Thy-1 signaling in Th2, Th17, and T regulatory cell induction

被称为T辅助细胞和T调节细胞的特殊白血球是免疫系统的重要组成部分。T辅助细胞产生一系列称为细胞因子的化学信使，引导产生正确的免疫反应，以消除致病微生物。T调节细胞使免疫反应处于严密控制之下，并有助于防止自身免疫性疾病的发展。然而，在T辅助细胞和T调节细胞能够正常运作之前，它们必须首先通过一个过程被激活，这个过程依赖于T细胞和其他被称为抗原呈递细胞的特殊白细胞之间的物理相互作用。树突状细胞是一种重要的抗原提呈细胞。在小鼠T细胞上发现的参与其激活的结构之一被称为Thy-1。虽然人类T细胞表面没有Thy-1，但它们表达类似的分子，其中一个被称为CD7。在小鼠模型系统中，我们将研究Thy-1在不同群体的T辅助细胞的发育中所起的作用，这些T辅助细胞专门用于抵御病毒、寄生虫和细菌。我们还将研究Thy-1在T调节细胞发育中的作用。小鼠是研究哺乳动物免疫反应的有用模型系统，包括人类的免疫反应。在这种情况下，对小鼠Thy-1的研究将为类似分子在人类T细胞上的功能提供重要线索。我们的总体目标是研究小鼠T辅助细胞和T调节细胞在Thy-1刺激下发生的生化变化。我们还将确定通过类似于Thy-1的分子发出的信号是否对T辅助细胞和T调节细胞的发育具有类似的影响。这项研究将增加我们对T细胞生物学的了解，并可能提出新的方法来增强这些重要的白细胞的活性。

Specialized white blood cells called T helper cells and T regulatory cells are important components of the immune system. T helper cells produce an array of chemical messengers called cytokines that guide the development of the correct immune response needed to eliminate disease-causing microorganisms. T regulatory cells keep immune responses under tight control and help prevent the development of autoimmune diseases. However, before T helper cells and T regulatory cells can function properly, they must first be activated through a process that depends on physical interactions between the T cells and other specialized white blood cells called antigen-presenting cells. Dendritic cells are an important type of antigen-presenting cell. One of the structures found on mouse T cells that is involved in their activation is called Thy-1. Although human T cells do not have Thy-1 on their surface, they express similar molecules, one of which is called CD7. In a mouse model system, we will investigate the role that Thy-1 plays in the development of different populations of T helper cells that are specialized to protect against viruses, parasitic worms, and bacteria. We will also investigate the role of Thy-1 in T regulatory cell development. Mice are a useful model system in which to study mammalian immune responses, including those of human beings. In this case, the study of mouse Thy-1 will provide important clues to the function of similar molecules on human T cells. Our overall goal is to investigate the biochemical changes that take place in mouse T helper cells and T regulatory cells in response to Thy-1 stimulation. We will also determine whether signaling through molecules that are similar to Thy-1 have similar effects on T helper cell and T regulatory cell development. This research will add to our knowledge of T cell biology and may suggest new ways to enhance the activity of these important white blood cells.