To study the role of Tat proteins in innate immune responses of newborns and adults, we run quantitative RT- PCR analysis for various cytokine/chemokine genes in monocytes and DCs derived from cord blood and adult peripheral blood. Purified moncytes and monocyte-derived DCs are exposed to exogenous recombinant Tat B and Tat C. Our data indicate that the exogenous Tat proteins differentially stimulate expression of cytokines and chemokines, such as IL-12p40, IL6, CXCL10, HuMIG and ISG15. To extend these studies we are testing different preparations of Tat B and C proteins in newborn and adult monocytes and DCs. Effect of the different Tat proteins are also examined following toll like receptor and interferon stimulation to document altered gene expression.
Ozato, Keiko; Yoshimi, Ryusuke; Chang, Tsung-Hsien et al. (2009) Comment on ""Gene disruption study reveals a nonredundant role for TRIM21/Ro52 in NF-kappa B-dependent cytokine expression in fibroblasts"". J Immunol 183:7619; author reply 720-1 |