Objective
Research objectives and content It has been observed by Dr. Gray's lab and other laboratories that the type of cell presenting antigen to a T cell can influence the subsequent differentiation of the T cell. Dendritic cells have been shown to give rise to Thl type T cells (characterised by IFNg secretion), probably as a result of IL-12 secretion. B cells have the propensity to cause Th2 differentiation (producers of IL-4). The basis of this influence is not known In this project I will investigate the molecular basis of the very potent activity of B cells in the inducing Th2 cells. This activity is dependent upon expression of CD40 by the B cell. I will investigate, in in-vitro restimulation cultures (with anti-CD3) if the activity is mediated by a soluble or membrane factor and I will try to block the development of Th2 cells in the presence of B cells, with a variety of antibodies. I will carry out a systematic survey (by RT-PCR and bioassay/ELISA) of the cytokines that are produced following activation of B cells via CD40. In addition, I will help in the characterization of genes, isolated by differential display/subtractive PCR, that are newly-expressed following CD40 ligation of B cells.
Training content (objective, benefit and expected impact) I will learn much about the late differentiation of B lymphocytes in the immune response and how they interact with T Lymphocytes. Both of these areas are outside my PhD project in which I studied very early B cell differentiation. I will also learn many new cellular and immunological techniques, as well as some new molecular ones (differential display). I will also gain experience working abroad and will have to present my work at conferences. The question of how T cells differentiate into Th1 or Th2 subsets is a very important one and information regarding this will have an impact on basic immunological thought and may have an impact on therapy (of autoimmune disease) or on design of vaccines.
Links with industry / industrial relevance (22) The project has no links with industry.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology autoimmune diseases
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs vaccines
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Coordinator
W12 ONN LONDON
United Kingdom
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