Study of the role of LXR receptors and it sumoylation in CD4 T-lymphocyte polarization

• Grant number: 19/09430-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2019
• End date: August 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Cellular Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Pedro Manoel Mendes de Moraes Vieira
• Grantee: Janaina Masumoto de Almeida
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 15/15626-8 - Macrophages and T lymphocytes immunometabolism in metabolic and inflammatory diseases, AP.JP

Abstract

LXRs (liver x receptors) are nuclear receptors involved in the metabolism of cholesterol and in the inflammatory response in several diseases. LXR is expressed in many cell types and together with the retinoic acid receptor X (RXR) acts as a transcription factor, modulating the expression of genes responsible for cholesterol efflux. LXR also undergoes post-translational changes, such as sumoylation, which promotes the inhibition of pro-inflammatory gene expression, a mechanism called transrepression. However, it's still not clear how the sumoylation mechanism affects the polarization of CD4 T cells. Our objective is to determine the role LXR receptor in the polarization of CD4 T lymphocytes and the importance of LXR sumoylation for this differentiation.