“Clock-off time” for inflammation and remodelling in chronic inflammatory diseases: casein kinase inhibitors

Project Details

Casein kinase 1 d (CK1d) has been implicated as a major regulator of the biochemical oscillator that determines circadian rhythm. Whilst most researchers think of the system as operating from the suprachiasmatic nucleus, responding to light input, peripheral cells also demonstrate circadian rhythm. Our laboratory has implicated CK1d in signalling some of the fibrogenic and inflammatory actions of TGF-β, including the ability to switch off the antiinflammatory effects of glucocorticoids. In this project, you will characterise the anti-inflammatory potential of this drug class using human cells obtained from peripheral blood and/or from the airways. Methods will include immunoassay, real-time quantitative PCR, cell culture and high content screening using plate-based confocal microscopy (Operetta).