STAT5 REGULATES HELPER T CELL LINEAGE COMMITMENT AND AUTOIMMUNITY

Abstract

CD4+ T cells play crucial roles in host defense against various pathogens by orchestrating adaptive immune responses. Upon T-cell receptor activation by cognate antigen, naive CD4+ T cells are committed to differentiate into at least five major lineages: Th1, Th2, Th17, iTeg and Tfh cells, which are orchestrated by cytokine milieus signaling through Signal Transducer and Activa?tor of Transcription (STAT) family proteins. In my project, I have studied the regulatory roles of STAT5 in CD4+ T cell lineage commitment and two types of autoimmune diseases: experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and T cell-transfer colitis.