Dr. Agnieszka Śmieszek recieved over one million PLN from the Polish Medical Research Agency

Associated with the Department of Experimental Biology since 2012, Dr. Agnieszka Śmieszek leads the research for a project financed by the Medical Research Agency. The title and aim of the project is "Optimizing management and treatment of adolescent patients with histiocytic cell hyperplasia - the first Polish non-commercial clinical trial POL HISTIO".

The leader of the entire project is Professor Anna Raciborska from the Mother and Child Institute in Warsaw. Apart from UPWr, the consortium also includes other leading research institutes, including the Maria Skłodowska-Curie National Institute of Oncology - National Research Institute, which is the largest oncology facility in Poland, and the Łukasiewicz Research Network - Institute of Industrial Chemistry named after Professor Ignacy Mościcki. It’s a leading research institute in ​​applied and developmental research in the field of chemistry and chemical technology, created over 100 years ago in Lviv on the initiative of Ignacy Mościcki.

In collaboration with Prof. Raciborska and her team, Dr. Śmieszek initiated research aimed at obtaining an immortalized cell line isolated from tissues afflicted with Langerhans-cell histiocytosis - LCH. Histiocytosis is a group of very rare diseases in children and adolescents. These diseases concern cells of the phagocytic system and are associated with the ability of the cells to divide, as well as their ability to differentiate. Research shows that the most common form of histiocytosis in children and adolescents is Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) of the defense cells found in the skin.

– The molecular mechanisms of the formation and development of LCH are not yet ufficiently understood. They lack a well-described research model that would allow more advanced and repeatable biomedical research using an in vitro model. In the project, I will be using my knowledge and skills in the field of cell and tissue growing techniques, as well as cytometric and molecular biology – explains Dr. Śmieszek, adding that this project is also an opportunity for her to advance scientifically, especially in the field of biology of cancer cells and the formation and development of histiocytosis.

– It’s also an opportunity for me to develop my own research group, because as part of the project I have appointed a research team whose task will be to derive a line of cells with LCH features. This is an important aspect of preclinical research, as it will enable the testing of new drugs or therapies, potentially important in the treatment of this disease. In addition, the research carried out as part of my task will be aimed at determining the profile of new biomarkers with diagnostic and prognostic potential by analysing the levels of non-coding RNAs (miRNA and lncRNA). These analyses will be performed using next-generation sequencing (RNASeq), which will identify new molecules with a potential biological marker (biomarker) function. Additionally, the level of selected molecules will be verified by real-time PCR technology – explains Dr. Śmieszek, adding that this research may contribute to the development of tests supporting early diagnosis of LCH patients. – We assume that determining miRNA / lncRNA expression profiles will allow us to monitor the effects of LCH treatment and, in consequence, will contribute to improving the diagnosis through faster intervention and earlier use of appropriate treatment. The goal of the research is also to understand the mechanisms of intercellular signaling by analysing the content of membrane microfragments released by LCH cells in the microenvironment of the tissue. 

Research conducted by the institutes will allow the discovery of new factors which determine Langerhans cell transformations, and therefore support finding new, potential targeted therapies. – We believe that the therapy and diagnostic strategies that we plan to develop as part of the project will contribute to creating an effective targeted therapy in treating histiocytic hyperplasia, as well as new molecular diagnostic tests allowing for non-invasive monitoring of the treatment’s effects, which is extremely important in pediatric oncology – explains Dr. Śmieszek, underlining that both for her and the entire Reg-Med-Lab Marycz Lab research team, UPWr being invited and taking part in working together on this project is a distinction and a great opportunity for scientific progress.

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