Grant: Operating Grant

The immune system is a complex network that consists of many cell types. Lymphocytes are one particular cell type of the immune system that becomes activated when the body is infected to kill off the invading pathogen. However, sometimes lymphocytes can become inappropriately activated when the body is not infected and this can result in an autoimmune disorder. The way that lymphocytes become activated is not completely known. The element, calcium, is one component in these cells that is required for their activation. However, the means by which calcium gains entry into lymphocytes remains unknown. We have recently identified two variations of a protein which form a "channel" that is found on the surface of lymphocytes, which may allow calcium to enter them. We predict that these calcium channels play a role in lymphocyte activation and may be responsible for the inappropriate immune responses that lead to autoimmune diseases, such as arthritis. We will test this idea by comparing a mouse that has the calcium channel deleted to normal mice. We will look for any reduction in immune strength in the absence of the calcium channel and this will help us further understand the role of the calcium channel. Identifying calcium channels responsible for calcium movement into lymphocytes may lead to the generation of novel drug targets that would allow investigators to block the immune activation that causes diseases such as arthritis and diabetes.