An enhanced immune response in mice lacking the transcription factor NFAT1.
Transcription factors of the NFAT family are thought to play a major role in regulating the expression of cytokine genes and other inducible genes during the immune response. The role of NFAT1 was investigated by targeted disruption of the NFAT1 gene. Unexpectedly, cells from NFAT1 -/- mice showed increased primary responses to Leishmania major and mounted increased secondary responses to ovalbumin in vitro. In an in vivo model of allergic inflammation, the accumulation of eosinophils and levels of serum immunoglobulin E were increased in NFAT1 -/- mice. These results suggest that NFAT1 exerts a negative regulatory influence on the immune response.
Xanthoudakis
S
S
Neurogenetics Program, Department of CNS Research, Hoffmann-LaRoche, Nutley, NJ 07110, USA.
Viola
J P
JP
Shaw
K T
KT
Luo
C
C
Wallace
J D
JD
Bozza
P T
PT
Luk
D C
DC
Curran
T
T
Rao
A
A
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology; D018390:Gene Targeting; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D007109:Immunity; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D018320:Leishmania major / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D016207:Cytokines; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D010047:Ovalbumin