The research of the Toivola lab is focused on the roles and regulation of keratin
intermediate filaments in gastrointestinal epithelia such as the intestine, liver and the
pancreas.
Keratins are cytoskeletal structures that provide stability to cells and are
important in protection from cellular stress. Keratin mutations predispose humans to
diseases, including liver disease. Whether inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are linked
to keratin mutations in humans is currently unknown, however the keratin (K)8 knockout
mouse obtains an early IBD, similar to human ulcerative colitis. Our aims are to understand how keratins help protect simple
type epithelia on a molecular level, in particular in gastrointestinal organs with focus
on intestine, as well as the endocrine pancreas. Using the K8 heterozygous and knockout
mice, mice expressing keratin mutations, experimental models of colitis, colorectal
cancer, diabetes, and cell systems, we study the mechanics and roles of keratins in e.g. stress, ion
transport, protein and organelle targeting, colonocyte energy metabolism, cancer and
diabetes. We also aim to develop imaging of IBD in mice in vivo.
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