Award details

Avian Lymphocyte Differentiation

Reference	BBS/E/I/00000803
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr John Young
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	The Pirbright Institute
Department	The Pirbright Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	356,290
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/2000
End date	31/03/2003
Duration	36 months

Abstract

CD40 is expressed by several cell types, significantly including B-cells and the dendritic cells that have an essential role in the initiation of immune responses. Its ligand, the cytokine-like surface molecule CD40L, is expressed exclusively by activated T-cells. Engagement of the ligand with CD40 provides an important signal to dendritic cells initiating their maturation from antigen-collecting to antigen-presenting cells. This change involves, among other changes in gene expression, the upregulation of B7 family members. On B-cells, CD40 receives signals that are important for the formation of germinal centres and antibody affinity maturation. CD40 signaling may also protect immature B-cells from programmed cell death. We have cloned a putative chicken CD40L cDNA, and expressed it as a fusion protein which has been used to detect chicken CD40. The cloned gene are being used to make antibodies recognising the molecules so that its expression and function may be studied to determine whether it is indeed the functional homologues of mammalian CD40L. It will then be used both to analyse the function of this signaling pathway in B-cell development, and, in collaboration with other groups, to help identify and study dendritic cells in the chicken.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Biochemistry & Cell Biology (BCB)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
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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