Project description:The aim of the study was to investigate whether the trefoil peptide genes, in concerted action with a miRNA regulatory network, were contributing to nutritional maintrenance. Using a Tff3 knock-out mouse model, 21 specific miRNAs were noted to be significantly deregulated when compared to the wild type strain.
Project description:Cellular binary fate decisions require the progeny to silence genes associated with the alternative fate. The major subsets of alpha:beta T cells have been extensively studied as a model system for fate decisions. While the transcription factor RUNX3 is required for the initiation of Cd4 silencing in CD8 T cell progenitors, it is not required to maintain the silencing of Cd4 and other helper T lineage genes. The other runt domain containing protein, RUNX1, silences Cd4 in an earlier T cell progenitor, but this silencing is reversed whereas the gene silencing after RUNX3 expression is not reverse. Therefore, we hypothesized that RUNX3 and not RUNX1 recruits other factors that maintains the silencing of helper T lineage genes in CD8 T cells. To this end, we performed a proteomics screen of RUNX1 and RUNX3 to determine candidate silencing factors.
Project description:In this study we compared the effects of IL-2, IL-15, and IL-21 on the gene expression, activation of cell signaling pathways, and functional properties of cells derived from the CD4+ cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Whereas both IL-2 and IL-15 that signal through receptors that share the common gamma chain and the beta chain modulated the expression of >1,000 genes, IL-21 that signals via the receptor also containing gamma chain up-regulated <40 genes. All three cytokines induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Jak1 and Jak3. However, only IL-2 and IL-15 strongly activated STAT5, PI3K/Akt, and MEK/ERK signaling pathways. In contrast, IL-21 selectively activated STAT3. Whereas all three cytokines protected CTCL cells from apoptosis, only IL-2 and IL-15 promoted their proliferation. The effects of the cytokine stimulation were Jak3- and Jak1-kinase dependent. These findings document the vastly different impact of IL-2 and IL-15 vs. IL-21 on malignant CD4+ T cells. They also suggest two novel therapeutic approaches to CTCL and, possibly, other CD4+ T cell lymphomas: inhibition of the Jak1/Jak3 kinase complex and, given the known strong immunostimulatory properties of IL-21 on CD8+ T, NK, and B cells, application of this cytokine to boost an immune response against malignant CD4+ T cells. Keywords: 3 replicates in each of 4 conditions
Project description:In this study we compared the effects of IL-2, IL-15, and IL-21 on the gene expression, activation of cell signaling pathways, and functional properties of cells derived from the CD4+ cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Whereas both IL-2 and IL-15 that signal through receptors that share the common gamma chain and the beta chain modulated the expression of >1,000 genes, IL-21 that signals via the receptor also containing gamma chain up-regulated <40 genes. All three cytokines induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Jak1 and Jak3. However, only IL-2 and IL-15 strongly activated STAT5, PI3K/Akt, and MEK/ERK signaling pathways. In contrast, IL-21 selectively activated STAT3. Whereas all three cytokines protected CTCL cells from apoptosis, only IL-2 and IL-15 promoted their proliferation. The effects of the cytokine stimulation were Jak3- and Jak1-kinase dependent. These findings document the vastly different impact of IL-2 and IL-15 vs. IL-21 on malignant CD4+ T cells. They also suggest two novel therapeutic approaches to CTCL and, possibly, other CD4+ T cell lymphomas: inhibition of the Jak1/Jak3 kinase complex and, given the known strong immunostimulatory properties of IL-21 on CD8+ T, NK, and B cells, application of this cytokine to boost an immune response against malignant CD4+ T cells. Keywords: 3 replicates in each of 4 conditions