The research group has revealed that Menin, which is known as a tumor suppressor, inhibits CD4 T cell senescence. The T-cell specific Menin deficiency results in the premature senescence of CD4 T cells, which is accompanied by dysregulated expression of pro-inflammatory factors. The transcriptional repressor Bach2 was identified to be a downstream target of Menin that inhibits CD4 T cell senescence and abnormalities in pro-inflammatory factor expressions. The results will be useful for understanding the age-associated abnormalities in immune function.
Researcher Information
JST PRESTO
Research Area: “Elucidation and control of the mechanisms underlying chronic inflammation”
Research Theme: “Control of the mechanisms underlying chronic inflammation through epigenetic modulation of T cell memory”
Journal Information
Makoto Kuwahara, Junpei Suzuki, Soichi Tofukuji, Takeshi Yamada, Makoto Kanoh, Akira Matsumoto, Saho Maruyama, Kohei Kometani, Tomohiro Kurosaki, Osamu Ohara, Toshinori Nakayama & Masakatsu Yamashita
“The Menin—Bach2 axis is critical for regulating CD4 T-cell senescence and cytokine homeostasis”
Nature Communications, Published online 02 April 2014
doi: 10.1038/ncomms4555
Contact
[About Research]
Masakatsu Yamashita, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Immunology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine
E-mail:
http://www.m.ehime-u.ac.jp/school/immunology/englishtoppage.html
[About Program]
Koji Matsuo, Takafumi Kawaguchi, and Toshiyuki Shingo
Life Innovation Group, Department of Innovation Research, JST
E-mail: