier state.

This could open up new ways of targeting the molecular mechanisms that make inflammation chronic.