Itpkb, crucial gene in immune system development?

The researchers of the IRIBHM have prooved, by the use of these genetically-modified mice, that those abnormalities of B lymphocytes development and function are the result of an overexpression of molecule furthering apoptosis. The consequence of this overexpression is thus a decreased survival of the B lymphocytes and defect in antibody production in response to certain agents.

The IRIBHM’s team has also suggested a mechanism by which Inositol 1,3,4,5 tetrakisphosphate, the product generated by Itpkb, plays a significant role in the development and function of B lymphocytes : it controls the subcellular localization of the Rasa 3 enzyme, one of its intracellular receptors. Indeed, production of inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate in the cell results in the dissociation of the Rasa 3 receptor from the cell membrane and its inactivation.

This work follows other research still under way at the IRIBHM and focused on the unexpected but significant role of the Itpkb enzyme in T lymphocytes development. Considering the localization of the Itpkb gene in a region of the chromosom 1 known in man and mouse to contain several predisposition genes to autoimmune disease and considering this gene’s function in T and B lymphocytes development, the researchers of the IRIBHM investigate the hypothesis according to which alterations in this Itpkb gene could eventuallly favour the appearance of autoimmune disease (Disseminated Lupus Erythmatosus, type 1 diabetes,…).

This research, recently published in PNAS, has been done in collaboration with teams from the ULB (IRIBHM, IBMM), the Université de Genève, Harvard University and Bristol University.

Media Contact

Nancy Dath alfa

More Information:

http://ulb.ac.be

All latest news from the category: Life Sciences and Chemistry

Articles and reports from the Life Sciences and chemistry area deal with applied and basic research into modern biology, chemistry and human medicine.

Valuable information can be found on a range of life sciences fields including bacteriology, biochemistry, bionics, bioinformatics, biophysics, biotechnology, genetics, geobotany, human biology, marine biology, microbiology, molecular biology, cellular biology, zoology, bioinorganic chemistry, microchemistry and environmental chemistry.

Back to home

Comments (0)

Write a comment

Newest articles

Lighting up the future

New multidisciplinary research from the University of St Andrews could lead to more efficient televisions, computer screens and lighting. Researchers at the Organic Semiconductor Centre in the School of Physics and…

Researchers crack sugarcane’s complex genetic code

Sweet success: Scientists created a highly accurate reference genome for one of the most important modern crops and found a rare example of how genes confer disease resistance in plants….

Evolution of the most powerful ocean current on Earth

The Antarctic Circumpolar Current plays an important part in global overturning circulation, the exchange of heat and CO2 between the ocean and atmosphere, and the stability of Antarctica’s ice sheets….

Partners & Sponsors