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http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/8134
Title: | Early growth response genes -2 and -3 are essential for optimal immune responses |
Authors: | Ghaffari, Emma Louise Marie |
Advisors: | Li, S-L |
Keywords: | Immunology;Biology;Adaptive immunity;T cell receptor signalling;Autoimmunity |
Issue Date: | 2013 |
Publisher: | Brunel University School of Health Sciences and Social Care PhD Theses |
Abstract: | Early Growth Response Genes (EGR) is a family of four transcription factors containing a unique zinc finger domain. EGR-2 and EGR-3 are important for hindbrain development and myelination. These transcription factors are also necessary for lymphocyte function however, the mechanisms are still unclear. Previous findings have shown that EGR-2cKO mice develop lupus-like autoimmune disease with high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines despite showing normal T and B cell proliferation after mitogenic stimulation. Therefore we established the CD2-EGR-2-/-EGR-3-/- mouse model to explore the phenotype, susceptibility to autoimmune disease and relevant lymphocyte function. We discovered that CD2-EGR-2-/-EGR-3-/- mice developed severe systemic autoimmune disease and expressed high levels of inflammatory cytokines. More importantly we discovered a novel finding that CD2-EGR-2-/-EGR-3-/- T and B cells had impaired cell proliferation after mitogenic stimulation. Further investigations revealed that the molecular mechanism defected in the T cell receptor signalling pathway is due to a dysfunction in Activator Protein-1 (AP-1). AP-1 is a heterodimeric protein composed of AP-1 family members including Jun, Atf and Fos. Our data shows that EGR-2 and EGR-3 directly bind with the Atf family member Batf, which prevents Batf’s inhibitory function on AP-1 activation. This research demonstrates that EGR-2 and EGR-3 intrinsically regulate chronic inflammation and also positively regulate antigen receptor activation. In conclusion EGR-2 and EGR-3 are essential for providing optimal immune responses, whilst limiting inflammatory immunopathology. We propose that this new model could be used for studying autoimmune disease. |
Description: | This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University. |
URI: | http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/8134 |
Appears in Collections: | Biological Sciences Dept of Life Sciences Theses |
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FulltextThesis.pdf | 1.6 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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