Smoothened function in T cell development

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The thymus gland plays an essential role in immunological protection against infection by supporting the production of T cells, a type of white blood cell. T cells are an important constituent of the immune system, that enable us to fight infection, and also regulate other types of cell, preventing our immune system from attacking our own bodies. An understanding of how T cells are produced will help us to understand how they function and will be useful in designing treatments for human disease. This project will study molecules that are involved in the regulation of T cell production the thymus. In particular, we will investigate the functions of a molecule called Smoothened in the production of T cells and other types of blood cell. Smoothened is known to be a very important molecule during the embryonic development of many tissues and organs, such as the heart and bone, but little is known about its functions in the production of T cells and other blood cells. This project will take a genetic approach to study the functions of Smoothened. We will ask what effect mutations in the gene that encodes Smoothened have on the production of T cells in the thymus, and on the projection of other types of blood cell.