Reinhold Hofbauer Lab

The group is investigating signaling events taking place after carnitine deficiency and CSF-1 inhibition.
 
The first research task is dealing with an artificial model system of carnitine deficiency established in human liver and fibroblast cells. It allows us to study the effects on mRNA expression levels and promoter active gene functions by L-carnitine supplementation using a variety of molecular techniques, which include chip screen analysis, real time RT-PCR, reporter gene and band shift assays. The results of this research will provide better insight in metabolic aspects and their regulation as well as mitochondrial function.
 
The second research project is tracing the effects associated with inhibition of the macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1), which plays a key role in a wide variety of biologic processes. It primarily acts on cells of the mononuclear phagocyte lineage by controlling the differentiation, proliferation and survival of precursor cells as well as the activation of mature macrophages. As the latter are present in many tissues, CSF-1 also has a role in the pathogenesis of several disorders including cancers, because it regulates the production of MMPs and the uPA gene, which are heavily involved in tissue remodelling and tumor invasion. In view of the key role of CSF-1 in tumor progression, we have investigated whether inhibition of CSF-1 expression can serve as a valuable tool to fight tumor growth and decrease the risk of metastasis.