The role of heme oxygenase-1 on T cell activation, proliferation and homeostasis

• Applicant: Privatdozent Dr. Tung Yu Tsui
• Subject Area: General and Visceral Surgery
• Term: from 2009 to 2012
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 99183922

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), an antioxidant gene is actively involved in the achievement of cellular homeostasis under various disease-related stimuli. It has been become an important therapeutic target in various disease models, which is mainly based on its newly identified anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory activities. In organ transplantation, we and others have been able to show the significant role of heme oxygenase-1 in the protection of grafts from ischemia/reperfusion injury, acute alloimmune response and chronic allograft deterioration. According to the findings in transplantation, that data strongly suggest that heme oxygenase-1 might also be actively involved in the regulation of immune response. This study will focus on the regulatory properties of HO-1 on T cells based on our preliminary findings and aims to find out the direct evidence of the involvement of heme oxygeanase-1 in the context of T cell activation, proliferation and homeostasis. The findings obtained from a transgeneic mouse model are essential for understanding the mechanisms of HO-1 activity in immune responses and provide the basis for the use of HO-1 and its related products for the control of undesirable immune responses not only for the transplantation setting, but also for a wider spectrum of immune disorders.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants