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Genetic analysis of the role of the PI3K signalling in humoral immunity

Reference	BBS/E/B/0000L219
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Martin Turner
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Babraham Institute
Department	Babraham Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	138,737
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	02/01/2008
End date	31/03/2012
Duration	51 months

Abstract

The B cell is a crucial component of the normal immune system, however its dysregulation can lead to certain types of leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma. The importance of a regulatory network of transcription factors (proteins which bind to DNA to transfer information into RNA) controlling B cell identity and differentiation (specialisation) is well established. However, important mechanistic gaps in our knowledge remain. The role of signalling pathways in the regulation of B cell differentiation is clearly vital but remains poorly understood at the physiological level. In particular, we have limited knowledge of the signalling mechanisms that drive naive B cells to become germinal centre (GC) B cells and the signals that promote differentiation of GC B cells into the cell fates of memory versus plasma cells. We have obtained results to indicate the pathway that controls production of the lipid phosphatidylinositol-tris-phosphate (PIP3) plays an important role in B cell function. The levels of PIP3 are regulated by a relatively small family of kinases (enzymes that transfers phosphate groups to specific substrates) and phosphatases (enzymes that removes a phosphate group from substrates). This project seeks to exploit novel research tools to understand how B cell differentiation is regulated and to understand the importance of the PIP3 pathway in control of that process.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Animal Sciences (AS)
Research Topics	Immunology
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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