Effect of Bim and Fas/FasL interaction on CD8+ T cell differentiation In vitro.

• Grant number: 20/06564-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2021
• End date: September 30, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Cellular Immunology
• Principal Investigator: João Gustavo Pessini Amarante Mendes
• Grantee: Marcela Bittar Araujo Lima
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Viruses and cancer have constantly challenged the human immune system, which is composed of many barriers, specialized cells, and biological mechanisms that protect the host against any external and internal threat. Both viruses and cancer are able to invade and negatively manipulate the immune system, to easily spread and to stimulate great inflammatory and immunopathological responses that eventually lead to death. Recently, in addition to cancer being the second main cause of death globally, the world has been severely impacted by the pandemic event caused by the new SARS-coronavirus (SARS-Cov-2). In this context the adaptive immune response, in special CD8+ T lymphocytes, plays an important role in killing infected and tumor cells, restraining their spreading, also generating memory cells, which provides immune-surveillance adapted to rapidly and cautiously respond to a re-infection or tumor recurrence. One scientific essential approach that has been central is the better understanding of CD8+ T cells' activation, differentiation, death/survival, and metabolism to manipulate and make cells more effective killers, optimizing prevention methods and immunotherapies. Following this idea, the project will study the effect of death/survival molecules, such as Fas, FasL and Bim, in CD8+ T cells activation and differentiation process, as well as their impact on metabolic profiles of naïve and activated cells, of each mice type. In this study, CD8+ T cells will be isolated from spleens of wild-type, Fas-deficient, FasL-deficient and Bim-knockout mice, then activated and differentiated by polarizing cytokines in vitro and characterized by Multicolor Flow Cytometry. In addition, naïve and activated cells' metabolic profiles will be analyzed in parallel. (AU)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

LIMA, Marcela Bittar Araujo. Effect of Fas/FasL interaction on CD8+ T cell differentiation in vitro. 2023. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI) São Paulo.