Genetic Regulator Opens New

Avenues to AIDS, Immune

System Research

AND

How T Cells Make a

Commitment

Daniel Becerra Uribe

Medicine Student

III semeter

Introduction

• Bcl11b in a genetic regulatorwhich is critical to many lifefunctions also plays a key rolein the formation of T cells.

• This could be a target for drugdevelopment, and could openthe door to new immunesystem-based therapies foreverything from diseases of Tcells, such as HIV/AIDS, toautoimmune disorders andallergies.

Genetic regulatoropens newavenues toAIDS, immunesystem research hScienceDaily (July2, 2010)

Genetic regulator opens new avenues toAIDS, immune system research

Ctip2 it's a protein that controlsgene "expression," or what aspectsof a cell's genetic code will beturned on and which will be leftsilent …

… Is a master regulator of geneexpression.

Genetic regulator opens new avenuesto AIDS, immune system research

Ctip2 is not expressed in everycell, but plays essential roles inseveral different organs.

Ctip2 helps regulate thecomplicated process that ends upcreating T cells.

Genetic regulator opens new avenuesto AIDS, immune system research

Ctip2 is essential inthe creation ofteeth, braincells, the formationof skin, and T cells.

Student observation

This is a very importantresearch because it givesus clues about newpossibilities for thetreatment of manydiseases and some waysto take control of geneticmistakes .

Hoy T cells makes a commitmentScienceDaily (July7, 2010)

Hoy T cells makes a commitment

• The activation ofBcl11b is a perfectindicator of whencells have decided togo on the T-cellpathway.

• The gene is arepressor. This iscrucial for T cells,because T cells arederived frommultipotenthematopoietic stemcells.

Hoy T cells makes a commitment

T cells have a remarkableability to grow andBcl11b is a long-soughtpart of that mechanism.

T cells have a remarkableability to grow andBcl11b is a long-soughtpart of that mechanism.

Hoy T cells makes a commitment

When de T cells are changing theyare expressing a variety of genesthat give them the option tobecome other cells, such as mastcells, killer cells, and antigen-presenting cells

Student Observation

I think this is a very interestingresearch area because itallows us to observe theimportance of transcriptionfactors and provides valuableinformation about how onlyone gene can change somebody life.

Medical utility

The discovery of these genes control, willmake possible advances in treating infectiousdiseases, genetic defects and cancertreatments, also create new treatments forautoimmune diseases.

Medical utility

Research on genetic regulators has beenof increasing interest in recent yearsbecause these proteins hold the key towhich genes are expressed, instructingone cell to become a brain cell whileanother is directed to become a bloodcell.

Medical utility

With the control of this gene should bepossible to develop drugs thatdecrease, increase or otherwise modify Ctip2activity, and such drugs may be useful in thetreatment of certain malignancies, such asleukemia, and skin cancers.

Medical utility

This new finding about Ctip2relationship to early eventsin T cell formation may be ofsubstantial interest toimmunologists and cliniciansalike, because it will beusefull in the tratment andinvestigation about virus andalergic diseases.

Bibliografía

• Long Li, Mark Leid, and Ellen V. Rothenberg.Genetic Regulator Opens New Avenues toAIDS, Immune System Research. Science, 2 July2010: 89-93. From:http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100701145527.htm

• Li et al. How T Cells Make a Commitment.Science, 7 July 2010; 329 (5987): 8. From:http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100702100150.htm

• MARTINEZ SÁNCHEZ, Lina María. Biologíamolecular. 2. ed. Medellín: UPB. Fac. deMedicina, 2009. !!! p

Thank you !