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microRNAs at the regulatory frontier: an investigation into how microRNAs impact the development and effector functions of CD4 T cells

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Abstract

CD4 T cells are an integral part of adaptive immunity. microRNAs have been identified as fundamental regulators of post-transcriptional programs and to play roles in T lymphocytes’ development, differentiation, and effector functions. To better understand the role of miRNAs in T cells and to identify potential therapeutic tools and targets, we have undertaken studies of miRNAs that modulate or are modulated by T-cell receptor signaling. We identified miR-181a as a key regulator of TCR signaling strength, and hence T-cell development, and the miR-17-92 cluster as an important player in CD4 T cells’ response against antigens. These discoveries, coupled with work by other researchers, reveal the power and importance of miRNA-mediated regulation in T-cell responses and offer new insights into the burgeoning field of immunoregulation.

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  1. Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA

    Erik Allen Lykken & Qi-Jing Li

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  1. Erik Allen Lykken
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  2. Qi-Jing Li
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Correspondence to Qi-Jing Li.

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Lykken, E.A., Li, QJ. microRNAs at the regulatory frontier: an investigation into how microRNAs impact the development and effector functions of CD4 T cells. Immunol Res 49, 87–96 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12026-010-8196-4

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