Research

Catherine Cahill, PhD
Instructor of Pediatrics

Phone: 617-775-5524
Fax: 617-726-4172
Email: ccahill@helix.mgh.harvard.edu

Curriculum Vita

My current focus in the Division of Mucosal Immunology at MGH is gene regulation and signal transduction downstream of the pro inflammatory cytokine, interleukin 1beta (IL-1). I am using tissue culture cell line models, both transformed and non transformed intestinal epithelial cells, together with human intestinal  xenografts transplanted into nude mice,  to define novel  IL-1b signaling pathways specific to its  function either  as an intestinal  growth factor involved in protection against pathogens and wound healing or as a pro-inflammatory mediator associated with disease. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) pathway activated by IL-1 is a signaling pathway shown to mediate cell growth and survival  in part via the acitivation of  2 important DNA binding proteins,  activator protein 1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor kappa B, (NFkB), both  associated with inflammation, I have identified a novel PI3-K dependent signaling pathway in the Caco-2 cell line, activated by IL-1, involved in AP-1 activation and interleukin-6 gene transcription (J. Biol. Chem 2008). I am now investigating the role of this novel pathway in both the normal and inflamed intestine as well as defining downstream components including  specific AP-1 family members. The role of  both IKK, a kinase of the IKK complex and TGF activated kinase (TAK1) both in normal and inflamed epithelium and in intestinal development and differentiation is also being explored. My long term goal is to develop novel therapeutic drug targets for the  treatment of  intestinal  diseases including colon cancer, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Research Team:

Yao-Jong Yang, MD, PhD
Institute of Clinical Medicine, Medical College, National Cheng Kung University.
Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, National Cheng Kung University Hospital.

Dr. Yang is a visiting scientist on sabbatical from Taiwan. His research interests are in childhood Helicobacter pylori infection, clinical relevance and host immunity, gastrointestinal function and immune modulation of probiotics.