Oct. 24th (Wed)

On Wednesday, Oct. 24th, starting at Noon in CCSR 4205, Tin M. (Chen Lab) will present:

Regulation of the germinal center response by microRNA-155

Thai TH, Calado DP, Casola S, Ansel KM, Xiao C, Xue Y, Murphy A, Frendewey D, Valenzuela D, Kutok JL, Schmidt-Supprian M, Rajewsky N, Yancopoulos G, Rao A, Rajewsky K.

Science. 2007 Apr 27;316(5824):604-8.

Link to article: click here

and

Requirement of bic/microRNA-155 for normal immune function

Rodriguez A, Vigorito E, Clare S, Warren MV, Couttet P, Soond DR, van Dongen S, Grocock RJ, Das PP, Miska EA, Vetrie D, Okkenhaug K, Enright AJ, Dougan G, Turner M, Bradley A.

Science. 2007 Apr 27;316(5824):608-11.

Link to article: click here

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Tin's teaser:

MicroRNAs represent a fundamental layer of gene regulation that mediate posttranscriptional gene repression by binding to complementary mRNA transcripts of target genes. While small in stature, their impressions can be felt across various biological processes as computational prediction suggests that at least one-third of all protein-coding genes are regulated by miRNAs. Their role on the immune system was recently appreciated as two independent groups knocked out the gene that encodes for microRNA-155. T cells, B cells, and dendritic cells were all found to function improperly in these mutant mice and contributed to their immunodeficiency. Mir-155-deficient mice were unable to generate normal germinal center reactions, thereby impairing T cell-dependent antibody responses. These mutant mice also displayed significant lung airway remodeling that was consistent asthma pathology. Moreover, when vaccinated with an attenuated form of Samonella, the animals failed to develop protective immunity with the majority of mice succumbing to the virulent strain within a month. These observations suggest that miR-155 plays an important role in the homeostasis and function of the immune system. These studies also underscores the broad impact one particular microRNA can have by controlling multiple genes.