Polyamine hypothesis

[BioDocFL]

Six years ago we had a discussion about the polyamine hypothesis I have been developing. Since then I have kept relatively quiet about it here but I continued working on it. I have developed it a lot further, but it is still centered around the same concepts as were discussed.

Last year I presented it very briefly in Brest, France at a Sjogren's syndrome symposium. (I have been fortunate to write some articles with some really good French autoimmune researchers recently.)

I guess there was some interest in the hypothesis because I was invited to Zurich to present it before some of the big names in autoimmune research. I presented it last week (Saturday) and I think it went fairly well, inspite of only about 12 hours sleep the 5 days before, and about 12 hours since. (I have a real problem with jetlag. I don't get nervous about talks, just get insominia practicing my talk as I try to fall asleep.) I got some very positive comments afterwards and unofficial invites to present it to other groups. Actually I only presented the core, about half of the hypothesis, since I am in the process of writing some new additions to it. And, after this recent talk, I have ideas for several more additions. Perhaps when I get things published, I can do an update on the hypothesis for TIMS.

Epigenetics and autoimmunity is really a hot topic this year. I hope to present the hypothesis on more occasions during the next year if given the opportunity. I can't afford much travel (money and time wise) so I will have to be selective.

Anyway, presenting the ideas six years ago and getting questions from TIMS members encouraged me and helped me improve the hypothesis. Thanks for your help. We're not done yet.

Wesley

[dignan]

That's great to hear Wesley. I imagine that you've exposed your theory to a lot of smart people who have had a chance to poke holes in it. So if it's still afloat, that has to be a good sign. Good luck with further development.

[BioDocFL]

Thanks.

It seems to have survived scrutiny by autoimmune researchers so far and gotten them interested. I am hoping to get a chance to talk at the Epigenetics World Congress in Boston next April to put it in front of epigenetics researchers. So I will have to add a bit more about autoimmune disease characteristics so they can see why the particular epigenetic events (primarily loss of X inactivation) are important.

Many of the references I now cite are from just the past 2-5 years so there has been a lot of new research that I have been able to incorporate.

If I can get a grant, I am in a position to do drug discovery since that is what I do towards cancer. I am trying to line up researchers who would have autoimmune disease related cell lines that we could test any drug candidates against. And then mouse models and so on. It's kind of an overwhelming task to get everything lined up but I won't be happy with myself if I don't keep trying. Some times I feel like "I don't have a dog in this fight." but I am covered in bacon. Curiosity is my main motivation.

Wesley