Caspase-11 regulates the tumour suppressor function of STAT1 in a murine model of colitis-associated carcinogenesis.

Murine inflammatory caspase-11 has an important role in intestinal epithelial inflammation and barrier function. Activation of the non-canonical inflammasome, mediated by caspase-11, serves as a regulatory pathway for the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18, and has a key role in pyroptotic cell death. We have previously demonstrated a protective role for caspase-11 during dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis, however the importance of caspase-11 during colorectal tumour development remains unclear.

Follow-up examination of linkage and association to chromosome 1q43 in multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating neuroimmunological and neurodegenerative disease affecting >4,00,000 individuals in the United States. Population and family-based studies have suggested that there is a strong genetic component. Numerous genomic linkage screens have identified regions of interest for MS loci.

SNPs in Multi-species Conserved Sequences (MCS) as useful markers in association studies: a practical approach.

Background: Although genes play a key role in many complex diseases, the specific genes involved in most complex diseases remain largely unidentified. Their discovery will hinge on the identification of key sequence variants that are conclusively associated with disease. While much attention has been focused on variants in protein-coding DNA, variants in noncoding regions may also play many important roles in complex disease by altering gene regulation.