Unraveling the molecular mechanism underlying FOXP3 functionality
Friday 23 January 2009
Prof.dr. Paul Coffer and drs. Jorg van Loosdregt
Project
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a specific subset of T helper cells (5-10% of the total population). These cells are of crucial importance in controlling the immune system, without them the immune system becomes hyperactivated and develops a state of autoimmunity.
FOXP3 is a Forkhead transcription factor that is essential for the development and function of Tregs. Mutations in FOXP3 lead to a deficiency of regulatory T cells and consequently patients with these mutations die in early childhood. Although there have been numerous studies investigating the in vivo function of Tregs, there are still few clues to the molecular mechanisms that underlying FOXP3 transcriptional activity. This project aims to investigate the regulation and function of FOXP3 at a molecular level utilising a variety of model cell systems.
Techniques
Cell culture, protein biochemistry, molecular biology
Duration
6 or 9 months
Contact
Drs. Jorg van Loosdregt, j.vanloosdregt@umcutrecht.nl, 088 75 535 70
Prof.dr. Paul Coffer, p.j.coffer@umcutrecht.nl
Dr. Kristin Denzer, k.denzer@umcutrecht.nl, 088 75 576 73
More info / references
UMC website - Dept. of Immunology
Molecular immunology website
Forkhead-box transcription factors and there role in the immune system. Coffer, P.J. and Burgering, B.M.T. Nature Immunol. Rev. 4, 889-899 (2004)
The role of FOXP3 in the development of regulatory T cells. Kim, J.M. and Rudensky, A. Immunol. Rev. 212, 86-98 (2006)
FOXP3: of mice and men. Ziegler, S.F. Ann. Rev. Immunol. 24, 209-226 (2006)
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