Le Maitre, Christine - Sheffield Hallam University - Department of Biosciences and Chemistry

个人简介

Dr Le Maitre completed her BSc (Hons) in Pharmacology with industrial experience from Manchester University in 2000, and her PhD also from Manchester University in 2003. Following a number of years as a postdoctoral scientist, Dr Le Maitre was appointed as a Senior Lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University in 2008. She was promoted to Reader in 2014. Dr Le Maitre is an internationally renowned researcher investigating musculoskeletal disorders and novel therapies. She also researches natural agents as potential therapeutics for Leukaemia. Dr Le Maitre is the Postgraduate Research tutor in the BMRC.

研究领域

Intervertebral disc degeneration Low back pain is a major problem to the community affecting approximately 80 per cent of the population sometimes in their lives. Intervertebral disc degeneration has been implicated in approximately 40 per cent of cases of low back pain and thus is a promising therapeutic target. However the current therapies are purely symptomatic or involve surgery which does not address the initial causes of low back pain. I am interested in improving the understanding of the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration with the aim to develop new therapeutic approaches targeted at the abnormal cell biology which results in intervertebral disc degeneration. My research to date has focused on investigating the involvement of a number of proteases (MMPs and ADAMTS), cytokines (IL-1β and TNF α) and the role of cellular senescence, aquaporins and nerve and blood vessel ingrowth in the pathogenesis of disc degeneration. With the aim to develop new therapeutic strategies (including gene therapy and smart biomaterials) to inhibit the processes involved in disc degeneration. This work is particularly focused on the inhibition of the actions of the inflammatory cytokine IL-1, which my previous work has shown is a key target for the prevention of disc degeneration. In addition I am interested in the development of tissue regeneration strategies involving the use of Mesenchymal stem cells to replace the dysfunctional disc cells, and novel tissue engineering approaches. Smart Biomaterials for Regenerative medicine. In collaboration with Professor Sammon in MERI we are investigating novel hydrogel systems which can be used as delivery systems for inhibitors of degeneration and stem cells for regenerative capabilities. We are investigating hydrogel systems to promote the regeneration of a number of musculoskeletal tissues including intervertebral disc, bone and cartilage. Development of 3D culture systems for in vitro testing to reduce animal testing. With a long standing research interest in the us of 3D culture systems to investigate biological effects mimicking in vivo environments within musculoskeletal tissues, research is now investigating development of 3D models for liver and gastrointestinal tissues to mimic in vivo phenotypes which can be used in the future to perform drug testing and other pharmaceutical assessments normally performed in vivo, thus reducing the number of animals needed for development of new therapies. Nutraceuticals in the prevention and treatment of cancer A further research interest is the biological effects on cancer and non-tumour cells of a number of nutraceutical compounds which have been suggested as possible therapeutic alternatives for cancer prevention and treatment. I am investigating the effects of these compounds on the induction of apoptosis/necrosis, reduced cell replication and influences on cytokine production and signalling pathways involved in the pathogenesis of cancers. My particular area of interest is leukaemias although I am also interesting in a number of cancer types and locations, and the differences between the efficacy of the nutraceuticals at each site.

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Binch ALA, Cross AK, Le Maitre CL. (2014). The Regulation of Nerve and Blood Vessel Ingrowth in Aneural and Avascular Intervertebral Disc and Articular Cartilage. OA Arthritis. 10;2(1): 4. Wang H, Tian Y, Wang J, Phillips KLE, Binch ALA, Dunn S, Cross A, Chiverton N, Zheng Z, Shapiro IM, Le Maitre CL, Risbud MV. (2013) Inflammatory Cytokines Induce Notch Signaling in Nucleus Pulposus Cells Implications in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 288(23):16761-74. Phillips KLE, Jordan-Mahy N, Nicklin M, Le Maitre CL (2013) Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Deficient Mice Provide Insights Into Pathogenesis of Human Intervertebral Disc Degeneration. Annals of Rheumatic Disease. 72(11):1860-7. Dahlawi H, Jordan Mahy N, Clench M, Gordon J McDougall, Le Maitre CL. (2013) Polyphenols Are Responsible For The Pro-Apoptotic Properties Of Pomegranate Juice On Leukemia Cell Lines. Food Science and Nutrition. 1(2): 196-208. Le Maitre CL, Frain J, Millward Sadler J, Fotheringham AP, Freemont AJ, Hoyland JA (2009). Altered Integrin Mechanotransduction in degenerate human nucleus pulposus cells. Arthritis & Rheumatism. 60(2):460-9. Le Maitre CL, Frain J, Fotheringham AP, Freemont AJ, Hoyland JA. (2008) Human Cells Derived From Degenerate Intervertebral Disc Respond Differently To Those Derived From Non-Degenerate Intervertebral Discs Following Application Of Dynamic Hydrostatic Pressure. Biorheology. 45(5):563-75. Ali R, Le Maitre CL, Richardson SM, Hoyland JA, Freemont AJ (2008). Connective tissue growth expression in human intervertebral disc implications for angiogenesis in intervertebral disc degeneration. Biotechnic and Histochemistry. 83:5 239-245.