Joyce, Stephen Paul (2012). Investigating immune recognition of an epithelial stress antigen by Human gamma delta T cells AND Investigation into the chemokine profile of Ag-specific T cell responses in Multiple Myeloma and MGUS patients compared to age-matched controls. University of Birmingham. M.Res.
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Joyce_MRes_12_July.pdf
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Abstract
Project 1: The ‘lymphoid stress surveillance’ hypothesis proposes a role for γδ T cells in in the detection of epithelial stress. TCR mediated recognition of stress ligands by γδ T cells is currently poorly understood. This project aimed to characterise the molecular mechanisms of the interaction between of the Vδ1+ MAU γδ TCR with the ephrin receptor EphA2. EphA2 is a major target for anti-cancer treatments, and is upregulated on a range of epithelial tumours, a tissue enriched with Vδ1+ γδ T cells. We show that EphA2 activates MAU expressing JRT3.5 cells in a TCR dependant manner, by receptor downregulation and phosphorylation of key TCR proximal signalling proteins. It was also found that A-ephrins on the surface of the T cell are essential for the activation of JRT3 MAU by EphA2.
Project 2: Multiple Myeloma (MM) is an incurable haemopoietic malignancy, characterised by the accumulation of malignant plasma cells in the Bone Marrow (BM). MM cells express a group of proteins called Cancer Testis Antigens (CTA) whose expression is limited to the immune-privileged site of the testis in healthy adults. CTA specific CD8+ T cells in MM patients display poor in vivo effectiveness, and are poorly understood. Immuno dysregulation is a common occurrence in MM, with a dysregulation in the distribution and expression of key chemokines involved in lymphocyte trafficking such as CXCR3 and CXCR4, which may be a defensive mechanism by the tumour to protect against CTA specific T cells. This project aimed to characterise the chemokine receptor expression on CTA specific CD8+ T cells in MM patients, and it was discovered that MM patients have a reduction in CXCR3 and CXCR4 expression on CD8+ T cells in the blood, and that the chemokine receptor expression pattern of different viral specific CD8+ T cells are affected uniquely by MM.
| Type of Work: | Thesis (Masters by Research > M.Res.) |
|---|---|
| Award Type: | Masters by Research > M.Res. |
| Licence: | |
| College/Faculty: | Colleges (2008 onwards) > College of Medical & Dental Sciences |
| School or Department: | Institute of Cancer Studies |
| Funders: | None/not applicable |
| Subjects: | R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0254 Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology (including Cancer) |
| URI: | http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/id/eprint/3467 |
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