Tsung-Han Hsieh, The AP-1 member JunB A control cell viability and clonal expansion in T helper cells

Speaker: Tsung-Han Hsieh, Immune Signals (Ishikawa) Unit

Title: The AP-1 member JunB A control cell viability and clonal expansion in T helper cells

Abstract: T helper (Th) cells play pivotal roles in maintaining host immune response against pathogens. Without any immune challenge, naïve Th cells proliferate in host to maintain the homeostasis of Th cell pool. During infection, a certain portion of naïve Th cells react to microbial or helminth components, undergo rapid clonal expansion and migrate to infected tissues to activate other immune cells. The whole process can help host to eradicate invading pathogens. I have identified an AP-1 gene JunB, when being deleted from Th cells, hampered cell growth and viability during in vitro activation, albeit deletion of JunB did not affect Th cell function. When JunB-deficient Th cells were adoptively transferred into recipient mice, they could not undergo clonal expansion. Moreover, RNAseq analysis revealed that JunB regulates cell growth and viability through different molecular mechanism among different Th cell groups. Taking these evidences together, I hypothesized that JunB is essential and plays distinct functions in maintaining T cell viability and growth during clonal expansion.

Join us for discussion with free pizza and soft drinks after the seminar! 17:00-17:30