Study of the role of LXR receptor SUMOylation in the differentiation of T CD4 lymphocytes

• Grant number: 20/16626-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: October 01, 2021
• End date: February 28, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Applied Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Pedro Manoel Mendes de Moraes Vieira
• Grantee: Juliana Edelvacy Lima Pinto
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

LXRs (liver x receptors) are nuclear receptors that act as sensors of cholesterol levels in the body. LXRs play a crucial role in the regulation of lipids metabolism, transport and efflux. LXRs are found in two isoforms, LXRalpha and beta. LXRalpha is primarily found in intestine, liver, and adipose tissue, while LXRbeta is expressed in almost all cell types. Once bound to a ligant, LXRs become active and translocate to the nucleus, where, in association with a retinoid receptor (RXR), act as transcription factors, regulating gene expression, and also as a regulator of the metabolism and cholesterol efflux. In addition to the function of LXRs in the regulation of metabolic homeostasis, LXRs also participate in the regulation of the inflammatory tonus. LXR activation inhibits NF-Kb activation by a mechanism called transrepression, which involves the LXR ligation to a peptide called SUMO. Although many works have described the benefic effects of LXR activation for the regulation of the inflammatory response, little is known about the SUMOylation effects of LXRs in the polarization of T CD4 cells. Previous findings from our laboratory show that LXR agonists increases regulatory T cell (Treg) differentiation and LXR antagonists decrease the differentiation of Treg and increase the differentiation of Th1 cells. Thus, this study is based on the hypothesis that LXR receptors will have a differential SUMOylation pattern in different subtypes of T CD4 cells, which may direct modulate T cell polarization and function. Our main goal is to investigate how LXR modulation and its SUMOylation affects T CD4 polarization. (AU)

Academic Publications

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

PINTO, Juliana Edelvacy Lima. Study of the Role of LXR receptors in the differentiation of TCD4 cells In-vitro and In-vivo. 2023. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI) São Paulo.