REGULATION OF METABOLIC DYSFUNCTION AND EXHAUSTION OF VIRUS-SPECIFIC T CELLS DURING CHRONIC INFECTION
Grant number: 1085151 | Funding period: 2017 - 2018
Completed
Abstract
T cells control infections and cancer cells. During chronic infection or tumor development, however, loss of function of T cells prevents efficient clearing of pathogens or cancer cells, a phenomenon termed T cell ‘exhaustion’. We have found that the regulator protein IRF4 controls cellular nutrient usage, growth and function of T cells and that very amounts of IRF4 occur in T cells during chronic infection. We propose to examine the precise role of IRF4 in chronically stimulated T cells.