Posttranscriptional gene regulation of CD4+ T cell cytokine expression by the RNA binding protein HuR

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] Posttranscriptional gene regulation by RNA-binding proteins such as HuR fine tunes gene expression in T cells leading to powerful effects on immune responses. HuR can stabilize target mRNAs and/or promote translation by interacting with their 3-UTR AUrich elements. We discovered that the interaction of HuR with the Il2ra (CD25) mRNA transcript is required for its optimal translation. Conditional HuR knockout (KO) in CD4+ T cells resulted in loss of IL-2 homeostasis and defects in Th2 cytokine production. In an allergic airway inflammatory model, OVA-challenged HuR KO mice had decreased lung cellular infiltration, eosinophilia and IL-13. These results demonstrate that HuR plays a pivotal role in maintaining normal IL-2 homeostasis, augmenting Th2 differentiation and promoting allergic airway inflammation.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Microbiology (Medicine) (MU)

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Missouri--Columbia

Year dc:date.issued

2015

Author dc:creator

• Techasintana, Patsharaporn

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Atasoy, Ulus

Statement dc:rights

• Access to files is limited to the University of Missouri--Columbia with SSO login.

Language dc:language.iso

eng, English

DOI

https://doi.org/10.32469/10355/49027

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:mospace.umsystem.edu:10355/49027