During primary virus infections, innate immune cells sense foreign molecules and, in turn alert and arm effector lymphocytes by secreting pro-inflammatory cytokines. Type I interferons (IFN-a/b) are a class of pro-inflammatory cytokines that are secreted by innate dendritic cells during virus infections. IFN-a/b is important in driving the development of human CD4+ T cells to secrete high levels of IFN-g that promotes the eradication of virally-infected cells. However, in mice, IFN-a/b does not promote the induction of IFN-g secretion from CD4+ T cells because the murine IFN-a/b receptor does not activate the critical down-stream transcription factor, STAT4, required to promote IFN-g secretion. This important pathway is blocked in mice and does not reflect the important role that CD4+ T cells play during virus infections in humans. Our lab has discovered the species-specific component for the human IFN-a/b receptor that promotes STAT4 activation in human CD4+ T cells. Therefore, the goals of this project are 1) To reconstitute IFN-a/b-dependent STAT4 signaling in murine T cells by genetic manipulation, and 2) Determine the role that this pathway plays during in vivo interferon responses in genetically altered mice. ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
5F31AI068622-02
Application #
7303771
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-IMM-L (29))
Program Officer
Hernandez, Milton J
Project Start
2006-08-08
Project End
2010-08-07
Budget Start
2007-08-08
Budget End
2008-08-07
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$29,163
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Sw Medical Center Dallas
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
800771545
City
Dallas
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
75390
Chowdhury, Fatema Z; Ramos, Hilario J; Davis, Laurie S et al. (2011) IL-12 selectively programs effector pathways that are stably expressed in human CD8+ effector memory T cells in vivo. Blood 118:3890-900
Huber, Jonathan P; Ramos, Hilario J; Gill, Michelle A et al. (2010) Cutting edge: Type I IFN reverses human Th2 commitment and stability by suppressing GATA3. J Immunol 185:813-7
Ramos, Hilario J; Davis, Ann M; Cole, Alexander G et al. (2009) Reciprocal responsiveness to interleukin-12 and interferon-alpha specifies human CD8+ effector versus central memory T-cell fates. Blood 113:5516-25
Davis, Ann M; Ramos, Hilario J; Davis, Laurie S et al. (2008) Cutting edge: a T-bet-independent role for IFN-alpha/beta in regulating IL-2 secretion in human CD4+ central memory T cells. J Immunol 181:8204-8
Ramos, Hilario J; Davis, Ann M; George, Thaddeus C et al. (2007) IFN-alpha is not sufficient to drive Th1 development due to lack of stable T-bet expression. J Immunol 179:3792-803