Regulation and function of CD13 in the human gastrointestinal tract

The World Health Organization has reported that ‘2.5% of total deaths in the world are because of liver disease and this will become the 14th most common cause of death by 2030”. In the UK, liver disease is the 5th most common cause of death and we urgently need new treatments to save the lives of patients. We need postgraduate students equipped with the skills to help us address this problem.

Are you a biomedical scientist or clinical scientist with an interest in understanding of human liver disease? Would you be interested in studying in an excellent research environment, in a research institute with world class facilities and resources devoted to understanding the molecular mechanisms of human disease and driving new translational therapies for patients ? Within the Centre for Liver Research we are studying the molecular regulation of inflammatory and fibrotic liver and bowel diseases and have opportunities available for exceptional candidates with experience in human biology, immunology, molecular biology, human metabolism or clinical science.

In particular we would like to extend our studies of CD13 (Aminopeptidase N) a cell surface proteolytic enzyme that is expressed on cells including endothelium, some leucocyte populations and mesenchymal cells. CD13 has diverse functions including metabolism of regulatory peptides, cholesterol trafficking, modulation of cell motility and migration and immunoregulation which depend upon cellular context. Importantly evidence suggests that CD13 can regulate the function of proinflammatory chemokines and modify immune and endothelial cell migration. We have demonstrated expression of CD13 by human endothelial cells, have shown alterations in absolute expression and cell surface isoform expression with disease and have pilot data confirming that CD13 inhibition modulates endothelial function. We now wish to use our human novel cell culture and immune recruitment models to further dissect the function of CD13 and its potential role in hepatic and gastrointestinal inflammation and malignancy.

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To apply, please submit your CV and a covering email/letter for consideration by the Supervisor.