Dr. Joseph Moore Excellence in Oncology Grant*
White blood cells protect us from infection by fighting bacteria and viruses. When we get sick, these cells create inflammation to help us kill germs. Inflammation can make us feel achy, tired, and feverish, but it is a sign that our immune systems are working. Once the infection is gone, the inflammatory response stops and we feel better.Leukemias are cancers of white blood cells. Our group studies a rare leukemia called chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). People with CMML have inflammation even when they do not have an infection. As a result, many patients feel like they have the flu all the time. Common symptoms of CMML include fatigue, fevers, night sweats, and weight loss. We believe that decreasing inflammation in the body may help CMML patients feel better and live longer.We have found that a type of white blood cell called a neutrophil may be an important source of abnormal inflammation in CMML. Neutrophils release sticky webs made of DNA and proteins. These webs are called neutrophil extracellular traps, or NETs. In healthy people, neutrophils produce NETs to trap germs when they are sick. CMML patients produce large amounts of NETs even when they are not sick with an infection. Our group has discovered a protein called neonatal NET inhibitory peptide, or nNIF, that blocks NET formation. In this project, we will test whether nNIF can lower NET levels in a mouse model of CMML. We believe that reducing NETs will also reduce inflammation. If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that improve the lives of people with CMML.
